Improving the food security of the extremely poor by linking them to markets

Dan Norell; Late Lawson-Lartego; Dan White; Zegeye Bante; Laura Conn

doi:10.3362/1755-1986.2015.006

Improving the food security of the extremely poor by linking them to markets

Dan Norell | Late Lawson-Lartego | Dan White | Zegeye Bante | Laura Conn

This article draws lessons from ACDI/VOCA, CARE, and World Vision-implemented food security programmes to answer three questions: how can push/pull activities better integrate the extremely poor into 1) output and 2) input markets? And 3) how can push/pull programme activities help improve intra-household gender dynamics and financial decision-making to improve the food and nutrition security of household members? In output markets the lessons include: 1) that market development and savings group interventions can be implemented by the same officer; and 2) projects should move early to have a private sector provider take over the village savings and loan associations. While there are constraints in the input markets, there are also push strategies for increasing production, including direct delivery of inputs to farmers, vouchers to increase demand, and Farmer Business Group development to increase collective input buying and pull strategies such as linkages with buyers for the selling of products and tapering down subsidies. Intrahousehold gender equitable decision-making can positively impact the food security of the household members. Mixed gender Village Economic and Social Associations are efficient in tackling intra-household decision-making. This allows the provision of flexible and efficient financial services as well as an opportunity to engage husbands and wives in gender-related dialogues.

Arlotti-Parish, E. (2014) Gender in Agribusiness: An Analysis of Gender Dynamics in Cash and Food Crop Marketing Clubs in Southern Malawi [online], Catholic Relief Services <www.crsprogramquality.org/publications/2014/2/10/gender-in-agribusiness-report.html≯ [accessed 13 August 2014]. www.crsprogramquality.org/publications/2014/2/10/gender-in-agribusiness-report.html

Banerjee, A.V. and Duflo, E. (2011) Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty, New York: Public Affairs Publishing.

Campbell, R. (2014) A Framework for Inclusive Market System Development [pdf] LEO Brief, USAID <https://www.microlinks.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/Market_Systems_Framework.pdf≯ [accessed 29 January 2015]. https://www.microlinks.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/Market_Systems_Framework.pdf

DFID Policy Division, Renewable Natural Resources Division (2004) Making Agricultural Markets Work for the Poor, Working Paper, London: DFID.

Frankenberger, T.R., Sutter, P., Teshome, A., Aberra, A., Tefera, M., Taffesse, A., and Ejigsemahu, Y. (2007) Ethiopia: The Path to Self-Resiliency: Vol. I: Final Report [pdf] CHF Partners in Rural Development <www.cangoethiopia.org/assets/docs/(2)%20Self-Resiliency%20Report%20-%20CANGO-CHF%20(08.08.07).pdf< [accessed 30 January 2015]. www.cangoethiopia.org/assets/docs/(2)%20Self-Resiliency%20Report%20-%20CANGO-CHF%20(08.08.07).pdf

Garloch, A. (2015) ‘A framework for a push/pull approach to inclusive market systems development’ [online], Microlinks <https://www.microlinks.org/library/framework-pushpullapproach- inclusive-market-systems-development≯ [accessed 30 January 2015]. https://www.microlinks.org/library/framework-pushpullapproach- inclusive-market-systems-development

Kessy, S.S.A. and Urio, F.M. (2006) The Contribution of Microfinance Institutions to Poverty Reduction in Tanzania [pdf], Research on Poverty Alleviation Research Report No. 06.3 <www.repoa.or.tz/new/documents/06.3_Kessy_and_Urio_.pdf≯ [accessed 19 January 2015]. www.repoa.or.tz/new/documents/06.3_Kessy_and_Urio_.pdf

Norell, D. and Brand, M. (2014) ‘Integrating extremely poor producers into markets field guide’ [website], USAID Microlinks <https://www.microlinks.org/library/integrating-extremely-poorproducers-markets-field-guide-third-edition≯ [accessed 19 January 2015]. https://www.microlinks.org/library/integrating-extremely-poorproducers-markets-field-guide-third-edition

Rassas, B., Marcelin, L.H., Crenn, B., and Tejeda, F. (2014) Haiti Title II Multi Year Assistance Programs (MYAP): World Vision – Final Evaluation Report, USAID Haiti.

Richards, M. and Singh, N. (2015) ‘Combining push and pull strategies for greater scale and poverty outreach’ [online] SEEP Network <www.seepnetwork.org/combining-push-and-pullstrategies-for-greater-scale-and-poverty-outreach-resources-1436.php≯ [accessed 6 February 2015]. www.seepnetwork.org/combining-push-and-pullstrategies-for-greater-scale-and-poverty-outreach-resources-1436.php

Thirtle, C., Lin, L. and Piesse, J. (2003) ‘The impact of research-led agricultural productivity growth on poverty reduction in Africa, Asia and Latin America’, World Development 31(12): 1959–76 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2003.07.001≯.

UNICEF (2013) Improving Child Nutrition: The Achievable Imperative for Global Progress [pdf], New York: UNICEF <www.unicef.org/gambia/Improving_Child_Nutrition_-_the_achievable_imperative_for_global_progress.pdf≯ [accessed 19 January 2015]. www.unicef.org/gambia/Improving_Child_Nutrition_-_the_achievable_imperative_for_global_progress.pdf

USAID Ethiopia (2011) Multi-Year Feed the Future Strategy [pdf], Addis Ababa: US Agency for International Development <www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/USAID%20FtF%20MYS%20Final%20Version.pdf≯ [accessed 6 February 2015] www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/USAID%20 FtF%20MYS%20Final%20Version.pdf

Verduijn, R., Downen, J., Walters, T., and Wyeth, J. (2014) Final Evaluation CRS Malawi WALA Program 2009-2014 [pdf], USAID <http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00K2WJ.pdf≯ [accessed 19 January 2015]. http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00K2WJ.pdf