Page 240 - DMGT509_RURAL MARKETING

Unit 12: Principle of Innovation

Working Groups Notes

The aim of the working groups was to allow focused discussion of key issues and areas, considered
priorities by workshop participants. In the discussion that followed the presentations a wide
range of issues were raised, from sustainability and building resilience into market interventions
to the role of information and governance issues surrounding market chains. For the purposes
of the working group discussions, these were clustered into two topics: (a) external issues of
governance of market chains and (b) internal NGO issues of culture. Two working groups were
formed to discuss these topics. These were facilitated respectively by Emma Wilson and Ivan
Bond of IIED.

Governance of Market Chains – Working Group Discussion Participants agreed that the role of
information was important, but that a lot of research was already being undertaken in this area.
Therefore they did not identify this as a key area for further collaborative work. Issues around
information include: using Information Technology (IT) to increase transparency; providing
access to technology in remote areas; cost-effectiveness; sustainable provision of IT services;
traceability; control of information; and the issue of monopolies and price-fixing.
The key points that came out of the rest of the discussion on governance and the ‘enabling
environment’ for sustainable enterprise development included:
1. The need to engage in constructive dialogue with multiple stakeholders including the
government and business

2. The lack of capacity in current NGO networks and the need for more cohesion in NGO
approaches
Constructive multi-stakeholder dialogue Participants noted that the current landscape is made
up of ‘business’ (also referred to as ‘the private sector’, i.e. commercial enterprises) and various
disorganized producers, with the state playing a nominal role. There is a need to build a
constructive dialogue between these players. Various for a already exist for this, including
poverty reduction strategy papers. Participation in such for a is a huge challenge for small
producers due to issues of cost, confidence and preparation: capacity building is needed for
small-producer organizations and individuals.
Building an effective multi-stakeholder dialogue requires very experienced facilitation. One
useful role of NGOs is to convene these dialogues, bringing together people with different sets
of skills to effect change. To move dialogue forward there needs to be an appeal to self-interest
(in the form of ‘hooks’ and the prospect of ‘win-win’ outcomes). Workshop participants also
noted the importance of champions to take the lead in participation in such dialogues, and to
encourage others to join in.

12.8 Engaging with the Government

Participants noted the lack of trust towards NGOs that some have experienced on the part of
government. Public policy influence needs to be based on sound research and analysis; there is
also a need for transparency.
Participants drew attention to the Overseas Development Institute’s Research and Policy in
Development programme (RAPID).

In some cases policy change has happened but is not implemented at the local level. NGOs can
play a role in informing local authorities and experts about how to implement policy at the local
level (e.g. Practical Action’s work with local authorities in Nepal).

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