Program Examples

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. 

To date, AFE has organized over 50 workshops for over 1,000 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)

Illustrative AFE activities under the LWA include:

• Developed handbook and training materials for development practitioners on how to work with “lead firms” in value chains in order to build their capacity for trade and investment and develop sustainable impact for producers they buy from or sell to

• Completed field work, case studies and a “facilitators manual” designed to assist development practitioners to promote mutually beneficial outgrowing (contract farming) operations between agribusiness companies and farmers.

• Coordinated a working group to identify principles and best practices for the “facilitation” of value chain development programs with a focus on working with “lead firms.”

• Led the team to design a new agribusiness private sector development program for USAID Liberia.

• Carried out an assessment of a USAID funded GDA program in the Congo.

• Provided long term support and field staff to the “Lebanon Private Sector Development Program”

• Completed study on how market development principles can be applied to promote sustainable access to health care products/services for underserved populations

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

BANGLADESH
Katalyst Project - Design, Training and Advisory Services – Beginning in 2003 AFE has implemented long term programs and provided technical assistance to Katalyst – a ten-year, multi-donor funded enterprise development program. Technical 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; 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.
Long-term programs are being implemented in the following sectors:

• craft export sector (2008-2010)

• potato production and processing (2008-2012)

• jute seed, seed potato, and hybrid rice and vegetable seed (2010-2012)

These programs are designed to promote greater trade and investment in the targeted sectors as well as to build the capacity of lead firms to invest in their supply chains of MSME producers. (2003 – present).

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)

NEPAL
TA and Training to promote Non-Timber Forest Products: AFE provided support to USAID project in Nepal focusing on promoting non-timber forest products. This support included: 1) assistance in preparing strategy and work plan for subsector analysis, assessment of business solutions, and identification of project interventions; 2) development of interview guides; 3) focus group meetings; 4) training of local development organizations. (Feb 2004)

Tourism Assessments for SNV (Dutch NGO) in Nepal and Bhutan - Conducted value chain assessment and program design exercises in the tourism sectors of Bhutan and Nepal. An AFE staff person led local teams to identify tourism related sectors that could have the maximum impact on the poor, and then designed value chain programs designed to: 1) encourage joint investments by tour operators and village-based entrepreneurs, 2) promote the production of selected vegetable crops by local farmers and linking them with restaurants, hotels, and tour operators catering to tourists, and; 3) promote improved hospitality skills (housekeeping, cleaning, cooking, etc) for employees of local hotels and guest houses. (2009)

LEBANON
Lebanon Private Sector Development Program
AFE is a subcontractor to AED for this program, which is funded by USAID Lebanon as a buy-in under the FIELD Support LWA. AFE manages an independent component with a full time local staff person and quarterly visits and regular monitoring from HQ. Activities have included supporting agribusiness companies to introduce new varieties vegetables to local farmers through the identification of improved seed, demonstration plots and field days. AFE is also supporting the development of procurement and production manuals for companies. (Nov. 2008 – present)

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)

YEMEN
Value Chain Selection and Program Design - AFE was contracted by Yemen’s Small and Micro Enterprises Promotion Service (SMEPS) to conduct a USAID-funded assessment of five agricultural value chains (watermelons, tomatoes, onions, livestock and shipping) and based on this assessment to select one value chain for in-depth assessment and program design. No single value chain emerged as a promising candidate for detailed program design, so instead AFE supported SMEPs to design a program to promote the agriculture input supply market. By the end of the mission the AFE team had facilitated the identification of interventions as well as signing of MOUs between SMEPS and two of the principle agricultural input supply companies in the country. Proposed activities were based on assisting the companies to develop and expand the sale and distribution of needed inputs to small-scale farmers in the four targeted governorates in the south of the country. (Aug-Nov 2010).

AFGHANISTAN

Value Chain Program Design for World Vision in Ghor Province – Led local World Vision teams in conducting a five-week exercise that included a value chain selection exercise and subsequent VC analysis/ program design exercises in the wheat and wool products value chains in Ghor province. Ranked prospective value chains, conducted interviews with market actors and key informants in two targeted VCs, developed value chain maps, indentified constraints and potential market-based solutions, and facilitated participatory process with private sector actors to identify program interventions. (2009)

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).

