Value chains and access to markets

The development of functioning value chains and the access of farmers to markets are a precondition for successful economic development in rural areas. Better rural infrastructure, agricultural input provision, favorable legal framework conditions, market information, financial and advisory services as well as skills development can improve the possibilities of small-scale farmers to seize market opportunities.

For more info on value chain development see: SDC Employment and Income network.

Feature

Working Paper on ‘Facilitating change in M4P programmes'
SDC, July 2011, PDF, 943 KB
Looking critically at the current practice this paper discusses the implications of being a facilitator in a M4P programme: not only the choices that need to be made, but also the practical implications for strategic, conceptual and operational planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Other key documents

Evaluative Lessons for Agriculture and Agribusiness
ECG Paper 3, Evaluation Cooperation Group (ECG), The World Bank, January 2011
PDF, 1353 KB

Making the most of agricultural investment: A survey of business models that provide opportunities for smallholders
S.Vermeulen / L. Cotula, IIED / FAO / IFAD / SDC, 2010
PDF, 952 KB

The Organic Business Guide. Developing sustainable value chains with smallholders
B. van Elzakker / F. Eyhorn, IFOAM et al., 2010
PDF, 5568 KB

A synthesis of The Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) Approach
SDC, October 2008
PDF, 940 KB

Market approaches that work for development – How the private sector can contribute to poverty reduction
SDC, September 2008
PDF, 4375 KB

Linking African Smallholders to High-Value Markets: Practitioner Perspectives on Benefits, Constraints, and Interventions
Policy Research Working Paper 4573. S. Henson et al. The World Bank, March 2008
PDF, 410 KB

Donor Interventions in Value Chain Development
Working Paper, Community of Practice on Value Chains in Rural Development, SDC, July 2007
PDF, 476 KB 

Video

Sustainable Agricultural Support in Albania: Main Market Development Achievements
Video by FiBL, November 2011

Further information