This 2007 report by Eugene Ryazanov for ICCO and Helvetas examines how farmers, processors, and traders in Kyrgyzstan can set up a win-win situation in the fruit and vegetable production and processing sectors.
The booklet aims to analyse added value at different stages of the chain and possible ways of cooperation and business development of all the actors and supporters involved and it can also be used as a reference for market information. The main readers of the booklet are expected to be people involved in development cooperation working with agricultural producers, processors and traders.
The booklet is based on experiences gained in the Local Market Development Project in Kyrgyzstan, funded by ICCO and Helvetas Kyrgyzstan. The first phase of the project lasted from 2005 to 2006, the second phase from 2006 to 2008. The project focuses on 4 'oblasts' (districts), includes 10 value chains and targets 2000 farmers, mainly marginal and disadvantaged groups like resource-poor farmers, ethnic minorities and women.
The booklet contains three chapters. The first chapter analyses added value in eight selected value chains related to crops grown in Kyrgyzstan, namely: early potatoes, late potatoes, wheat, raw fibre cotton, ginned cotton, oil and cake, tomatoes, cucumbers and cabbages.
The second chapter focuses on ways of increasing added value at different stages of the value chain: at farmer, processor and trader level.
The third chapter has some recommendations on effective approaches and possible tools for the development of value chain actors. The provided approaches and tools are those that have actually been used by the Local Market Development Project and its partners for several years in Kyrgyzstan.
Read the report.
The synopsis was prepared by Justine Anschütz to help make ICCO sponsored 'research' more accessible
Saturday, 16 June 2007
Friday, 15 June 2007
Microfinance systems in the Philippines
This October 2006 country study of microfinance in the Philippines was conducted by Ma. Piedad S. Geron in the context of MICRONED, an alliance of ICCO, Hivos, CORDAID and Oxfam/Novib around microfinance activities.
The study is structured in the following way: Chapter 1: The Philippines: general overview, geographical, economic growth, population and employment, poverty situation; Chapter 2: The Philippine financial system, types of financial institutions; Chapter 3: The Philippine microfinance sector, about the microfinance policy environment, the demand and supply of microfinance services, donor support to the microfinance sector, priority needs and support gap to the MFIs ; Chapter 4: Meso-level support to microfinance, about the meso level supporters, needs and support gaps at the sector level; Chapter 5: Conclusion and recommendations, regarding three types of support: to clients of microfinance services, to the MFI sector, to networks, associations and federations
Table 3 in Section 3.1 presents some key policy measures on microfinance taken in the Philippines:
In Section 3.2 (Demand and supply of microfinance services) it is stated that demand not always matches supply. Most microfinance service suppliers prefer to provide services to those already engaged in some form of entrepreneurial activity. So many poor do not have access to microfinance. Very few MFIs provide start up funds for clients. Women comprise more than three fourths of the clients of microfinance institutions in the Philippines.
The study gives information on the three major types of institutions involved in microfinance in the Philippines: microfinance NGOs, cooperatives, and banks (rural and thrift banks). It presents their activities, total loan portfolio and number of clients. It also provides some judgement on their maturity and quality of operations. In the Philippines NGOs serve the highest number of clients and have the largest portfolio.
In Section 3.3 (Donor support to the microfinance sector) Official Development Assistance for microfinance is addressed and the portfolio of Dutch institutions in microfinance in the Philippines is presented, including amounts invested by Cordaid, ICCO, OxfamNovib, Rabobank Foundation, FMO, Oikocredit, and DOEN Foundation in 2002-2005.
In Section 3.4 (Priority needs and support gap to the MFIs) the kind of current donor support is summarised and gaps for future support are identified:
• Improving the credit information system for microfinance clients
• Improving financial literacy among users of microfinance
• Development of a microfinance database and indicator system for monitoring purposes
Read the report.
The synopsis was prepared by Justine Anschütz to help make ICCO sponsored 'research' more accessible
The study is structured in the following way: Chapter 1: The Philippines: general overview, geographical, economic growth, population and employment, poverty situation; Chapter 2: The Philippine financial system, types of financial institutions; Chapter 3: The Philippine microfinance sector, about the microfinance policy environment, the demand and supply of microfinance services, donor support to the microfinance sector, priority needs and support gap to the MFIs ; Chapter 4: Meso-level support to microfinance, about the meso level supporters, needs and support gaps at the sector level; Chapter 5: Conclusion and recommendations, regarding three types of support: to clients of microfinance services, to the MFI sector, to networks, associations and federations
Table 3 in Section 3.1 presents some key policy measures on microfinance taken in the Philippines:
In Section 3.2 (Demand and supply of microfinance services) it is stated that demand not always matches supply. Most microfinance service suppliers prefer to provide services to those already engaged in some form of entrepreneurial activity. So many poor do not have access to microfinance. Very few MFIs provide start up funds for clients. Women comprise more than three fourths of the clients of microfinance institutions in the Philippines.
