Project Experience
IID has undertaken strategic studies, feasibility studies, project management and evaluation activities in more than 40 countries in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. A selection of recent experience is shown below.
Azerbaijan
A Regional Pilot Project to Address Pasture Degradation and Sustainable Management, UNDP/GEF, 2009.
IID carried out a review of overgrazing resulting from refugee and other grazing in the Nagorno Karabakh border areas in Azerbaijan, with a view to developing a regional pilot project addressing improved pasture management. This included recommendations for a suitable regulatory policy, institutional and other incentives to reduce land degradation in the area.
Africa
Consultant advisor for or the Africa Climate Adaptation Program, UNOPS 2010 - 2011.
Attached to the Inter-Regional Technical Support Component located in Dakar Senegal. Responsible for providing support to AAP’s implementation in the 10 Anglophone countries participating in the project. Provided direct support to Rwanda and Tanzania and assisted in the implementation of major IRTSC workshops in Dakar and Nairobi for UNOPS, and (2012 in Lesotho)
Bhutan
Australian Project Director, Consultant Team Leader of the $US 7m Highland Livestock Development Project, ADB, 1990-1995
The project covered animal health, pasture development in Himalayan mid-hills and Alpine areas, extension, agro-forestry and dairy development, including a small dairy factory.
China.
IID senior staff have been involved in China since 1968 in various development activities including planning for WB, IFAD and FAO-UNDP activities. Building on links developed through this work IID established an associated office with Gentech in the early 1990's through which exchanges have continued, mainly related to development fund activities.
2015
Gansu Province. FAO Regional Consultation. Compile and present a talk entitled “Potential for carbon sequestration through grassland restoration: A South East and East Asia Perspective” November 2015
2012 - 2013.
IID and Gentech commenced negotiations for a joint venture value chain investment to link Australian wine growing with a Chinese distribution system in Eastern and Central China. This work is continuing.
India.
Growth Oriented Microenterprise Development Program, USAID ACDI/VOCA, 2006
Assessment of the marketing strategy and approach of the horticulture value chain initiative of the GMED, Small Business Growth Program of USAID in India. Designed a strategy for expanding the retail outlets to purchase the increased volume of high quality vegetables grown by the participating small farmers. Designed strategies to strengthen the marketing performance of a major vegetable cooperative participating in the GMED program.
Indonesia.
2012 - IID participated in the publishing of a book on the experiences of Nicholas Hughes "My Account of the Hajj" Mr Hughes, a former FAO officer has been a long time colleague and friend of some IID senior staff and follows experience in Indonesia since 1972. More details of this book can be found on our publications page
2008 AMARTA Project, USAID/ Development Alternatives Inc (DAI), 2008.
Conduct of a Value Chain Assessment for High Value Vegetables in Java, Bali, South Sulawesi, and North Sumatra in collaboration with local professionals as part of the AMARTA project of USAID with emphasis on upgrading agribusiness value chains and developing new supply chain models.
2008- Indonesia South-East USAID/ Consortium for International Development (SECID), 2008.
Assessed elements of the agribusiness situation and prepared strategies to address opportunities and problems in anticipation of an upcoming USAID agribusiness/agricultural marketing project, Indonesia.
Kazakhstan
Sustainable Rangeland Management for Rural Livelihood and Environmental Integrity Project, UNDP/GEF/GTZ Kazakhstan, 2010.
The Project is a part of the CACILM program. Conduct of a mid-term evaluation of the Sustainable Rangeland Management project, which included a review of the implementation approach, stakeholder participation, ownership and other aspects relevant to the Project Design, as well as an evaluation of project implementation relevance and progress.
Kyrgyzstan
Demonstrating Sustainable Mountain Pasture Management Project in the Suuasmyr Valley, UNDP/GEF, 2010.
The Project is a part of the CACILM program. Mid-Term Evaluation of the Sustainable Pasture Management Project, including a review of project concept, relevance and strategy, project implementation progress and sustainability, as well as an evaluation of the progress towards the achievement of the intended outputs and measurements of change.
Mekong River Basin (Cambodia, Lao-PDR, Thailand and Vietnam) Team Leader; Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS), 2000-2003.
The Institute has provided the team leader some four assignments for the Mekong River Basin Commission including the re-development of its agriculture, irrigation and forestry program through a participatory planning process involving its offices in each of the MRC member states of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR, contributing to its “State of the Basin” report and studies related to the relocation of the MRC to Lao PDR and conducting a seminar to establish the watershed approach to planning instead of the cad-astral that had been the practice.
Mongolia
Capacity Development and Scholarship Program, AusAID / SAGRIC, 2003-2008.
IID managed AusAID’s Scholarship program amounting to A$ 1 million. This included cooperation with Government ministries to identify appropriate education and training programs and assistance in the selection of suitable trainees. IID also managed the logistics of these students, from technical training to doctoral students.
Mongolia
Capacity Development and Scholarship Program, AusAID / SAGRIC, 2003-2008.
IID managed AusAID’s Scholarship program amounting to A$ 1 million. This included cooperation with Government ministries to identify appropriate education and training programs and assistance in the selection of suitable trainees. IID also managed the logistics of these students, from technical training to doctoral students.
