Training Course on Agricultural Market Systems Development

About the Course

Agricultural markets are at the heart of the development process. Food and agriculture markets expand consumers’ choices and create incentives for farmers. Well‐functioning markets and trade enable the optimal allocation of resources, diffuse knowledge and technologies, and provide avenues that link agriculture with other sectors of the economy. Thus, the market mechanism is crucial for the structural transformation of the economy and for growth and development. Markets are vital to improving the livelihoods of millions of people and can provide additional benefits, such as contributing to food security by ensuring that food moves from surplus to deficit areas. Smallholder farmers in developing countries require a combination of agricultural and business skills to truly succeed in a market system. This training course on Agricultural Market Systems Development is expected to build capacity of participants in championing a wide-ranging change in the agricultural marketing subsector, with the aim of making rural markets work better and empowering smallholders within the markets.

Target Participants

This course is useful for agricultural professionals who are involved in market systems development in rural intervention programming.

What you will learn

By the end of the course the learner should be able to:

• Gain familiarity with the guiding principles of value chain programs/projects that seek to improve competitiveness and benefits to Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through sustainable market-based solutions.
• Understand the foundations of market system development, making markets work for the poor (M4P) and value chain promotion and their advantages and disadvantages.
• Enhance analytical skills to determine market requirements and identify competitive challenges.
• Understand the different roles that various actors (e.g. governments, not-for-profits, the private sector) play in value chains and stimulating development.
• Evaluate the rationale of existing policies of regulation, taxation and the exchange rate, among other things, to contribute to improved marketing system efficiency
• Appreciate the types of market infrastructures needed for a good market system
• Gain knowledge on how to establish and strengthen vertical and horizontal linkages among producer groups, grass-roots institutions, processors, local marketing chains and exporters

Course duration

5 days

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction

Introduction to Market Systems

• What is a ‘market’?
• What is a marketplace?
• An introduction to market systems
• Market system terminology
• The Market Systems Approach in the Agricultural Sector
• Key tools in market systems
• Identification of the market actors on the demand and supply side for market.
• Selecting the major (e.g. highly influential) supporting functions, rules and norms of the market system

The Market System Development principles

• Systems Approach
• MSD concepts
• MSD lifecycle

Module 2: MSD lifecycle & selecting the right market system

• Selecting the targeted market system
• Market systems analysis
• Underlying systemic constraints

Module 3: Market Analysis, Development and Linkages

Market Analysis and Development

• Introduction to market analysis
• Supply, demand and price setting
• Standards and certification
• Analyzing competition

Market Linkages

• Introduction to market linkages
• Types of market linkages
• Factors affecting success of linkages
• Enabling environment in market linkages

Module 4: Market System Development Programming (MSD)

Interventions design & implementation

• Broad-based Benefits from Connecting Smallholder Farmers to Markets
• The Challenge of Rural Market Access in Developing Countries
• Strengthening Value Chains to Benefit Small Producers
• Designing and Managing for Inclusive Market System Growth
• Framework for understanding complex local systems
• Key principles in enhancing ownership and avoiding dependency in project interventions
• Leveraging the Digital Transformation to Improve Market Access
• Building interventions strategies
• Selecting and creating partnerships
• Facilitation tactics to build ownership and avoid dependency

• Input Supply Market Development Strategies.

Monitoring & Evaluation in MSD

• Measuring programs impact differently
• Creating results chain and type of systems change
• Measuring systemic change

Module 5: Challenges of Market System and Sustainability of Markets

Market System Constraints

• What is a market constraint?
• Example Market System Constraints
• How to overcome market system constraints

Sustainability aspects in market systems

• The role of partnerships in markets.
• Scaling up and sustainability in a market system.
• Good Practices for Integrating Gender Equality in market systems.
• Increasing Women’s Profitable Participation in Market Systems

Training Approach

This course is delivered by our seasoned trainers who have vast experience as expert professionals in the respective fields of practice. The course is taught through a mix of practical activities, theory, group works and case studies.

Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.

Certification

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a certificate.

Tailor-Made Course on Agricultural Market Systems Development

We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact us to find out more [email protected]

Payment

The training fee covers tuition fees, learning materials, and training venue. Accommodation and airport transfer are arranged for our participants upon request.

Payment should be sent to our bank account before start of training and proof of payment sent to [email protected]