The study gives information on the three major types of institutions involved in microfinance in the Philippines: microfinance NGOs, cooperatives, and banks (rural and thrift banks). It presents their activities, total loan portfolio and number of clients. It also provides some judgement on their maturity and quality of operations. In the Philippines NGOs serve the highest number of clients and have the largest portfolio.
In Section 3.3 (Donor support to the microfinance sector) Official Development Assistance for microfinance is addressed and the portfolio of Dutch institutions in microfinance in the Philippines is presented, including amounts invested by Cordaid, ICCO, OxfamNovib, Rabobank Foundation, FMO, Oikocredit, and DOEN Foundation in 2002-2005.
In Section 3.4 (Priority needs and support gap to the MFIs) the kind of current donor support is summarised and gaps for future support are identified:
- Assistance in developing new products that meet the changing demands of current and prospective clients;
- Using technology based systems (e.g. use of cellphone based technology in payments and use of Personal Digital Assistant in recording loan payments) in lending operations;
- Development of savings products appropriate to the needs of the poor;
- Provision of insurance and microinsurnace services;
- Provision of services to accommodate Remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers;
• Improving the credit information system for microfinance clients
• Improving financial literacy among users of microfinance
• Development of a microfinance database and indicator system for monitoring purposes
Read the report.
The synopsis was prepared by Justine Anschütz to help make ICCO sponsored 'research' more accessible
Thursday, 7 June 2007
'Forgotten and marginalized' - Displaced persons in Khartoum
This February 2006 report - 'Forgotten and marginalized' - Displaced persons in Khartoum: One year after the peace agreement' was written by Rik Delhaas for ICCO.
Sudan has experienced the worst population displacement in the world: six million internally displaced persons (IDPs) out of a total population of 37 million people. Two million of the internally displaced persons live in official IDP camps, squatter areas or relocation sites in and outside the capital Khartoum, in northern Sudan. This report explores the situation of these two million IDPs, one year after the government of Sudan and the southern rebel movement SPLM/A signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The report is based on previous research and some interviews. It is not set up as a research report, in the sense that it does not include a research question or clear information about the methodology used. The last part is more like a pamphlet, urging the Sudanese authorities and international donor community to take certain actions. ICCO has used it for its lobbying efforts. The report provides some interesting figures and illustrations, among others a map of IDP camps in Khartoum State.
The findings in this research suggest that the administration of Khartoum State has not just economic motives for demolishing and relocating the IDP-camps. It also uses relocations as a method of discouraging people from legitimately settling themselves in Khartoum. The government of South-Sudan, in turn, lacks sufficient influence in northern policies and thus cannot interfere. It furthermore has electoral interests in having the southern IDPs returned to their places of origin in the South. Apparently, none of the authorities care for the welfare of IDPs living in and around Khartoum.
As a result of continuing demolitions and relocations to sites far outside Khartoum the situation of these IDPs has deteriorated. In all the camps, sufficient basic services such as health-clinics, water-facilities, latrines and job opportunities are lacking. Many IDPs have lost their jobs, because they cannot afford transport costs to Khartoum. Child malnutrition and mortality are high among the IDPs. Additionally, IDPs are prevented from organizing themselves and from collectively demanding improvement of their situation. In short, circumstances in the camps around Khartoum are dire. Even the IDPs in Darfur are better off, according to Special Representative of Secretary-General Jan Pronk.
Read the report.
The synopsis was prepared by Justine Anschütz to help make ICCO sponsored 'research' more accessible
Sudan has experienced the worst population displacement in the world: six million internally displaced persons (IDPs) out of a total population of 37 million people. Two million of the internally displaced persons live in official IDP camps, squatter areas or relocation sites in and outside the capital Khartoum, in northern Sudan. This report explores the situation of these two million IDPs, one year after the government of Sudan and the southern rebel movement SPLM/A signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The report is based on previous research and some interviews. It is not set up as a research report, in the sense that it does not include a research question or clear information about the methodology used. The last part is more like a pamphlet, urging the Sudanese authorities and international donor community to take certain actions. ICCO has used it for its lobbying efforts. The report provides some interesting figures and illustrations, among others a map of IDP camps in Khartoum State.