Mongolia
2005- 2010 AusAid and Coffey International IID managed the in county aspects of the AusAid scholarship program in Mongolia between 2005 and 2010.
2002- 2007 Agricultural Sector Development Project, ADB 2002-2007.
IID was the lead contractor in the management of this $US 14 Million ADB Loan project. The project was to facilitate the evolution of the agricultural sector towards a more efficient, productive market oriented industry. The project includes a significant credit component to finance change and technical inputs for extensive livestock, water supplies, small farming, meat and fibre product classification and marketing.
2004-2005 Agriculture Sector Strategy Study.
IID was contracted to undertake the $340,000 policy development PPTA over a 6 months period. The team includes a policy institutional specialist, an economist, a livestock/rangeland specialist, an agriculturalist and a 6 person local team. The consultant’s role was that of oversight on behalf of IID. This work follows some 10 years involvement in Mongolia by IID since 1992, mainly projects designed to assist Mongolian agriculture to make the transition from a command economy to a market economy. Clients have included ADB (4 contracts) WB, Danida and the private sector
Myanmar.
Since the promulgation of the 2008 constitution in Myanmar in April 2011, IID has re-established a presence in Myanmar by registering the Company to operate as IID-Myanmar in a new office in Yangon. Since that time the company has completed 3 significant contracts and several short studies:
2016 - Preparation for a Shan Governance and Rural Development Project.
Some representatives of the Shan community have requested IID develop a project to assist them to take a more proactive role in defining their development direction for the benefit of interested investors. The installation of a new government based on the elections in November 2015 is widely anticipated to result in a much more inclusive economic development process than has been the practice since independence. The subject area is the south western side of the Shan State. The request follows IIDs successful planning in the South Shan Ste for the Pa-O and the Danu ethnic groups between 2011 and 2014.
2015- Macadamia Nut Cluster.
Working with Myanmar nut growers, processors and Australian industry to develop a concept for the development of a long term Macadamia nut Industry in hill areas of Myanmar, making use of the Government’s Community Forestry
Provisions.
2014- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Contracted to support an ACIAR team of scientists to undertake the ‘Inlay Lake Justification’ study for a possible 6-8 year integrated catchment participatory research project to develop sustainable watershed management systems for the Inlay lake watershed and Inlay Lake
2014 - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
Team Leader and natural resource governance specialist on a 6 person team to assist Finland to prepare an Aid Development Cooperation Programme with Myanmar for 4 years with a vision of 10 years spanning the 2015 national elections. The three Themes considered were Natural Resource Governance, Governance and the Rule of Law, and Education. The team looked at co financing with a range of bilateral and multi lateral agencies and financial institutions and multi donor trust funds, a possible bilateral collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forests, the department of Rural Development and a range of civil society organisations.
2013 - Danu Special Administrative Zone (SAZ).
IID has been contracted to assist the Danu SAZ to prepare its own economic development plan during 2013- 2014. The study is being funded by GIZ and follows the successful completion of the first ever regional development plan for a special administrative zone promulgated under the new constitution of Myanmar, that for the Pa-O in 2011-2012, see below.
2013 - Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry.
IID has been contracted to complete a participatory preparation study funded by the EU through the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) http://www.icimod.org/?q=abt. The contract is to complete a study of ways to facilitate the building of community and ecosystem resilience in the Inlay Lake watershed by linking development to the income opportunities from the rapidly growing tourist market around Inlay lake. This makes use of ICIMODs experience elsewhere in the Himalayan region and IID's knowledge of rural development and the Inlay Lake water shed.
2012-2013 - AusAid.
IID was given a grant to assist in building the capacity of Parami, a Pa-O community based service organisation set up to facilitate investment in social development in the Zone. This was a key need for the SAZ that emerged from their planning process in 2011-2012.
2012 - The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry funded by the Norwegian Government. A Plan of Action for Inlay Lake Shan State
A 20 person IID team prepared a long term plan for the restoration of the Inlay Lake and watershed including in collaboration with the Pa-O people in the watershed. The team included wetland and lake biologists, sanitation and health, tourism, archaeology, natural resource management, community development, agriculture and a civil engineer. The Inlay Lake is an internationally significant heritage and biodiversity site and tourist area that is suffering from ecological decline that threatens it and the livelihoods of the people in the lake environs. The task of the plan is to develop a plan, together with lake stakeholders, to restore the environment and leave the stakeholders with activities they can undertake to protect and enhance their livelihoods. The output included a costed plan for a permanent lake authority and a secure funding system.
2011 - 2012 Pa-O Special Administrative Zone Administration, Shan State Myanmar.
