Resources: Design and Implementation

D. Design and Implementation Resources

E. Impact Assessment Resources

IV. Special Topics

>>Newly added Getting to Good Enough in Product Upgrading: SDCAsia and the Cardava Banana Value Chain, SDCAsia; 2009. This case study looks at SDCAsia’s “good enough” approach to Good Agricultural Practices—a choice to promote feasible, incremental improvements in agricultural practices that result in the largest possible increases in yields and profits.

Combining Strategic Analysis and Change Management: A Tool for Improving the Competitiveness of Firms: This paper describes The Cluster Competitiveness Group’s methodology for combining analysis and change management to improve cluster competitiveness and ensure that lessons learned can be assimilated by local teams working on new cluster initiatives elsewhere in the world.

Facilitating Behavior Change and Transforming Relationships: Field Application of Key Value Chain Principles: This paper by SDCAsia aims to present field applications of key principles of the value chain approach with a focus on emerging best practices for transforming relationships and changing behavior. The paper serves as a guide to the phases in relationship building and transformation, and the corresponding facilitation activities.

Striving toward a Competitive Industry: The Importance of Dynamic Value Chain Facilitation: Systemic constraints and opportunities within a value chain are constantly shifting, and have a direct influence on the upgrading strategy. It is critical that dynamic facilitation is applied to not only capture and read these signals, but to actively respond with new interventions to ensure the necessary outcome is achieved. This by Emerging Markets Group paper highlights the importance of dynamic facilitation within the value chain approach. Specifically, it examines approaches for embedding active read-and-respond mechanisms within the management systems of a facilitator, while providing practical examples of how a program actively applies a follow-on facilitation strategy.

In-depth End Market Analysis and Bottom-up Business Environment Reform: As value chain analysis matures as a development approach, it is increasingly important to improve its effectiveness through enhancing and building on its most successful components. This paper by DAI, Inc. describes tools and examples to increase the rigor of two phases of the value chain approach: end market analysis and business environment analysis and reform. These in-depth tools assist practitioners and stakeholders in assessing and prioritizing upgrading needs and can be implemented alongside or independently of standard value chain analysis.

Successful Practices in Value Chain Development: Lessons Emerging from J.E. Austin Associates: JE Austin Associates examined its recent experience in value chain development projects in light of the key elements of the value chain approach articulated by the USAID Microenterprise Development Office through the Accelerated Microenterprise Advancement Project (AMAP).

Working with Lead Firms within the Value Chain Approach: In the field of private sector and value chain development, practitioners frequently come across dynamic firms that play a critical role in moving their industry and other value chain participants forward. The objective of this paper by Action for Enterprise is to explore the topic of working with such lead firms in a value chain context.

Butterflies, Icebergs and Elephants: Using Language and Data to Mobilize Value Chains: This paper by the OTF Group attempts to provide a framework for value chain implementers and facilitators for using data and language to connect with their clients, build trust and spur them to action. The paper illustrates this framework with a detailed example from a recent OTF engagement in Burundi’s coffee industry.

The Dominican Republic Mango Value Chain: Transforming Relationships to Increase Competitiveness and Focus on End Markets: This paper focuses on the efforts of USAID/Dominican Republic (USAID/DR) under the Competitiveness and Policy Program (CPP) implemented by Chemonics to strengthen the mango value chain by transforming relationships to increase competitiveness, and by focusing on end markets. The paper is structured based on major lessons learned as well as key best practices derived from these lessons.

Participatory Market System Development: Best Practices in Implementation of Value Chain Development Programs: Practical Action's International Markets and Livelihoods Program has been evolving an approach to market development for the poor that is both systemic and participatory. This paper shares some of its learning and experience from past and current projects in Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Taking a systemic perspective has influenced the decision-making processes of program teams, particularly in the vision for market change and the scale and impact that can be achieved. As the dairy subsector in Nepal illustrates, an analytical framework (the Market Map) is useful to understand market systems.

Case Study:The Farm-to-Market Value Chain Approach: Linking Smallholders to Wal-mart in Honduras: This case study by Fintrac highlights sustainable, systems-focused technical support for smallholders linked with Wal-Mart (registered as Hortifruti in Honduras) and other buyers. The program relied on such elements on the value chain approach as a market system perspective, recognition of the importance of relationships, and facilitating changes in firm behavior.

Agriculture for Children’s Empowerment Project (ACE) 2008 Workplan, USAID/Liberia-funded project.

Access Project Indonesia: The Chili Show: SME stories on facilitating SME access to information: A case study on facilitating SME access to information, Swisscontact; 2008.