Webinar: Value Chain Development and The Poor: Promise, delivery, and opportunities for impact at scale

In recent years, value chain development (VCD) in the agrifood system has been hailed as a practical way to expand market access for smallholder producers, reduce poverty, enhance environmental sustainability, and improve food security and gender equity. Despite significant investments in VCD from governments, donors, and NGOs, however, evidence regarding the effectiveness of VCD interventions in addressing these important development goals remains lacking. Many existing studies have focused on the design and outputs of VCD interventions themselves rather than on their outcomes and impacts. As a result, the true reach of these programs remains unknown, particularly for poor populations.

A recent book [link], published by Practical Action Publishing and supported by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM) and the CGIAR Research Program on Maize Agrifood Systems (MAIZE), looks to fill this important knowledge gap. Value Chain Development and The Poor: Promise, delivery, and opportunities for impact at scale provides a collection of case studies and lessons learned from VCD interventions in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The book includes chapters written from both researchers and development practitioners, providing an in-depth examination of VCD in both theory and in practice. Join us for an upcoming webinar in which editors Jason Donovan, Dietmar Stoian, and Jon Hellin will present findings from the book and explore how VCD can be more effectively designed, implemented, and scaled up to include and benefit poor populations.

Opening remarks and moderator: Erwin Bulte, Professor of Development Economics, Wageningen University

Speakers:

Jason Donovan, Senior Economist, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Dietmar Stoian, Lead Scientist, World Agroforestry (ICRAF)

Jon Hellin, Head of the Sustainable Impact Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Closing remarks: Frank Place, Director, PIM