The topic of this article is not whether applying the value chain approach leads to pro-poor developments or not, but whether value chain development creates rural employment and reduces poverty. This article introduces the changing agricultural context and factors influencing rural employment. It discusses the increasing casualization and feminization of labour, as well as increasing inequalities within chains. It concludes that value chain development does not automatically lead to employment creation; instead there are opportunities for employment creation but only if employment creation is made an explicit objective in the selection of subsectors and value chain development interventions. Donors and NGOs need to let go of the ‘smallholders-only approach’ and look for innovative changes that improve the performance of the entire chain. Promoting the development of value chains for local markets appears more promising than for export markets.

Albu, M. and Scott, A. (2001) ‘Understanding livelihoods that involve microenterprise: markets and technological capabilities in the SL framework’, Intermediate Technology Development Group and Schumacher Centre for Technology Development, Rugby.

Altenburg,T. (2006) Donor Approaches to Supporting Pro-poor Value Chains, German Development Institute.

Barrientos, S. (2005) ‘Impact assessment and labour: developing a learning approach’, Journal of International Development 17.

Bear, Marshall (2007) ‘A systemic approach to value chain interventions’, SDC SED Workshop, Gerzensee, January 2007.

Bryceson, Deborah (1996) ‘Deagrarianisation and rural employment in sub Saharan Africa: a sectoral perspective’, World Development, Vol 24, No. 1 Elsevier Science Ltd, UK

Dolan, C. (2004) On Farm and Packhouse: Employment at the Bottom of a Global Value Chain, Rural Sociology, Academic Research Library.

Fairbanks, M. and Lindsay, S. (1997) Plowing the Sea: Nurturing the Hidden Sources of Growth in the Developing World, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA.

Gereffi, G. and Sturgeon, T. (2004) Globalisation, Employment and Economic Development: a Briefing Paper, Sloan Workshop Series in Industry Studies, Rockport, MA.

Humphrey, J. (2005) Shaping Value Chains for Development: Global Value Chains in Agribusiness, GTZ Trade Programme, Eschborn.

Hurst, P. (2003) Agricultural Workers and their Contribution to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, FAO-ILO-IUF.

Kaplinski, R. (2000) Spreading the Gains from Globalisation: What can be Learned from Value Chain Analysis?, Working Paper 110, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton.

M4P (2005) ‘Participation of the poor in supermarkets and other distribution value chains’, in Making Markets Work Better 4 the Poor, ADB Discussion Paper no. 11, ADB, Manila.

Reardon (2003) ‘The rise of supermarkets across Africa threatens small farmers - opportunities and challenges in a changing market’, FAO workshop 8 October, Rome.

SNV (2003) Selected Case Studies, SSA - Sub sector Analyses - Angola, SNV Reference Guide on Business Development Services, The Netherlands.

Swinnen, J. and Maertens, M. (2006) Globalisation, Privatization, and Vertical Coordination in Food Value Chains in Developing and Transition Countries, Plenary Paper for the International Association of Agricultural Economists Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.

Tanburn, J. (2006) ‘Private sector development and the poor - current thinking and future directions’, Small Enterprise Development 17 (4).

UNICEF (undated) Child Labour Resource Guide Appendix 6 - developing child labour policies: examples from major businesses, UNICEF.

Albu, M. and Scott, A. (2001) ‘Understanding livelihoods that involve microenterprise: markets and technological capabilities in the SL framework’, Intermediate Technology Development Group and Schumacher Centre for Technology Development, Rugby.

Altenburg,T. (2006) Donor Approaches to Supporting Pro-poor Value Chains, German Development Institute.

Barrientos, S. (2005) ‘Impact assessment and labour: developing a learning approach’, Journal of International Development 17.

Bear, Marshall (2007) ‘A systemic approach to value chain interventions’, SDC SED Workshop, Gerzensee, January 2007.

Bryceson, Deborah (1996) ‘Deagrarianisation and rural employment in sub Saharan Africa: a sectoral perspective’, World Development, Vol 24, No. 1 Elsevier Science Ltd, UK

Dolan, C. (2004) On Farm and Packhouse: Employment at the Bottom of a Global Value Chain, Rural Sociology, Academic Research Library.

Fairbanks, M. and Lindsay, S. (1997) Plowing the Sea: Nurturing the Hidden Sources of Growth in the Developing World, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA.

Gereffi, G. and Sturgeon, T. (2004) Globalisation, Employment and Economic Development: a Briefing Paper, Sloan Workshop Series in Industry Studies, Rockport, MA.

Humphrey, J. (2005) Shaping Value Chains for Development: Global Value Chains in Agribusiness, GTZ Trade Programme, Eschborn.

Hurst, P. (2003) Agricultural Workers and their Contribution to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, FAO-ILO-IUF.

Kaplinski, R. (2000) Spreading the Gains from Globalisation: What can be Learned from Value Chain Analysis?, Working Paper 110, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton.

M4P (2005) ‘Participation of the poor in supermarkets and other distribution value chains’, in Making Markets Work Better 4 the Poor, ADB Discussion Paper no. 11, ADB, Manila.

Reardon (2003) ‘The rise of supermarkets across Africa threatens small farmers - opportunities and challenges in a changing market’, FAO workshop 8 October, Rome.

SNV (2003) Selected Case Studies, SSA - Sub sector Analyses - Angola, SNV Reference Guide on Business Development Services, The Netherlands.

Swinnen, J. and Maertens, M. (2006) Globalisation, Privatization, and Vertical Coordination in Food Value Chains in Developing and Transition Countries, Plenary Paper for the International Association of Agricultural Economists Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.

