This article draws on four contrasting cases of value chain development (VCD) in Nicaragua to assess approaches and tools used in design and implementation. We interviewed 28 representatives from the international NGOs leading the interventions, the local NGOs that participated in implementation, principal buyers, and cooperatives. Despite the complexity of market systems, results showed a relatively basic approach to VCD, reflected in: 1) reliance on a single tool for design and implementation; 2) expected outcomes based on technical assistance and training for smallholders and cooperatives; 3) local NGOs and cooperatives with key roles in implementation; and 4) limited engagement with other chain actors, service providers, and researchers. We conclude with a call for a broader approach to VCD, based on a combination of tools to account for multiple, context-specific needs of diverse stakeholders, deeper collaboration between key actors within and outside the value chain, and evidence-based reflection and learning.

Albu, M. and Griffith, A. (2006) ‘Mapping the market: participatory market chain development in practice’, Small Enterprise Development 17(2): 12–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.016>.

Cattaneo, O., Gereffi, G. and Staritz, C. (eds.) (2010) Global Value Chains in a Postcrisis World: A Development Perspective, Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.

Devaux, A., Torero, M., Donovan, J. and Horton, D. (eds.) (2016) Innovation for Inclusive Value Chain Development: Successes and Challenges, Washington, DC: IFPRI.

Donovan, J., Franzel, S., Cunha, M., Gyau, A. and Mithofer, D. (2015) ‘Guides for value chain development: a comparative review’, Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies 5(1): 1–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-07-2013-0025>.

Hobbs, J., Cooney, A. and Fulton, M. (2000) Value Chains in the Agri-Food Sector: What Are They? How Do They Work? Are They For Me? Saskatoon, Canada: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan.

Humphrey, J. and Memedovic, O. (2006) Global Value Chains in the Agrifood Sector, Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Humphrey, J. and Navas-Alemán, L. (2010) Value Chains, Donor Interventions, and Poverty Reduction: A Review of Donor Practice, IDS Research Report 63, Brighton, UK: IDS.

Lundy, M., Becx, G., Zamierowski, N., Amrein, A., Jairo, J., Mosquera, E. and Rodríguez, F. (2012) LINK Methodology: A Participatory Guide to Business Models that Link Smallholders to Markets, CIAT Publication No. 380, Cali, Colombia: CIAT.

Lusby, F. and Derks, E. (2006) ‘Shea kernels from Mali: a value chain case study’, Small Enterprise Development 17(2): 36–46 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.018>.

Meyer-Stamer, J. (2006) ‘Marking market systems work? For the poor?’ Small Enterprise Development 17(4): 21–32 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.041>.

Senders, A., Lentink, A., Facet, T., Vanderschaeghe, M. and Terrillon, J. (2013) Gender in Value Chains: Practical Toolkit to Integrate a Gender Perspective in Agricultural Value Chain Development, Arnhem, the Netherlands: Agri-ProFocus.

Seville, D., Duxton, A. and Vorley, B. (2011) Under what Conditions are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-poor Development? London: International Institute for Environment and Development and Hartland, VT: Sustainable Food Lab.

SNV (2008) Inclusive Business: Profitable Business for Successful Development, SNV and World Business Council for Sustainable Development, The Hague, Netherlands: SNV.

Stoian, D., Donovan, J., Fisk, J. and Muldoon, M. (2012) ‘Value chain development for rural poverty reduction: a reality check and a warning’, Enterprise Development and Microfinance 23(1): 54–69 <http://dx.doi.org/10.2499/9780896292130_02>.

Terrillon, J. (2010) Gender Mainstreaming in Value Chain Development: Practical Guidelines and Tools, The Hague, The Netherlands: Corporate Network Agriculture SNV.

Albu, M. and Griffith, A. (2006) ‘Mapping the market: participatory market chain development in practice’, Small Enterprise Development 17(2): 12–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.016>.

Cattaneo, O., Gereffi, G. and Staritz, C. (eds.) (2010) Global Value Chains in a Postcrisis World: A Development Perspective, Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.

Devaux, A., Torero, M., Donovan, J. and Horton, D. (eds.) (2016) Innovation for Inclusive Value Chain Development: Successes and Challenges, Washington, DC: IFPRI.

