Indonesia Spice Trade Alliance (ISTA) – USDA Baseline & Mid-Term Evaluation
PlanB supported the Indonesia Spice Trade Alliance (ISTA), a program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the design and execution of baseline studies, importance–performance analysis, and mid-term evaluation across multiple spice value chains in Indonesia.
The project covered key commodities including vanilla, black pepper, and cinnamon, with the objective of assessing how training, certification, nursery systems, and market access interventions translated into measurable outcomes for farmers and supply chains.
PlanB’s responsibilities included:
- Designing sampling frameworks and field survey instruments
- Conducting farm-level baseline surveys across multiple provinces
- Assessing production systems, yields, costs of production, and income structures
- Evaluating training effectiveness and certification readiness
- Mapping market access, buyer linkage, and cooperative performance
- Performing importance–performance analysis to prioritise interventions
- Conducting a full mid-term evaluation of program effectiveness
The outcomes strengthened ISTA’s evidence base for climate-resilient agriculture, responsible sourcing, and donor accountability. It also reinforced PlanB’s role as a trusted partner for robust M&E, field data systems, and performance-based program design in complex smallholder value chains.