Tanburn, J. (2006) ‘Private sector development and the poor - current thinking and future directions’, Small Enterprise Development 17 (4).

UNICEF (undated) Child Labour Resource Guide Appendix 6 - developing child labour policies: examples from major businesses, UNICEF.

Albu, M. and Scott, A. (2001) ‘Understanding livelihoods that involve microenterprise: markets and technological capabilities in the SL framework’, Intermediate Technology Development Group and Schumacher Centre for Technology Development, Rugby.

Altenburg,T. (2006) Donor Approaches to Supporting Pro-poor Value Chains, German Development Institute.

Barrientos, S. (2005) ‘Impact assessment and labour: developing a learning approach’, Journal of International Development 17.

Bear, Marshall (2007) ‘A systemic approach to value chain interventions’, SDC SED Workshop, Gerzensee, January 2007.

Bryceson, Deborah (1996) ‘Deagrarianisation and rural employment in sub Saharan Africa: a sectoral perspective’, World Development, Vol 24, No. 1 Elsevier Science Ltd, UK

Dolan, C. (2004) On Farm and Packhouse: Employment at the Bottom of a Global Value Chain, Rural Sociology, Academic Research Library.

Fairbanks, M. and Lindsay, S. (1997) Plowing the Sea: Nurturing the Hidden Sources of Growth in the Developing World, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA.

Gereffi, G. and Sturgeon, T. (2004) Globalisation, Employment and Economic Development: a Briefing Paper, Sloan Workshop Series in Industry Studies, Rockport, MA.

Humphrey, J. (2005) Shaping Value Chains for Development: Global Value Chains in Agribusiness, GTZ Trade Programme, Eschborn.

Hurst, P. (2003) Agricultural Workers and their Contribution to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, FAO-ILO-IUF.

Kaplinski, R. (2000) Spreading the Gains from Globalisation: What can be Learned from Value Chain Analysis?, Working Paper 110, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton.

M4P (2005) ‘Participation of the poor in supermarkets and other distribution value chains’, in Making Markets Work Better 4 the Poor, ADB Discussion Paper no. 11, ADB, Manila.

Reardon (2003) ‘The rise of supermarkets across Africa threatens small farmers - opportunities and challenges in a changing market’, FAO workshop 8 October, Rome.

SNV (2003) Selected Case Studies, SSA - Sub sector Analyses - Angola, SNV Reference Guide on Business Development Services, The Netherlands.

Swinnen, J. and Maertens, M. (2006) Globalisation, Privatization, and Vertical Coordination in Food Value Chains in Developing and Transition Countries, Plenary Paper for the International Association of Agricultural Economists Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.

Tanburn, J. (2006) ‘Private sector development and the poor - current thinking and future directions’, Small Enterprise Development 17 (4).

UNICEF (undated) Child Labour Resource Guide Appendix 6 - developing child labour policies: examples from major businesses, UNICEF.

Albu, M. and Scott, A. (2001) ‘Understanding livelihoods that involve microenterprise: markets and technological capabilities in the SL framework’, Intermediate Technology Development Group and Schumacher Centre for Technology Development, Rugby.

Altenburg,T. (2006) Donor Approaches to Supporting Pro-poor Value Chains, German Development Institute.

Barrientos, S. (2005) ‘Impact assessment and labour: developing a learning approach’, Journal of International Development 17.

Bear, Marshall (2007) ‘A systemic approach to value chain interventions’, SDC SED Workshop, Gerzensee, January 2007.

Bryceson, Deborah (1996) ‘Deagrarianisation and rural employment in sub Saharan Africa: a sectoral perspective’, World Development, Vol 24, No. 1 Elsevier Science Ltd, UK

Dolan, C. (2004) On Farm and Packhouse: Employment at the Bottom of a Global Value Chain, Rural Sociology, Academic Research Library.

Fairbanks, M. and Lindsay, S. (1997) Plowing the Sea: Nurturing the Hidden Sources of Growth in the Developing World, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA.

Gereffi, G. and Sturgeon, T. (2004) Globalisation, Employment and Economic Development: a Briefing Paper, Sloan Workshop Series in Industry Studies, Rockport, MA.

Humphrey, J. (2005) Shaping Value Chains for Development: Global Value Chains in Agribusiness, GTZ Trade Programme, Eschborn.

Hurst, P. (2003) Agricultural Workers and their Contribution to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, FAO-ILO-IUF.

Kaplinski, R. (2000) Spreading the Gains from Globalisation: What can be Learned from Value Chain Analysis?, Working Paper 110, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton.

M4P (2005) ‘Participation of the poor in supermarkets and other distribution value chains’, in Making Markets Work Better 4 the Poor, ADB Discussion Paper no. 11, ADB, Manila.

Reardon (2003) ‘The rise of supermarkets across Africa threatens small farmers - opportunities and challenges in a changing market’, FAO workshop 8 October, Rome.

SNV (2003) Selected Case Studies, SSA - Sub sector Analyses - Angola, SNV Reference Guide on Business Development Services, The Netherlands.

Swinnen, J. and Maertens, M. (2006) Globalisation, Privatization, and Vertical Coordination in Food Value Chains in Developing and Transition Countries, Plenary Paper for the International Association of Agricultural Economists Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.

Tanburn, J. (2006) ‘Private sector development and the poor - current thinking and future directions’, Small Enterprise Development 17 (4).

UNICEF (undated) Child Labour Resource Guide Appendix 6 - developing child labour policies: examples from major businesses, UNICEF.