The findings in this research suggest that the administration of Khartoum State has not just economic motives for demolishing and relocating the IDP-camps. It also uses relocations as a method of discouraging people from legitimately settling themselves in Khartoum. The government of South-Sudan, in turn, lacks sufficient influence in northern policies and thus cannot interfere. It furthermore has electoral interests in having the southern IDPs returned to their places of origin in the South. Apparently, none of the authorities care for the welfare of IDPs living in and around Khartoum.
As a result of continuing demolitions and relocations to sites far outside Khartoum the situation of these IDPs has deteriorated. In all the camps, sufficient basic services such as health-clinics, water-facilities, latrines and job opportunities are lacking. Many IDPs have lost their jobs, because they cannot afford transport costs to Khartoum. Child malnutrition and mortality are high among the IDPs. Additionally, IDPs are prevented from organizing themselves and from collectively demanding improvement of their situation. In short, circumstances in the camps around Khartoum are dire. Even the IDPs in Darfur are better off, according to Special Representative of Secretary-General Jan Pronk.
Read the report.
The synopsis was prepared by Justine Anschütz to help make ICCO sponsored 'research' more accessible
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
Performance and impact monitoring support to local market partners in Ethiopia
This 2006 report by Ben Haagsma is from a mission of IC/Consult to Ethiopia to assist two organisations -SHDI and NGO Cereal Banks Consortium- to improve their monitoring systems and their baseline studies.
SHDI provides capacity building of agricultural cooperatives and unions, while the NGO Cereal Banks Consortium helps farmers to set up cereal banks. Both organisations focus on promoting access to markets for small producers.
The report is structured in 7 chapters: Chapter 1 introduced the background and objectives of the mission; Chapter 2 clarifies terminology, monitoring for proving and improving, formal and informal monitoring; Chapter 3 provides the outcomes of a joint workshop; Chapter 4 gives detailed information on the systems of the Cereals Bank Consortium; Chapter 5 outlines monitoring systems of SHDI; Chapter 6 contains reflection and discussion; while Chapter 7 outlines some next steps.
In Chapter 2 the author presents some perceived differences between monitoring to 'prove' something (accountability) and to 'improve' something (learning). For example a survey can both provide average values, e.g. average amount of potatoes produced per year, and extreme values, the range from the lowest to the highest amount. The author argues that the average is most interesting for proving/accountability, while the extreme values are more interesting for improving/learning.
The report contains some interesting feedback on the content of questionnaires (sections 4.3 and 5.4) and on sample sizes for surveys (section 3.8).
Section 6.3 provide some interesting insights on the importance of participation in monitoring, both of target groups and within NGOs themselves.
Read the report.
The synopsis was prepared by Justine Anschütz to help make ICCO sponsored 'research' more accessible
SHDI provides capacity building of agricultural cooperatives and unions, while the NGO Cereal Banks Consortium helps farmers to set up cereal banks. Both organisations focus on promoting access to markets for small producers.
The report is structured in 7 chapters: Chapter 1 introduced the background and objectives of the mission; Chapter 2 clarifies terminology, monitoring for proving and improving, formal and informal monitoring; Chapter 3 provides the outcomes of a joint workshop; Chapter 4 gives detailed information on the systems of the Cereals Bank Consortium; Chapter 5 outlines monitoring systems of SHDI; Chapter 6 contains reflection and discussion; while Chapter 7 outlines some next steps.
In Chapter 2 the author presents some perceived differences between monitoring to 'prove' something (accountability) and to 'improve' something (learning). For example a survey can both provide average values, e.g. average amount of potatoes produced per year, and extreme values, the range from the lowest to the highest amount. The author argues that the average is most interesting for proving/accountability, while the extreme values are more interesting for improving/learning.
The report contains some interesting feedback on the content of questionnaires (sections 4.3 and 5.4) and on sample sizes for surveys (section 3.8).
Section 6.3 provide some interesting insights on the importance of participation in monitoring, both of target groups and within NGOs themselves.
Read the report.
The synopsis was prepared by Justine Anschütz to help make ICCO sponsored 'research' more accessible
Saturday, 2 June 2007
Transforming youth gangs into civil society organisations in Central America
Sarah Dobbe of CIDIN recently wrote a paper on "Transforming Youth Gangs. The Possibilities of Transforming Youth Gangs into Civil Society Organisations" (November 2005).
