PRACTICAL ACTION

technology, innovation and passion

to eradicate poverty

established in 1966

as a charity

organisation

working in more than

15 countries

our vision is a sustainable

world free of poverty and

injustice in which technology

is used to the benefit of all

Practical Action in

Nepal: Practical Action (then ITDG) started its

work in 1979, initially concentrating on the

development and transfers of micro-hydro

technologies

Country Office established in 1998 and

focused on agro-processing, transport and

energy.

Current focuses in Nepal Four international programme AIMS:

Reducing Vulnerability

Markets and livelihoods

Improving access to useful services,

systems and structures; and

Responding to new technologies

Focus of presentation Making markets work for the poor:

In Nepal, Practical Action is working with

over 80,000 smallholder farmers to help

them access rewarding markets

Practical Action marries the unique

approach of the M4P framework with our

capabilities in technological innovations

The PMSD approach Participatory Market Systems

Development (PMSD). What is it?

It is an approach to market development for the

poor that is:

Systemic i.e. it considers the market

as a complex, dynamic system and

takes a holistic focus.

Participatory i.e. it involves poor

producers and other market system

actors in identifying opportunities and

constraints, and developing action

plans

The PMSD approach Participatory Market Systems

Development (PMSD). What is it?

It is an approach to market development for the

poor that is:

Systemic i.e. it considers the market

as a complex, dynamic system and

takes a holistic focus.

Participatory i.e. it involves poor

producers and other market system

actors in identifying opportunities and

constraints, and developing action

plans

Key elements of PMSD PMSD approach uses four principles to

design and implement pro-poor market

development projects

Systemic thinking: taking into account the

issues and the interplay within the market

system and addressing issues across the value

chain rather than only focusing on producers.

Facilitation role: we focus on building

ownership, capacities and resources of the

market actors while developing shared visions

and catalysing innovations. We are NOT

directly involved in the market system.

Key elements of PMSD (contd…) PMSD approach uses four principles to

design and implement pro-poor market

development projects

Sustainability: Requires jointly exploring new

ideas and innovations to be ‘owned’ by the

market actors and understanding and ‘shaping’

incentives for market actors to realise value in

performing new roles.

Scaling-up: Promising practices and innovative

business models are communicated via a

series of routines and spaces to ‘crowd-in’ more

actors and scaling-up in other locations and

sectors.

Outcomes What are the outcomes of using a PMSD approach?

More dialogue, better collaboration, leading to…

Stronger, more equitable Market-Chain Linkages & Relationships

Enabling environment – identification of issues and a plan for action… towards:

A more enabling, pro-poor Policy & Business

Environment

Assessment of demand for services e.g market intelligence; quality standards

leading to…

Viable, sustainable markets for Business & Extension Services