Program Examples
(As of Nov 2007)

Training programs

AFE channels the practical experience of its program design and implementation activities into its growing training program entitled “Value Chain Program Design: Promoting Market-Based Solutions for MSMEs”. This program presents tools and methodologies that combine the strengths of value chain analysis with methods for identifying commercially viable solutions that promote MSME and industry competitiveness. 

Over the past five years, AFE has organized 37 workshops for over 750 participants worldwide. Trainings have been conducted in Bangladesh, Senegal, Ghana, Egypt, Vietnam, Kenya, Thailand, Afghanistan, Laos, Serbia, Mongolia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Participants have come from many neighboring countries and have included representatives of consulting firms, NGOs, donors, and development projects.

Value Chain Analysis, Program Design and Implementation

Our technical experience in value chain development is summarized in the following table that reflects the countries and the value chains for which AFE conducted analyses, designed programs and/or implemented activities.

WORLDWIDE

Core Team Member of Field Support Learning with Associates Project - AFE is a core team member of the AED-led “Financial Integration, Economic Leveraging, Broad-Based Dissemination” (FIELD-Support) Leader with Associates award (LWA). Field Support LWA is designed to implement innovative, comprehensive, and integrated approaches to sustainable economic growth with poverty reduction. This includes improving the competitiveness of industries in which micro and small enterprises participate, building more inclusive financial systems, and enhancing the overall policy and regulatory environment to enable broad-based economic growth. (Nov 2005 - present)

Consortia Member in Accelerated Microenterprise Advancement Program (AMAP) - AFE is a key consortia member under AMAP BDS, a multi-year USAID funded research project focusing on enterprise development. Examples of work that AFE has conducted under this contract in the past three years include: 1) ongoing technical assistance and comprehensive impact assessment for USAID Kenya portfolio of value chain projects; 2) value chain analysis and program design exercise for the poultry and organic agriculture sectors in India; 3) development of five case-studies representing best practice in value chain development worldwide; 4) value chain analysis of the cocoa industry in Indonesia; 5) value chain and competitive analysis of the craft export sector in Haiti; 6) development of training materials in value chain development; 7) contributions to strategy papers, training sessions, and technical reviews. (2003 - current)

SOUTH ASIA / MIDDLE EAST

AFGHANISTAN
Program Design Training and Value Chain Selection/Analysis - AFE provided one-week training to Mercy Corps Afghanistan staff in program design and implementation. AFE then led a value chain selection exercise and conducted initial analyses of prioritized value chains, as part of a USDA-funded program (Feb 2007).

BANGLADESH
Katalyst Project - Design, Training and Advisory Services – AFE is providing ongoing technical assistance to KATALYST – a five-year, multi-donor funded enterprise development program. This assistance has included: 1) guidance to the KATALYST team on how to incorporate value chain development and market development approaches into their activities; 2) training workshops for program staff and partner organizations (to date, AFE has conducted five one-week training workshops for over 125 participants); 3) value chain analysis and program design in the plastics, health care, agribusiness, and knitwear sectors; 4) leadership on the project export promotion component and establishment of contract farming pilot programs with major agribusiness companies; 5) ongoing technical assistance and field support to the project staff; and 6) review of program activities to support the household wood furniture value chain. 
(2003 - current)

Value Chain Assessment of Selected Healthcare Products – AFE led a team to assess the commercial private sector’s role in the manufacturing, distribution, and retailing of selected healthcare products in Bangladesh. These products included contraceptives (oral pills and condoms), oral re-hydration solutions, Vitamin A, and Zinc. The findings of this study provided insight into the depth and scope of the commercial private sector in the healthcare products sector of Bangladesh (Jun-Jul 2006).

Program Review and Strategic Planning Support to CARE Bangladesh: AFE conducted a review of CARE Bangladesh programs and structures in order to determine how "market oriented approaches" could be further integrated into their operations and programming (June 2005). This was followed by a review of the Rural Livelihoods Project as well contributions to the elaboration of CARE Bangladesh's Long Range Strategic Plan (economic development section). (Sept - Nov 2006) 

Subsector Review and Mapping – AFE assisted the South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), an IFC/World Bank group organization, to further define its strategy of support for the ready-made garment (RMG) subsector in Bangladesh. Based on analysis of existing reports, and focus group discussions with the private sector, AFE developed a series of subsector maps for the RMG industry in Bangladesh – showing the key functions, actors, and their inter-relationships. (May – Aug 2003).