Donovan, J., Franzel, S., Cunha, M., Gyau, A. and Mithofer, D. (2015) ‘Guides for value chain development: a comparative review’, Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies 5(1): 1–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-07-2013-0025>.

Hobbs, J., Cooney, A. and Fulton, M. (2000) Value Chains in the Agri-Food Sector: What Are They? How Do They Work? Are They For Me? Saskatoon, Canada: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan.

Humphrey, J. and Memedovic, O. (2006) Global Value Chains in the Agrifood Sector, Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Humphrey, J. and Navas-Alemán, L. (2010) Value Chains, Donor Interventions, and Poverty Reduction: A Review of Donor Practice, IDS Research Report 63, Brighton, UK: IDS.

Lundy, M., Becx, G., Zamierowski, N., Amrein, A., Jairo, J., Mosquera, E. and Rodríguez, F. (2012) LINK Methodology: A Participatory Guide to Business Models that Link Smallholders to Markets, CIAT Publication No. 380, Cali, Colombia: CIAT.

Lusby, F. and Derks, E. (2006) ‘Shea kernels from Mali: a value chain case study’, Small Enterprise Development 17(2): 36–46 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.018>.

Meyer-Stamer, J. (2006) ‘Marking market systems work? For the poor?’ Small Enterprise Development 17(4): 21–32 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.041>.

Senders, A., Lentink, A., Facet, T., Vanderschaeghe, M. and Terrillon, J. (2013) Gender in Value Chains: Practical Toolkit to Integrate a Gender Perspective in Agricultural Value Chain Development, Arnhem, the Netherlands: Agri-ProFocus.

Seville, D., Duxton, A. and Vorley, B. (2011) Under what Conditions are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-poor Development? London: International Institute for Environment and Development and Hartland, VT: Sustainable Food Lab.

SNV (2008) Inclusive Business: Profitable Business for Successful Development, SNV and World Business Council for Sustainable Development, The Hague, Netherlands: SNV.

Stoian, D., Donovan, J., Fisk, J. and Muldoon, M. (2012) ‘Value chain development for rural poverty reduction: a reality check and a warning’, Enterprise Development and Microfinance 23(1): 54–69 <http://dx.doi.org/10.2499/9780896292130_02>.

Terrillon, J. (2010) Gender Mainstreaming in Value Chain Development: Practical Guidelines and Tools, The Hague, The Netherlands: Corporate Network Agriculture SNV.

Albu, M. and Griffith, A. (2006) ‘Mapping the market: participatory market chain development in practice’, Small Enterprise Development 17(2): 12–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.016>.

Cattaneo, O., Gereffi, G. and Staritz, C. (eds.) (2010) Global Value Chains in a Postcrisis World: A Development Perspective, Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.

Devaux, A., Torero, M., Donovan, J. and Horton, D. (eds.) (2016) Innovation for Inclusive Value Chain Development: Successes and Challenges, Washington, DC: IFPRI.

Donovan, J., Franzel, S., Cunha, M., Gyau, A. and Mithofer, D. (2015) ‘Guides for value chain development: a comparative review’, Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies 5(1): 1–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-07-2013-0025>.

Hobbs, J., Cooney, A. and Fulton, M. (2000) Value Chains in the Agri-Food Sector: What Are They? How Do They Work? Are They For Me? Saskatoon, Canada: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan.

Humphrey, J. and Memedovic, O. (2006) Global Value Chains in the Agrifood Sector, Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Humphrey, J. and Navas-Alemán, L. (2010) Value Chains, Donor Interventions, and Poverty Reduction: A Review of Donor Practice, IDS Research Report 63, Brighton, UK: IDS.

Lundy, M., Becx, G., Zamierowski, N., Amrein, A., Jairo, J., Mosquera, E. and Rodríguez, F. (2012) LINK Methodology: A Participatory Guide to Business Models that Link Smallholders to Markets, CIAT Publication No. 380, Cali, Colombia: CIAT.

Lusby, F. and Derks, E. (2006) ‘Shea kernels from Mali: a value chain case study’, Small Enterprise Development 17(2): 36–46 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.018>.

