Session summary
This GeoField 2026 session presents three applied use cases showing how Earth observation can strengthen impact evaluation in climate-stressed agricultural landscapes in Niger and Somalia.
Moderator: Aaron Eubank
Rainwater Harvesting in Niger
Kunwar K. Singh presents an evaluation of demi-lune rainwater harvesting interventions in southern Niger. The study uses high-resolution imagery, deep learning, Landsat-based vegetation and moisture indicators, and a staggered difference-in-differences design to estimate the long-term landscape effects of demi-lunes on vegetation greenness and moisture retention.
Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration in Niger
Arnaud Dakpogan and Jessica Wells present an ongoing randomized controlled trial on farmer-managed natural regeneration. The study examines whether training and formal land-rights certificates increase adoption of practices that protect and manage naturally regenerating trees on agricultural land, while using Earth observation to track woody vegetation, biomass, carbon absorption, and related livelihood outcomes.
Irrigation Canal Rehabilitation in Somalia
Kamran Khan Niazi and Ariel BenYishay present an evaluation of canal rehabilitation and resilience-building interventions in Somalia. Focusing on FAO-supported projects in the Jowhar and Marka districts, the study uses Sentinel-2 imagery, irrigation infrastructure maps, comparison areas, and synthetic control methods to assess whether canal rehabilitation improved water availability and vegetation outcomes.
Together, the session illustrates both the promise and limits of geospatial impact evaluation. Earth observation can detect landscape-scale change, support retrospective and prospective evaluation designs, and extend learning in places where field data are limited, while still requiring careful attention to local context, ground validation, intervention timing, and research design.