Review of Subsector/Value Chain Studies – Under a contract with USAID Bangladesh, AFE developed a data base to catalogue subsector studies conducted by development agencies over the past five years; created a physical library of these studies; developed a matrix of current and future donor initiatives in subsector development; identified knowledge gaps in existing studies; identified subsectors with high potential for growth; and presented findings to USAID and other interested donors. (Sep – Nov 2002)

Business Development Program Design – AFE assisted the British Development Agency (DFID) in Bangladesh to design a business development component as part of their CHARS Livelihood Development Program. This activity includes subsector analysis, market assessments, stakeholder workshops, and program design. (Apr – May 2002)

INDIA
Subsector/value chain analyses - AFE led two teams to conduct value chain analysis and program design in the poultry and organic agriculture sectors. This work was part of start-up activities for a $6 million USAID funded economic development project. Results included a comprehensive analysis of market trends, market actors, governance structures, inter-firm cooperation, constraints, solutions, and proposed project interventions. (Dec 2004 - Jan 2005).

NEPAL
TA and Training to promote Non-Timber Forest Products: Provided support to USAID project including: 1) assistance in preparing strategy and work plan for value chain analysis, assessment of business solutions, and identification of project interventions; 2) development of interview guides to facilitate value chain analysis with collectors, traders, processors, and government agencies; 3) focus group meetings to identify key value chain constraints; 4) training of local development organizations on how to promote commercially viable solutions. (Feb 2004)

LEBANON
Value Chain Selection and Initial Analysis: Contracted by World Vision Lebanon to support the initial selection and assessment of targeted value chains in preparation for a new program on micro, small, and medium-scale enterprise (MSME) development. Completed a prioritization and preliminary selection exercise, and conducted initial assessments of the apples and table grapes value chains in Lebanon. (Mar 2007)

EAST AND CENTRAL ASIA

MONGOLIA
Value Chain Selection and Initial Assessment: AFE is conducting a value chain program design exercise for the pork value chain for CHF Mongolia. An assessment of the pork industry and identification of interventions to increase incomes of farmers and market actors throughout the value chain is on-going. (Nov 2007 - current)

PHILIPPINES
Analysis of Seaweed/Carrageenan Value Chain: – Conducted an assessment of the Philippine seaweed/carrageenan value chain. Contracted by the IFC and GTZ, the objectives of this assessment were to: 1) refine strategies to support a robust and sustainable Philippine seaweed/carrageenan value chain; and 2) propose a possible framework for the development of the value chain (Apr – Jun 2007).

Value Chain Selection and Initial Assessment: Completed a value chain program design exercise for the live hog value chain in Iloilo and Oriental Negros for World Vision Philippines. Conducted an assessment of the live hog sector and proposed interventions to increase incomes of small hog raisers and market actors in the value chain. (Feb 2007)

CHINA
Program Design and Implementation for Village-based Tourism in Yunnan Province – AFE is working with local tour operators and other stakeholders to identify project interventions that would support village-based tourism, expanding on AFE's initial value chain selection and analysis work (August 2006, January 2007 - current)

Value Chain Selection in Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces - AFE led various teams to identify value chains in northwest Yunnan and Sichuan provinces with unmet market demand and capacity to bring benefit to ethnic Tibetans. AFE provided technical oversight of the overall process, which conducted over 90 interviews with businesses and key informants in the agribusiness, crafts, and tourism sectors. Findings of these assessments were used in the start-up of a new program implemented by The Mountain Institute (TMI) (Aug & Dec 2005)

Assessment of Yak Dairy Industry in Sichuan Province - AFE assessed the feasibility of a proposed partnership between a new USAID-funded project and a local yak dairy company on the Tibet Plateau in Sichuan Province (June 2006)

EAST TIMOR
Value Chain Analyses of Coconut and Construction – AFE provided guidance and support to two teams of long- and short-term advisors conducting the initial value chain analyses for a $6 million USAID-funded private sector development program (BASAR) in East Timor. In collaboration with DAI Inc., assessments of the coconut and construction value chains were completed and submitted as part of the detailed first year work plan (Aug – Oct 2005).

