Project Overview

Athena evaluated NSE Foundation’s Sustainable Conservation of Water Resources Through Community-led Development (SCORE) project in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district. Implemented across 60 villages, the initiative focused on improving water availability and agricultural resilience through community ownership and ecological restoration. The project rejuvenated 70 water bodies—including 30 irrigation tanks and 40 ponds—constructed 50 farm ponds, and planted 5,000 trees on common lands and catchment areas. The evaluation used both qualitative and quantitative methods, including 410 household surveys, 20 focus group discussions, and an infrastructure assessment of 9 irrigation tanks and 9 Ooranis. The assessment highlighted positive outcomes in water management, agricultural productivity, and community-led stewardship, with recommendations to support long-term sustainability and opportunities for scale.

Project Objectives

The SCORE project was designed to enhance the community-led management of natural resources by establishing and strengthening locally owned organizations. By harvesting rainwater through restored tanks and ponds, the initiative aimed to improve food security and access to drinking water. The construction of farm ponds supported sustainable agriculture, while the planting of robust trees contributed to environmental protection. A key focus was on improving agricultural productivity and income among vulnerable and marginalized farmers through the adoption of better practices.

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Evaluation Objectives

Athena Infonomics conducted the impact assessment to:

• Evaluate the functionality and impact of 70 renovated water bodies on water harvesting and drinking water access
• Assess the role of 50 farm ponds and tree plantations in supporting farming, controlling erosion, and enhancing biodiversity
• Examine the impact of improved farming practices on productivity and income
• Understand the functioning of community institutions created to manage natural resources

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Athena’s Role

Athena partnered with NSE Foundation to assess whether the SCORE project achieved its intended outcomes. The scope of work included:

• Designing an evaluation framework integrating qualitative and quantitative methods
• Conducting a desk review of existing project documentation
• Developing survey tools and sampling strategies, and implementing digital data collection (CAPI)
• Planning and executing fieldwork, including training enumerators and conducting surveys, FGDs, and KIIs
• Cleaning and analyzing the data to compare outcomes across key socio-economic indicators

Impact

The SCORE project’s interventions reached 60 villages and demonstrated potential for improving access to water for both domestic and agricultural use. The focus on community-led conservation contributed to enhanced ownership of water resources and environmental assets. The evaluation findings reflected early signs of increased agricultural productivity and income diversification among vulnerable farmers. Insights from the assessment informed recommendations aimed at strengthening community-led maintenance systems, expanding capacity-building programs on water and livestock management, creating financing models.

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To know more about the project, reach out to Dr. Francis.