Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) is an innovative approach to development that aims to improve the participation of poor men and women in economic growth by changing the way market systems operate. Inclusive market development will encourage private companies to invest more, create more jobs, and widen the access of poor people to markets, goods and services. This M4P portal is aimed at people interested in developing and applying the market development approach. The site includes information on the M4P approach, examples of good practice from M4P projects, blogs from practioners and opportunities to exchange views with others on the front line of market development for the poor.

Major new M4P document release

Wed, 11/19/2008 - 01:19 — alan.johnson

A comprehensive new set of three documents on the M4P approach is now available. The first of these documents, the M4P Synthesis paper explains the essence of the M4P approach – its rationale, including evidence of impact, and key features in implementation. The second - M4P Perspectives - introduces the conceptual underpinnings of M4P and explores its application in different markets  including finance, agriculture, water, labour, land, and climate change. The third - the M4P Operational Guide - provides a substantial operational resource on how to implement M4P, including an overview of good practices, common management challenges and the main lessons from experience.
 

More on Standards and Agricultural Trade

Tue, 06/02/2009 - 10:15 — Dominic Smith

In the increasingly globalized and interlinked world of international agricultural trade, a wide variety of standards (both public and private) have been developed in order to provide some assurance that the products consumed conform to a particular set of characteristics. These characteristics can be social in nature (Fairtrade), sustainability oriented (Utz Kapeh, Rainforest Alliance) or most commonly related to food safety. Participation in the global agricultural trade system is increasingly contingent on products meeting standards. Whilst this can have benefits for consumers, there are many who view the increasingly de rigeur nature of standards in agricultural trade as being a form of neo-protectionism imposing unrealistic costs of compliance on the poor producers of food in developing countries whilst benefiting farmers in developed countries.
According to a new brief released by CUTS International,

Inclusive Business

Wed, 05/13/2009 - 09:22 — Dominic Smith

In March 2006, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and SNV Netherlands Development Organization created a strategic Alliance to work together to address sustainable poverty alleviation through the involvement of the private sector. One of the fruits of this alliance is the very interesting and informative Inclusive Business website which collects many articles relating to pro-poor business in an easy to digest format. Whilst mostly concerned with 8 target countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Peru) there certainly is a lot of information relevant to a wider audience on the site.

Re-emerging poor a target for some retailers

Wed, 05/13/2009 - 08:57 — Dominic Smith

As the global financial crisis continues, targeting markets at the Base of the Pyramid is emerging as a corporate strategy not only in the developing countries of the Global South, but also in some European countries where the rapid economic growth of the past 5 -10 years has dramatically reversed to contraction in the last year. Reuters reports on new retailing developments in Serbia and Slovenia targeting the poor in both countries.

Second M4P Workshop held in Nairobi February 2009

Wed, 04/29/2009 - 20:06 — Inja Vatne

The second M4P workshop was held in Nairobi 25 February. The event brought together a blend of M4P practitioners, donors, and would-be M4P funders and implementers, in total close to 60 participants (see photo of part of the group).