Analysis of Enterprise Development Opportunities - As part of a multi-disciplinary team, identified opportunities to improve the policy environment, expand access to rural financial markets, and improve the quality and relevance of business solutions to the private sector in East Timor. Consulted with USAID East Timor, private sector leaders, key government officials, and other development organizations. (Oct – Nov 2003) 

CAMBODIA
Value Chain Analyses – AFE provided technical oversight and leadership on a series of value chain assessments of cashews, fisheries, pork, agricultural machinery, and bricks/tile in four eastern provinces of Cambodia as part of the design process for DAI’s Micro, Small, and Medium-scale Enterprise (MSME) Support Program. Also served as Team Leader for a value chain analysis of cashews in Cambodia—identified major constraints and opportunities in the value chain, and proposed illustrative interventions to support market solutions to increase MSME growth and competitiveness. (Jan 2006)

INDONESIA
Value Chain Assessment of Cocoa – AFE led a team to conduct a value chain assessment of cocoa in Indonesia. Applied value chain analysis tools to determine the major constraints and opportunities to growth and expansion of the cocoa bean sector in Indonesia (primarily Sulawesi). Proposed strategies to mitigate constraints and assessed current public and private sector investments to support cocoa in Indonesia. (Mar – May 2004)

TIBET
Technical Assistance to the Peak Enterprise Development Program in Tibet – Conducted value chain analysis/program design exercises with the milk, butter, and construction sectors in and around Lhasa. Identified commercially viable solutions, organized focus group meetings, and contributed to work plans for program implementation. (June 2002 - present)

BHUTAN
Development of Mandarin Subsector – AFE facilitated a three-day workshop with regional and national level stakeholders in the mandarin sub-sector to review subsector constraints, identify business solutions, and propose appropriate interventions. AFE also completed a one-day workshop to facilitate the selection of commodities for further analysis in south eastern Bhutan. (May - Jun 2002)

KYRGYZSTAN
Value chain selection and analysis of medicinal herbs – conducted a value chain selection exercise with the FAO’s Mountain Group for a pilot enterprise development project targeting mountain communities in Kyrgyzstan. Value chains explored included medicinal herbs, honey, community-based tourism and agribusinesses. Medicinal herbs were then selected and analyzed for further program design (May-June 2005)

AFRICA

SOUTH SUDAN
Value chain selection and initial analysis – conducted a value chain assessment/selection exercise for CHF International in Juba and Kajo Keji, South Sudan. The objective of the assignment was to identify and conduct a summary assessment of potential value chains for CHF consideration of further development (Sep – Oct 2007).

SIERRA LEONE
Value chain analysis and program design exercise in the fertilizer and seed sectors – AFE conducted a three week analysis of the fertilizer and seed sectors as part of program design activities for World Vision’s country program (May 2006)

MALI
Development of Business Solutions in the Shea Sector – AFE implemented a multi-year grant agreement with USAID to develop sustainable business services and solutions that targeted agricultural-based enterprises and increased incomes and employment opportunities for rural producers of shea nuts and shea butter in Mali. The program facilitated market links between exporters and multinational buyers that, as a result, spurred exporters to provide more quality control services and greater market opportunities to rural women producers. (Oct 2002 – Nov 2005)

Strengthening Market Linkages: A Demand-Led Approach to Crafts Sales in Mali – AFE implemented a long-term program (USAID funding) to develop business solutions and market linkages between importers, exporters, and producers of crafts products in Mali. This program worked with eight importers, six exporters, and over 1,000 MSMEs. As a result, over $1 million in export sales and 100% increase in revenues was generated for participating MSMEs. Over 100 new jobs were created and over 200 market linkages between importers, exporters and producers were fostered. AFE used a combination of value chain analysis and market assessments to identify program interventions. These interventions focused on developing the capacity of export companies to provide market access, product design, input supply, and financial services to MSMEs. AFE also designed and implemented an innovative monitoring and evaluation system based on information collected from the service providers. (1999 – 2002)

GHANA
Promotion of Embedded Business Solutions in Ghanaian Export Markets – the objectives of this DFID-funded project were to: (i) develop/improve the capacity of Ghanaian craft exporters to provide an array of business solutions to a large number of small-scale enterprises in a sustainable and effective manner—resulting in significant impact (income and employment); and (ii) document and disseminate learning about the facilitation of embedded business solutions with the international development community. In order to pursue this goal, AFE facilitated the development, improvement, and expansion of embedded solutions to MSMEs in the areas of market access, product development, quality control, and production training. (Jul 2002 – Dec 2003)

KENYA
Impact Assessment of USAID Kenya Programs - AFE is conducting a comprehensive impact assessment of two USAID Kenya-funded projects to determine the impact of their subsector/value chain approaches. Baseline work was completed in 2003 and the final round of the impact assessment will be completed in 2007. (2003 – current)

Technical Assistance to USAID Kenya – AFE provided technical guidance to USAID Kenya in support of their portfolio of subsector/value chain-based business development programs. As an initial activity, AFE conducted a four-day workshop for the implementing partner organizations and USAID Kenya technical officers on how subsector/value chain analysis can be combined with market development principles to design programs with sustainable impact for MSEs. This was followed by technical assistance in how to adapt existing programs, workplans, and performance indicators to these principles (Sept - Nov 2002)

Enterprise Development Program Design – AFE was contracted by USAID Kenya to develop a five-year strategy for promoting enterprise development. This activity included an evaluation of three previous programs, identification of high potential subsectors, value chain analysis, market assessment of proposed solutions, organization of stakeholder workshops, identification of illustrative interventions, and development of strategies including contracting mechanisms and performance indicators. (Sep–Nov 2001)

SENEGAL
Community Based Natural Resource Management Project – AFE participated as a subcontractor in the five-year USAID funded Community Based Natural Resource Management Project. Under that program, AFE implemented short-term training and enterprise development activities that impacted over 100 rural enterprises, village-based associations, and project personnel representing more than 1000 individuals. Activities included subsector analysis and program design, training of trainers, programs to link rural enterprises with microfinance institutions, and action-research program evaluation. (1995 – 2001)

BOTSWANA
Capacity Building of SEPROT: A Network of Enterprise Development Organizations in Botswana – AFE implemented a two-year training and technical assistance program for a network of Botswana enterprise development organizations. This program developed the capacity of twelve of these organizations to design and implement subsector-based enterprise development programs. (1998 – 1999)

CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL EUROPE

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Value chain analysis and Private Sector Integration – AFE is currently providing long-term technical support to PFD’s enterprise development program in Bosnia. Previously, AFE conducted a value chain analysis of non-timber forest products (NTFP) to help PFD to integrate its commercial buying operations into the private sector. Recommendations included the privatization of buying operations and their integration into four leading export/processor firms, resulting in greater sales for producers and a strengthened value chain in Central Bosnia. (Jan-May 2006, Jan 2007 – current). 

Value chain analysis of fresh-frozen raspberries – AFE conducted an assessment of the raspberry sector in order to identify next steps for Partners for Development’s (PFD) existing program with producers based in Central Bosnia. Through the analysis, potential market linkages and points of leverage with international exporting companies were identified (October 2006)

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
AFE conducted a three-week value chain selection and program design exercise for staff of CHF International. Activities included an initial three-day workshop, followed by assessments of the medicinal herbs and aromatic plants and vegetables value chains. (Sept-Oct 2006)

HAITI
Assessment of crafts export value chain – AFE led a comprehensive value chain analysis of the crafts export in Haiti as part of its AMAP activities (July 2006)

Capacity Building of INDEPCO – AFE received a grant from the Innovation Grant Program of USAID’s Microenterprise Development Office to build the capacity of a Haitian association of garment producers to provide improved services and market access to 80 MSE members, representing 400 owners and employees. AFE worked with the association to develop its program of subcontracting large volume production contracts to its members, implement management training programs, develop a working board of directors, and put in place improved management information systems. These activities strengthened INDEPCO capacity to provide business services to its members, who enjoyed a 25% increase in revenues during the program period. Work resulted in subsequent $300,000 funding to local institution from the IDB. (1998 – 2000)