R Kumar is a researcher, implementer and evaluator in Agriculture, Value Chains, Natural Resource Management and Local Economic Development sectors. Over the last 18 years, R Kumar have been involved in more than 75 assignments related to implementation, research and consulting. R Kumar’s consulting experiences mostly relate to programme/impact evaluations, design of monitoring and evaluation systems, management information systems. Some of his rigorous impact evaluation work included large scale, complex /multi-country statistical analysis and qualitative assessments. He has significant experiences in the experimental (randomised control trial)/quasi-experimental evaluation, theory of change based impact evaluation methodologies. R Kumar’s work is summarised below:
a. Leading a team of specialists and organisations in implementing an Integrated Water Resource Management project (funded by EU) in three river basins in India
b. Advising a large project team in implementing local economic development project in India, funded by a private sector foundation (CAIRN Energy)
c. Guiding and supporting the implementation of range of livelihoods, agriculture and nutrition, natural resources management projects, when heading Vrutti (an NGO in India)
d. Principal Investigator in conducting theory based impact evaluation (using randomised control trial /experimental research approach) of cotton sustainability standards in India
e. Lead researcher in policy relevant studies of better management practices in Cotton in India, working with partners from cotton industry (Trident, Arvind), civil society (WWF), private sector (IKEA) and sustainability organisations (Better Cotton Initiative).
f. Team leader in evaluation of research based policy outreach initiatives e.g. Global Research Project of Global Development Network, funded by Bill & Malinda Gates Foundation
g. Conducting impact evaluation of large scale, multi-component and empowerment based programme e.g. DFID funded Poorest Areas Civil Society Program in India, spread across more than 100 districts in India, using randomised discontinuity design (RDD)
h. Development of handbook (for statisticians and Govt. statistical and administrative agencies) and strategy for operationalisation of Global Land Indicators in pilot countries, commissioned by Global Land Indicator Initiative /GLTN of UNHabitat, World Bank and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
i. Evaluation of international agriculture research e.g. external evaluation of dryland cereals CG Consortium Research Program (CRP) using participatory evaluation and expert-based assessment approaches; evaluation of a continental scale (34 countries in Africa) project called Promotion of Science and Technology for Agriculture Development (PSTAD), using self-assessment /reflection /appreciative enquiry based approaches
j. Leading on the evaluation of multi-country value chain development project e.g. final evaluation of BMGF funded Cassava: added value for Africa project in 5 countries, using quasi-experimental (difference in difference) approach
In addition to above, R Kumar has led on monitoring and evaluation system development and conducted many research studies and organizational appraisals for various bilateral, multilateral, government, civil society and private sector organisations. In a career spanning over 18 years, he has experiences in designing and steering project and programme implementation in various sectors - livelihoods, agriculture value chains, natural resource management, nutrition sensitive agriculture and local economic development. Additionally he has experiences in disaster risk reduction, humanitarian responses, health and education sectors.
What are your domain(s) of expertise?
Agriculture Research, Monitoring and Evaluation
What is your relationship with agricultural information management standards, tools and services?
We design and implement method and metrics for collection, analysis of agriculture information