Project Details.

The Economic Transformation Initiative Gilgit-Baltistan (ETI-GB) is a large-scale rural development programme jointly funded by IFAD, AICS, and the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. The initiative aimed to expand irrigated land, improve agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains, and enhance rural connectivity through farm-to-market roads and bridges. ETI-GB interventions include: Irrigation and Land Development (ILD) schemes to increase cultivable land and agricultural output. Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs) and bridges to improve access to markets, services, and economic opportunities. 

Value Chain Development (VCD) initiatives supporting orchards, nurseries, processing, cooperatives, and market linkages. Capacity building of government departments, farmer organizations, private nurseries, and agribusiness partners. The Impact Evaluation assesses the effectiveness, socio-economic impact, equity considerations, and sustainability of the ETI-GB interventions across ten districts. 

The evaluation uses a quasi-experimental design with 1,500 households (750 treatment, 750 control) and includes HH surveys, FGDs, KIIs, and institutional assessments. HIMAT Consulting designed and executed the full Impact Evaluation, including development of the evaluation methodology, sampling frame, and survey instruments for treatment and control groups. The firm conducted large-scale household surveys, Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews, and specialized modules for nurseries, orchards, and agri-tech fellows across all ten districts. 

HIMAT Consulting established rigorous quality assurance protocols—daily field supervision, GPS verification, supervisor back-checks, and real-time monitoring—to ensure data integrity. The team led data cleaning, statistical analysis, and triangulation of quantitative and qualitative findings, and facilitated consultations with government departments, ETI-GB PMU, and private sector partners. 

HCPL produced the inception report, work plan, tools, evaluation framework, and ongoing analytical outputs aligned with IFAD evaluation standards.