Contracted to implement a strategic planning process to begin the process of establishing local administration following the promulgation of the new Constitution of The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the referendum in 2008 and the national elections in November 2010. The Pa-O special administrative zone surrounds the famed Inlay Lake and has a number of significant issues to address to rebuild the regions resilience following decades of conflict, these include; a need to rebuild technical skills to enable agricultural and processing industries (new value chains) and tourism to improve livelihoods, a need to manage the natural resource base to enhance its value to the community in the long term and a need to establish an appropriate administrative structure that will integrate into the national system.. The report was completed in 2012 and work has commenced on infrastructure in the plan, funded by the GOUM. Additional support has been provided by AusAid to assist in capacity development of the Pa-Os community based organisation, Parami, initiated by the Pa-O as a conduit for social development in the SAZ.
2012 The Swiss Development Corporation (SDC) IID undertook a Political Economic Assessment PEA. A 4 person international and 6 person national team was engaged to provide recommendations to assist SDC to formulate its 2013-2017 development assistance program for Myanmar, and in particular to plan for a reorientation from a Humanitarian Assistance to a development strategy in former conflict zones in Eastern and poor areas in central Myanmar. The study covered agriculture, (a Value Chain approach) Agroforestry, vocational education, extension and training, social inclusion, infrastructure, mine clearance and community based planning. The final report included costed development proposals
Prior to this IID undertook a number of activities between 1997 and 2010:
2010- Evaluation and Review of the Nargis Reconstruction Program UNDP Delta Working Groups (ASEAN. UN, Gov. of Union of Myanmar, UNDP), 2010
Conduct of an independent evaluation and review of the reconstruction program - following the Nargis Cyclone in 2008. The review covered administrative arrangements, shelter, food security, water and power supply, education, health and other related areas. The evaluation review was intended to provide assurance to investors that its investments have been used wisely and to assist in developing a methodology to target remaining funds in the remainder of the reconstruction period.
Preparation of a 10-year Strategy, UNDCP 1997-98
A 10 year strategic study for US$ 300 million in economic development for opium growing areas. The study included all infrastructures such as roads and water supplies, services such as health, vocational training, agriculture, livestock, processing and marketing and setting up new civilian local government able to plan and implement the strategy.
IID Directors also have experience in Myanmar since 1988 through predecessor institutions, MPW Rural Development, In Mandalay for AusAID and in the Northern Shan State for UNODC. Experience in Myanmar thus spans some 30 years.
Nepal
Nepal Third Livestock Development Project, ADB, 1995
Provided the Team Leader for the preparation of a $US45M development project to involve recipients in activities to improve the profitability and sustainability of livestock and dairy production and processing in western Nepal and the Terai. The study was conducted under participatory planning conditions with 370 selected stakeholders over a 6 month period and included a though review of the logistics of animal feed delivery and milk collection, cooling and marketing within Nepal and nearby regions of India.
Papua New Guinea
Community planning, Dulwich Centre, 2004
IID was contracted by Dulwich Centre, a narrative therapy teaching practice, to assist it identify of opportunities for development cooperation in the Madang, central highlands and Bougainville regions, discussions with EU, AusAID and community groups.
Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan)
Mid Term Evaluation Central Asian Initiative for Land Management (CACILM) ADB/GTZ/Global Mechanism 2009.
Provided the team leader for small team in evaluating the Programme’s inception phase which included evaluation for each member state of CACLM, including Tajikistan. Evaluations of each project, and the performance of the national Secretariat in each country. Evaluated potential for each country to become involved in investments to address the impacts of climate change and water use efficiency in each country.
Central Asia
Land Use Specialist, (Team Leader Turkmenistan) Asian Development Bank - GEF 2005
Reviewed land degradation and proposed solutions in the field in each country. The program identified and prepared a $US 1.5 billion multi-country initiative to combat land degradation in the 5 countries over 10 years. Duties included conducting participatory planning workshops at international level and national level with relevant stakeholders in each country (5 missions) including participating development agencies, GTZ, WB, Global Mechanism, IFAD ICARDA. Prepared Turkmenistan National Program framework with National Working group; reviewed and edited land use project proposals for the five countries. Technical areas covered included irrigation, rangeland management, salinity, forestry, research and community based reserves management.
Timor-Leste
Dezenvolve Setor Privadu Project (Private Sector Development), USAID/DAI, 2009
Assessment of the procurement/marketing patterns and practices for restaurants, caterers, supermarkets and importers in Dili before writing a strategy with implementation approaches for a Fresh Products Initiative to be undertaken by this project.
Timor-Leste
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Preparation of a Livestock Development Policy, 2008
Preparation of a policy for livestock development. The task was to work with Ministry officials and key stakeholder representatives to develop a shared vision to lead the industry from a subsistence system to a more market oriented one that yields more economic value to support employment by the population moving into urban areas. The work covered all industry sectors of policy towards livestock including research and education. The work was funded by the World Bank Trust Fund.
This followed assignments in 2006 and 2007 for USAID and other activities by IID Directors in the 1970's and 1980's through MPW Rural Development and others.
IID Directors have experience in Timor Leste spanning the period from the Portuguese occupation in 1974 to the 2008.
Vietnam
Identification of GEF Projects, UNDP Vietnam, 2010
Identification of GEF Projects in Land Degradation related to coastal and mid hill regions in Vietnam using GEF’s Project Identification Forms (PIF).
A complete Capability Statement can be downloaded here.
| IID Capability Statement March 2011.pdf |