Objectives and Hypotheses The overall objective of the SARD-FSE Project is to increase national capacity to prepare and implement sustainable agriculture and rural development (SARD) policies and thereby strengthen the participation of concerned stakeholders and targeted beneficiaries. To achieve this objective, the Project will conduct case studies and thereof analyse simultaneously the institutional, social, economic and environmental factors influencing the evolution of farming systems towards SARD in selected developing countries. To assist in effectively targeting development assistance, the Project will assess and test the following hypothesis or premises underlying its justification: