Agribusiness Commercial, Legal & Institutional Reform (AgCLIR) diagnostic

The Agribusiness Commercial, Legal & Institutional Reform diagnostic provides an in-depth analysis of the agribusiness enabling environment by looking at the various constraints to profitably starting and running an agribusiness, including farming, processing, exporting, and other agriculture-related businesses. The diagnostic focuses on the systemic limitations that inhibit profitability, such as: export delays, input monopolies, overregulation, and inappropriate taxation. The purpose of this work is to identity constraints and recommend concrete, practical actions that can be implemented to improve agribusiness and its offshoots. It lays out a clear path to reform through prioritized and practical recommendations for the United States Agency for International Development, local governments and other donors.

More information on the diagnostic

If You Want to Know:

  • What are the most critical legal and institutional impediments to the expansion of local agribusiness?
  • Is the regulatory environment preventing the start-up and operation of agribusiness?
  • Is the government response to price volatility in line with the best interests of the sector?
  • How can existing agribusinesses leverage USAID project investments to yield meaningful improvements?
  • Does USAID's strategy address the most pressing issues across the agribusiness enabling environment?

The AgCLIR diagnostic can help answer these questions and more.

The Approach

AgCLIR builds upon the World Bank's influential Doing Business initiative, which takes common samples of the regulatory environment from each country and identifies twelve key areas that can either bolster or hamper a business environment. Each of these areas of inquiry provide a comprehensive method to diagnose the root causes and inefficiencies of an under-performing agricultural sector with a focus on the pertinent legal framework, implementing institutions, supporting institutions and social dynamics unique to the country in question. Missions can target their analysis by focusing in those areas most relevant to their strategic needs.

View a full description of focus areas

Ease of Use

Rapid response: The diagnostic team can be deployed within 6-8 weeks of the initial request.

Light footprint: Logistics and scheduling are independently managed and do not require significant mission involvement.

Flexibility: While the underlying approach to each diagnostic is the same, EAT analysis is flexible enough to handle most mission demands.

Easy buy in: Diagnostics do not require a new task order - US Agencies can simply buy into the project and transfer funds through the GLAAS system.

Follow up: The EAT program helps integrate assessment results into existing and future programs, activities and strategies.

The Result

AgCLIR diagnostic teams measure key indicators of the country's agribusiness environment, with a deep-dive analysis of the pertinent legal framework, implementing institutions, and social dynamics. These diagnostics form the analytical base for a detailed report that reveals major cross-cutting themes, priorities, and opportunities for reform. Other benefits include:

  • Quick diagnosis that allows for rapid-response reform programs;
  • Action-oriented recommendations that identify programmatic priorities for remedying key constraints in the AgBEE
  • Roundtable events that spur public-private cooperation, problem-solving, and opportunities for regional comparison and dialogue.

Recent uses:

  • USAID/Zambia: Used AgCLIR as a foundation to strengthen draft legislation to reduce the negative impact of the government's maize marketing activities.
  • USAID/Ghana: Used AgCLIR as a reference document for all incoming USAID professionals involved in agricultural assistance and as a foundation for further agriculture related initiatives, including MCC's constraints analysis.
  • USAID/Nigeria: Used AgCLIR as a direct source of information to specifically program a $7 million USAID activity dedicated to strengthening the business environment for agriculture.
  • USAID/Senegal: Used AgCLIR as the basis of a locally formulated action plan for legislative and institutional reform.
  • USAID/Uganda: Used AgCLIR as a resource for negotiation and discussion with government and other stakeholders, and to design new Feed the Future programs.
  • USAID/Kosovo: Used AgCLIR as the basis for a USAID-sponsored project for agriculture and as a mechanism for consensus-building among donors and government agencies.
Past Reports

AgCLIR diagnostics have been completed in the following countries:

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