Publications

In June 2010 SNV, together with IFAD, organised a conference on ‘brokering knowledge for upscaling best practices in Inclusive Markets Access in East & Southern Africa’, which brought together over 70 participants from 11 African countries from donor, public and private sector to share experiences. This report summarizes the main issues discussed during the conference, of which the main focus was seeking to bring about systemic change for larger-scale sustainable inclusive markets with a wider significance.

The brochure is a compilation of various case studies illustrating the impact of SNV's work in the life of millions of people in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

It portrays the approaches and methods used by SNV to empower local communities, businesses and organisations to break the cycle of poverty by providing them with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services.

Local Kenyan county councils, with aid from SNV, have been able to facilitate the co-management of livestock markets together with livestock farming communities. Livestock Management Associations from these communities have been empowered to effectively manage the market places and operate a number of functions that were previously done by government staff. This has resulted in the development of increasingly vibrant markets for livestock and livestock products as well as other transactions. The model has rapidly spread to over 20 markets in seven counties, benefiting more than 80,000 households with increases in livestock prices of 20 to 30%. The markets are similarly attractive to buyers who find ensured supply, increase efficiencies in transport and other benefits. Diverse enterprises have also sprouted up at these markets providing alternative livelihoods for especially women and young people all year round; hence enhancing their resilience to cyclical droughts. The markets have also gained importance as an interface with farming communities for government programmes and the activities of international development agencies.