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).

EAST AND CENTRAL ASIA

PHILIPPINES
STRIVE Philippines
AFE is currently implementing a 3.5 year, $2.8 million program funded by USAID. This AFE project is conducting innovative trade, investment, and capacity building work with lead firms in the woven basket export and seaweed sectors – with a special focus on how these activities ultimately foster sustainable impact and benefits for vulnerable children in the producers’ households. AFE is working with three of the largest basket export companies in the country – assisting them to expand and develop their network of producers in order to meet strong demand from new and existing trade partners worldwide. In the seaweed sector AFE is working with two seaweed traders and has assisted them to develop nurseries that enable them to provide needed seedlings (on credit) to the farmers they source from. Current number of beneficiaries (producers and their families) in both sectors is estimated at 10,000. An evaluation exercise is ongoing that will measure the impact on vulnerable children. Program is funded by the USAID Disadvantaged Children and Orphans Fund office through a buy-in with the FIELD Support LWA program. (Jul 2008- present)

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)

VIETNAM
Staff Training and Program Design for Black Pork Value Chain - AFE was contracted by the Luxembourg Agency for Development Cooperation to provide value chain training to its local project staff/partners, and to conduct a program design for the black pork value chain in the province of Cao Bang. AFE’s primary objective was to build the capacity of the project staff and their counterparts in local government to more effectively apply market driven approaches to their current and future programs. (Aug 2010).

SNV Vietnam Tourism Assessment – Conducted a value chain assessment and program design in the tourism sector in Sapa, Vietnam. During two separate trips the AFE consultant led a five-person team to identify tourism related sectors that could have the maximum impact on the poor, and then design value chain programs in the “tourism excursions” and the “embroidery” value chains. (April to June 2008)

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)

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 - 2009)

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 Program Design for World Vision in Banda Aceh– Led local WV teams in conducting a four-week value chain selection exercise and subsequent VC analysis/ program design exercises in the patchouli oil and fresh fish value chains. Ranked prospective value chains, conducted interviews with market actors and key informants in two targeted VCs, developed value chain maps, indentified constraints and potential market-based solutions, and facilitated participatory process with private sector actors to identify program interventions. (2009)

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 - May 2003)

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

ZAMBIA
Development Grants Program – AFE is currently implementing a three-year, $2 million dollar grant agreement with USAID Zambia. Activities include working with lead firms to improve the products, services, and support they provide to the producers they buy from or sell to. AFE currently has agreements with several lead firms working in the agribusiness, tourism and craft sectors. AFE is also developing the capacity of local development organizations (DOs) to apply cutting edge value chain and market development approaches. Activities to date have include the establishment of a “private sector development network” of local DOs, guest speaker events, the establishment of three working groups focusing on private sector development topics, and the organization of several workshops in value chain program design for local practitioners. (Oct. 2009 – present).

RWANDA
Staff Training and Program Design for the Green Bean and Pineapple Value Chains – AFE was contracted by CHF International to provide value chain training to its local staff and to conduct a value chain program design exercise for the green bean and pineapple value chains in Rwanda. Two AFE consultants worked with local staff to conduct interviews with over 80 market actors and key informants, and conducted additional interviews and focus group discussions with market actors to identify potential project activities that will ultimately have a positive and sustainable impact on targeted MSMEs. (Jun 2010).

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)

ETHIOPIA
AFE conducted an internal evaluation of an ACDI/VOCA agribusiness development project in Ethiopia. Work included a review of activities to date, an updated assessment of targeted agribusiness subsectors, and suggestions for future strategies. (July 2004)

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. (2003 – 2004)

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
CAPAF
AFE conducted a review of the CAPAF program based in Senegal. CAPAF is funded by the IFC and facilitates technical assistance to microfinance institutions in West Africa. They asked AFE to review the commercial viability of the services that their partner organizations were providing. (June 2004).

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 – Dec 2007). 

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
AFE was contracted by World Vision Haiti to carry out a value chain analysis/ program design for the seed sector in Haiti. AFE identified the inter-relations of market actors, the constraints to/opportunities for commercially sustainable supply and demand of seed, and facilitation strategies to promote greater commercial relationships between seed suppliers and farmers. (April 2007)

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)