A growing collection of published evidence, insights and practical resources from across COSA’s work. The Learning Library brings together research, briefs, case studies, tools and implementation learning that translate evidence and experience into knowledge that can inform programmes, practice and decision-making.
Selected by the COSA team
In Burundi, real-world testing showed that technology alone isn’t enough. Digital literacy, connectivity, power and trusted local support can determine whether farmers actually use, and benefit from, digital tools.
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Evidence from Malawi shows how cost, finance and climate shocks shape what farmers can actually gain from agricultural inputs—and how Agile Data can reveal these realities faster and more affordably.
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In Uganda, Agile Data revealed that price matters—but so do cash on hand, awareness and access. And when fertilizer became more affordable, farmers bought more and yields increased.
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In India, Agile Data revealed that 85% of cotton-farming households had experienced a shock - and more than half resorted to harmful coping strategies. Faster, lower-cost data can help programmes understand resilience while there is still time to respond.
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In Sudan, frequent farmer feedback revealed rising exposure to shocks and slow recovery, showing how Agile Data can help programmes identify vulnerability and adapt while there is still time to act.
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In Burundi, farmer-reported App data underestimated coffee production by 24%, revealing a critical Agile Data lesson: technology alone doesn’t guarantee better data. Participation, validation and triangulation matter.
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In Burundi, the answer wasn’t simply technology or incentives. Farmers were more likely to stay engaged when their peers were using the tool, they learned by doing, and the data collection was relevant to what was happening on their farms.
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Agile Data testing suggests you can - but only if the method fits the context. CATI delivered approximately 54% cost savings while generating credible, timely evidence, yet phone access, gender, trust and connectivity can materially affect who gets heard.
IVR can make data collection faster, more cost-effective, and scalable, particularly for short, structured surveys and ongoing monitoring. However, its value depends on deliberate design and contextual fit, with participation shaped by factors such as network access, trust, survey length, and the availability of human support.
Agile Data approaches can substantially reduce the cost and time required for data collection while generating informative information to support program learning and adaptive management. However, these efficiency gains come with operational trade-offs, including respondent reach, connectivity, data quality, and verification, that require deliberate design and context-specific mitigation strategies.
Agile Data testing suggests you can - but only if the method fits the context. CATI delivered approximately 54% cost savings while generating credible, timely evidence, yet phone access, gender, trust and connectivity can materially affect who gets heard.
WhatsApp can make data collection dramatically more cost-effective and timely, but its value depends on accepting and managing lower participation. Rather than replacing traditional surveys, it offers a practical way to generate actionable insights from an existing farmer network.