Meyer-Stamer, J. (2006) ‘Marking market systems work? For the poor?’ Small Enterprise Development 17(4): 21–32 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.041>.

Senders, A., Lentink, A., Facet, T., Vanderschaeghe, M. and Terrillon, J. (2013) Gender in Value Chains: Practical Toolkit to Integrate a Gender Perspective in Agricultural Value Chain Development, Arnhem, the Netherlands: Agri-ProFocus.

Seville, D., Duxton, A. and Vorley, B. (2011) Under what Conditions are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-poor Development? London: International Institute for Environment and Development and Hartland, VT: Sustainable Food Lab.

SNV (2008) Inclusive Business: Profitable Business for Successful Development, SNV and World Business Council for Sustainable Development, The Hague, Netherlands: SNV.

Stoian, D., Donovan, J., Fisk, J. and Muldoon, M. (2012) ‘Value chain development for rural poverty reduction: a reality check and a warning’, Enterprise Development and Microfinance 23(1): 54–69 <http://dx.doi.org/10.2499/9780896292130_02>.

Terrillon, J. (2010) Gender Mainstreaming in Value Chain Development: Practical Guidelines and Tools, The Hague, The Netherlands: Corporate Network Agriculture SNV.

Albu, M. and Griffith, A. (2006) ‘Mapping the market: participatory market chain development in practice’, Small Enterprise Development 17(2): 12–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.016>.

Cattaneo, O., Gereffi, G. and Staritz, C. (eds.) (2010) Global Value Chains in a Postcrisis World: A Development Perspective, Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.

Devaux, A., Torero, M., Donovan, J. and Horton, D. (eds.) (2016) Innovation for Inclusive Value Chain Development: Successes and Challenges, Washington, DC: IFPRI.

Donovan, J., Franzel, S., Cunha, M., Gyau, A. and Mithofer, D. (2015) ‘Guides for value chain development: a comparative review’, Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies 5(1): 1–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-07-2013-0025>.

Hobbs, J., Cooney, A. and Fulton, M. (2000) Value Chains in the Agri-Food Sector: What Are They? How Do They Work? Are They For Me? Saskatoon, Canada: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan.

Humphrey, J. and Memedovic, O. (2006) Global Value Chains in the Agrifood Sector, Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Humphrey, J. and Navas-Alemán, L. (2010) Value Chains, Donor Interventions, and Poverty Reduction: A Review of Donor Practice, IDS Research Report 63, Brighton, UK: IDS.

Lundy, M., Becx, G., Zamierowski, N., Amrein, A., Jairo, J., Mosquera, E. and Rodríguez, F. (2012) LINK Methodology: A Participatory Guide to Business Models that Link Smallholders to Markets, CIAT Publication No. 380, Cali, Colombia: CIAT.

Lusby, F. and Derks, E. (2006) ‘Shea kernels from Mali: a value chain case study’, Small Enterprise Development 17(2): 36–46 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.018>.

Meyer-Stamer, J. (2006) ‘Marking market systems work? For the poor?’ Small Enterprise Development 17(4): 21–32 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2006.041>.

Senders, A., Lentink, A., Facet, T., Vanderschaeghe, M. and Terrillon, J. (2013) Gender in Value Chains: Practical Toolkit to Integrate a Gender Perspective in Agricultural Value Chain Development, Arnhem, the Netherlands: Agri-ProFocus.

Seville, D., Duxton, A. and Vorley, B. (2011) Under what Conditions are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-poor Development? London: International Institute for Environment and Development and Hartland, VT: Sustainable Food Lab.

SNV (2008) Inclusive Business: Profitable Business for Successful Development, SNV and World Business Council for Sustainable Development, The Hague, Netherlands: SNV.

Stoian, D., Donovan, J., Fisk, J. and Muldoon, M. (2012) ‘Value chain development for rural poverty reduction: a reality check and a warning’, Enterprise Development and Microfinance 23(1): 54–69 <http://dx.doi.org/10.2499/9780896292130_02>.

Terrillon, J. (2010) Gender Mainstreaming in Value Chain Development: Practical Guidelines and Tools, The Hague, The Netherlands: Corporate Network Agriculture SNV.