The main research question she asks is: "How can youth gangs in Central America be transformed into civil society organisations, and what lessons can ICCO learn from this analysis?" The report answers this question through answering the following sub-questions:
Section 2.2 analyses some of the important processes behind the formation of youth gangs and the occurrence of gang violence. Section 2.3 describes how youth gangs are perceived with regard to violence, and what implications this has on gangs, youth and gang violence. The popular views on youth gangs and gang violence are contested by describing alternative ways to look upon gangs. It is also described where these popular perceptions originate from.
Chapter 3 looks at how youth gangs differ from civil society organisations (CSO's) and how these differences can be reduced. The most important existing intervention strategies are analysed in the light of reducing these differences, and their potential in facilitating the transformation of youth gangs into CSO's. Section 3.3 suggests what is needed to make the transformation happen; the author also provides some recommendations to ICCO.
Read the report.
The synopsis was prepared by Justine Anschütz to help make ICCO sponsored 'research' more accessible
The main research question she asks is: "How can youth gangs in Central America be transformed into civil society organisations, and what lessons can ICCO learn from this analysis?" The report answers this question through answering the following sub-questions:
- What are the processes behind the formation of youth gangs and the occurrence of gang violence?
- What are civil society organisations?
- How do youth gangs differ from civil society organisations?
- How can these differences between youth gangs and civil society organisations be reduced?
- What recommendations can be made to ICCO with regard to transforming youth gangs into civil society organisations?
Section 2.2 analyses some of the important processes behind the formation of youth gangs and the occurrence of gang violence. Section 2.3 describes how youth gangs are perceived with regard to violence, and what implications this has on gangs, youth and gang violence. The popular views on youth gangs and gang violence are contested by describing alternative ways to look upon gangs. It is also described where these popular perceptions originate from.
Chapter 3 looks at how youth gangs differ from civil society organisations (CSO's) and how these differences can be reduced. The most important existing intervention strategies are analysed in the light of reducing these differences, and their potential in facilitating the transformation of youth gangs into CSO's. Section 3.3 suggests what is needed to make the transformation happen; the author also provides some recommendations to ICCO.
Read the report.
The synopsis was prepared by Justine Anschütz to help make ICCO sponsored 'research' more accessible
Monday, 28 May 2007
Peer review of Peer assist?
Op donderdag 24 mei bespraken we de nota: .. van Ria van Hoewijk van I/C-consult. Hier kwamen de volgende do’s and don’ts uit naar voren
Peer review
Peer-review als een instrument voor intercollegiale toetsing en accountability, dit instrument wordt gebruikt in de academische wereld (toetsing van wetenschappelijke artikelen) en visitatie-commissies (beoordeling van collega-instituten) meestal gericht op het handhaven van kwaliteit en standaarden.
Peer assist
Is een instrument voor collegiaal advies, meer gericht op het leren.
De persoon of organisatie dient ‘eigenaar’ en ‘vrager’ te zijn zonder een verplichtend element.
De peer-assist moet direct aansluiten bij de leerbehoefte van de vrager, deze bij voorkeur zal zelf de ToR of vraag moeten formuleren.
Betreft het een breder proces waarin verschillende organisaties mee doen, is de vraag of dit niet een te verplichtend karakter heeft en of deelnemers echt willen leren.
De peer-assist wordt uitgevoerd door collega’s die bij voorkeur vanuit een zelfde positie of thematiek werken, en dus ook voor dezelfde uitdagingen staan.
Voorkom dat verschillende elementen – leren, evalueren en beoordeling – niet door elkaar lopen en spreek van te voren af waar het accent op ligt; is het om te leren dan kunnen er niet achteraf consequenties voor de partner aan vast zitten. Is het om te evalueren welke waarde wordt dan aan de peer-assist resultaten toegekend, etc.
Maak het proces niet te zwaar, en laat de ruimte om het proces zijn eigen dynamiek te behouden en bespreek van te voren goed wat de scope van de ‘peer-assist’ is.
Let op dat je als donor er niet een te groot aandeel in hebt (ook al financier je het traject) en spreek bijv. af dat je inzicht hebt in de follow-up agenda, maar niet in de concrete adviezen. Als ‘kritiek’ of adviezen op papier worden gezet krijgen ze vaak hun eigen dynamiek, die soms door anderen binnen de organisatie minder worden gewaardeerd.
Maak een duidelijk onderscheid tussen uitwisseling, exchange visits (meer vrijblijvend) en een peer-assist of peer-review traject (minder vrijblijvend, vooraf resultaten benoemen).
