From analysis to action: what works in designing interventions based on market systems analysis?
Programmes often struggle to move from analysis to action. How do interventions actually get designed? What are the main factors that affect this process?
This research focuses on understanding this transition in market systems programmes, uncovering a number of critical issues (iterative vs. linear analysis, participatory vs. team design, pragmatic vs comprehensive). Based on extensive interviews with practitioners, the report sets out a framework to understand the design process, providing guidance on how to keep sight of systemic change in diverse contexts.
Led by Nathan Associates, the research looks at how market systems practitioners can move from initial market diagnosis to successful interventions. Based on extensive interviews with practitioners, the final report sets out a framework to help practitioners understand the design process, and provide guidance on how to keep sight of systemic change in diverse contexts.
Approach
Nathan Associates are identifying techniques, methodologies and experiences that are used to design interventions in market development programmes, with the aim to provide practical guidance on overcoming key challenges during the design process.
More than 60 market systems practitioners, representing 20 market systems programmes, have been interviewed. The research has identified new – sometimes unexpected – insights on key determinants for the design of successful interventions, and how interventions based on the market systems approach are designed in practice.