Participatory market chain approach (PMCA): User guide

This tool was developed by CIP and partners to stimulate commercial, technological and institutional innovations and generate business opportunities that benefit small-scale farmers. This methodology structures a participatory process that involves different chain actors (public and private), including smallholders and business sector, focus on market demand, guided by facilitators and organized around three phases (diagnosis, analysis of opportunities and development of innovations). The tool have been tested in LAC (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia),presented and implemented in Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) and Indonesia and the Philippines.  User guide and training manual developed. We are currently working on integrating a gender approach to the methodology with support from CRP2 and promoting interaction between LAC and SSA in coordination with CRP-RTB.

On sustainability, PMCA team created a user guide called impact filter that provides a  rapid qualitative evaluation of the expected impact that different market opportunities are likely to have on poverty, and on social and environmental objectives. It enables R&D organizations to plan and guide interventions more effectively.