January 20, 2012

Pathways out of Poverty E-Consultation Focuses on Reaching Very Poor

Development Practitioners Share Emerging Learning, Challenges for Market-based Approaches

On January 17 and 18 ACDI/VOCA hosted an e-consultation on Pathways out of Poverty: Reaching the Very Poor with Market Development Approaches. This topic is of growing importance as research shows the very poor are often an elusive target for market-based development as a result of constraints that preclude them from attracting the attention of private sector actors and from participating in project-facilitated interventions.

The two-day online discussion, made possible through the USAID-funded Accelerated Microenterprise Advancement Project (AMAP) Knowledge and Practice II contract, focused on emerging learning and common challenges. It saw over 100 posts from dozens of practitioners around the globe.

Examining Current Challenges to Ensure Future Success

Three key themes grounded the first day: challenges/tensions around targeting the very poor while maintaining a market-systems approach, behavior change and the role of trust, and sequencing (particularly of savings). In addition to a wealth of discussions and insights shared from thought leaders at a multitude of organizations, ACDI/VOCA’s own technical expert Geoff Chalmers shared ACDI/VOCA’s experience in Ghana under the USAID-funded Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) project, generating rich discussion. Enterprise development specialist Anna Cuny and Managing Director Ruth Campbell highlighted recent AMAP products, including eight case studies from the field, a synthesis of poverty-related tools for value chain practitioners and a discussion paper. Campbell also delivered the opening screen cast for the e-consultation.

On the second day, participants further examined key value chain approach tenets within the context of working with the very poor, such as facilitation and prioritizing systemic change. Participants also shared knowledge and practice gaps and indicated where they felt discussion, research, practice, and investments should be focused in the future.

Summaries of day one and day two, along with links to other AMAP resources on reaching the very poor with market-based approaches, are available at: http://microlinks.kdid.org/groups/speakers-corner/e-consultation-pathways-out-poverty/discussion-resources

Value Chain Approach to Development Efforts

ACDI/VOCA uses a value chain systems approach to understand private sector development in emerging economy settings in order to jumpstart economic growth and poverty reduction.

Learn more about the value chain approach and access free downloadable case studies, methodologies, tools and more from our value chain publication library.