Using Market Assessment Information to Design and Implement a Market Development Program, SEEP PLP 2005
| Implementing agency(ies) | SEEP | |
|---|---|---|
| Funding agency(ies) | USAID | |
| Date completed | January 2005 | |
| Target Group(s) | Farmers, Micro | |
| Issues/challenges | weak markets, microenterprises | |
| Contact person(s) | Mr. Jimmy Harris | |
| Country(ies) | Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa |
- Description
This e-mail-based discussion was the culmination of a two-year learning process in which participating organizations planned and conducted market assessments and used the resulting information in piloting market development interventions, while sharing their challenges and lessons with PLP colleagues throughout the process. This discussion focused on how organizations could use market assessment information to design and implement BDS market development programs targeting microenterprises. The discussion covered the following topics:
1) attracting commercial BDS providers
2) sharing financial risk with BDS providers
3) stimulating demand for BDS in weak markets and among marginal microentrepreneurs
4) promoting commercial service provision in the context of free services provided by government and NGOs
5) how providers can cover costs when working with the poor
6) how facilitators can help providers develop appropriate prices and payment mechanisms for services
7) how organizations can measure the success of a new business service after the pilot phase
8) what are the greatest challenges to using market assessment information for program design and what are strategies to overcome them.
The document also contains a summary of the discussion participants' programs.
Using MA info to design and implement a MD program, SEEP 2005