SEGURA Consulting LLC @ 2010

USAID’s LAC/RSD/BBEG office is supporting an initiative to assess the climate for doing agribusiness in the three Central American Feed the Future countries:  Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras.  The purpose of the exercise is to: develop a methodology to identify the principal constraints to a more robust agribusiness environment; conduct a detailed analysis of the reasons for and impact of those barriers; and develop a set of recommendations for the respective Missions to consider in developing their strategies for agricultural development and food security. In addition, the SEGURA team will prepare a cross-cutting analysis, highlighting and examining those features common to the region and their effect on strengthening agribusiness on the regional level.

The methodological model that has been developed is depicted below.  Specific methods include:

1. •Semi-structured personal interviews following a set protocol with the key actors in the production/value-added chain, with particular focus on small producers and processors, representatives of NGOs, financial industry and private sector associations, and government officials, as well as selected donor agencies 
   

2. •A mixed close- and open-ended survey of a purposive sample of producers 
   

3. •A focus group including producers and representatives from private sector associations, think tanks, cooperatives, and export companies
   

4. •A workshop or round table with a cross-section of individuals who were interviewed to validate findings
   

The analytical techniques employed are:

1. •qualitative and quantitative descriptive analysis
   

2. •content analysis
   

3. •structural-functional analysis
   

The approach does not seek to score countries subjectively on specific indicators as is the case with indices such as the World Ban Doing Business Indicators.  The purpose is not to make country comparisons but rather to provide a complete picture of local issues, permitting USAID Missions to have access to a range of information that can be used in developing strategies and designing programs.  By the same token, that information will assist the Mission in developing benchmarks by which to measure the continued relevance of Mission program objectives and progress in implementing overall strategies on an annual basis, serving to guide any necessary adjustments in activities and approaches.