Bedenk bij het gebruik van het instrument ‘peer-review’ dat culturele verschillen kunnen meespelen. Niet in elk setting is het gebruikelijk dat kritiek wordt uitgesproken, laat staan op papier wordt gezet.
Een self-assesment van de vragende organisatie is vaak een zinnig onderdeel van het proces
Ook binnen ICCO zouden we het instrument ‘peer-assist’ meer kunnen gebruiken, bv bij de ontwikkeling van programmatisch werken, waarbij collega’s feedback kunnen vragen.
geschreven door Erica Wortel
Peer review
Peer-review als een instrument voor intercollegiale toetsing en accountability, dit instrument wordt gebruikt in de academische wereld (toetsing van wetenschappelijke artikelen) en visitatie-commissies (beoordeling van collega-instituten) meestal gericht op het handhaven van kwaliteit en standaarden.
Peer assist
Is een instrument voor collegiaal advies, meer gericht op het leren.
De persoon of organisatie dient ‘eigenaar’ en ‘vrager’ te zijn zonder een verplichtend element.
De peer-assist moet direct aansluiten bij de leerbehoefte van de vrager, deze bij voorkeur zal zelf de ToR of vraag moeten formuleren.
Betreft het een breder proces waarin verschillende organisaties mee doen, is de vraag of dit niet een te verplichtend karakter heeft en of deelnemers echt willen leren.
De peer-assist wordt uitgevoerd door collega’s die bij voorkeur vanuit een zelfde positie of thematiek werken, en dus ook voor dezelfde uitdagingen staan.
Voorkom dat verschillende elementen – leren, evalueren en beoordeling – niet door elkaar lopen en spreek van te voren af waar het accent op ligt; is het om te leren dan kunnen er niet achteraf consequenties voor de partner aan vast zitten. Is het om te evalueren welke waarde wordt dan aan de peer-assist resultaten toegekend, etc.
Maak het proces niet te zwaar, en laat de ruimte om het proces zijn eigen dynamiek te behouden en bespreek van te voren goed wat de scope van de ‘peer-assist’ is.
Let op dat je als donor er niet een te groot aandeel in hebt (ook al financier je het traject) en spreek bijv. af dat je inzicht hebt in de follow-up agenda, maar niet in de concrete adviezen. Als ‘kritiek’ of adviezen op papier worden gezet krijgen ze vaak hun eigen dynamiek, die soms door anderen binnen de organisatie minder worden gewaardeerd.
Maak een duidelijk onderscheid tussen uitwisseling, exchange visits (meer vrijblijvend) en een peer-assist of peer-review traject (minder vrijblijvend, vooraf resultaten benoemen).
Bedenk bij het gebruik van het instrument ‘peer-review’ dat culturele verschillen kunnen meespelen. Niet in elk setting is het gebruikelijk dat kritiek wordt uitgesproken, laat staan op papier wordt gezet.
Een self-assesment van de vragende organisatie is vaak een zinnig onderdeel van het proces
Ook binnen ICCO zouden we het instrument ‘peer-assist’ meer kunnen gebruiken, bv bij de ontwikkeling van programmatisch werken, waarbij collega’s feedback kunnen vragen.
geschreven door Erica Wortel
Monday, 21 May 2007
Roles and tasks within the programmatic approach
On 9 May, we organized a workshop on Capacity Development Programme in the Alliance: “Roles and Tasks within the Programmatic Approach”, with participation of different stakeholders within the Alliance.
It was an inspiring day in which the objectives; to introduce and to further develop the capacity development programme – were taken a step forward. Despite the complexity of the programme and because of the involvement of different actors, levels and organizations within the Alliance, we felt that the discussions helped to make concrete proposals how to define the short and longer term agenda.
Time and tools for learning and reflecting, how to anchor ‘learning’ in the organizational processes so it will not be seen as an ‘extra burden’, a climate were you can learn from failures, how to share and exchange experiences? These are only some of the challenges we discussed the learning agenda.
Read the full report.
It was an inspiring day in which the objectives; to introduce and to further develop the capacity development programme – were taken a step forward. Despite the complexity of the programme and because of the involvement of different actors, levels and organizations within the Alliance, we felt that the discussions helped to make concrete proposals how to define the short and longer term agenda.
Time and tools for learning and reflecting, how to anchor ‘learning’ in the organizational processes so it will not be seen as an ‘extra burden’, a climate were you can learn from failures, how to share and exchange experiences? These are only some of the challenges we discussed the learning agenda.
Read the full report.
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