Working with and through market actors to affect systemic change is a key tenet of market systems development programmes. Structuring these relationships, however, is not always straightforward. Partnership agreements must be flexible enough to allow for changes in the level and nature of support provided by programmes, based on the differing
characteristics of partners and the inevitability of changing market conditions, new learning, and strategic shifts. At the same time, programmes have to deal with donor demands for transparency and value for money, hold partners accountable to what they said they would do, and clearly communicate expectations about the relationship.
This document gives an overview of GROW Liberia’s current process for structuring partnership agreements. This has emerged from learning about how to address the differing capacities and incentives of partners, as well as how to ensure a streamlined yet collaborative process.
This ‘How to!’ note, is one of a series in which practitioners share technical information about how to tackle a commonly met challenge in market systems development. If you would like to share your own ‘How to!’ note, please contact editor@beamexchange.org.