ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT Eric Derks, ACDI/VOCA

What is Civil Society?  Research institutes – autonomous/independent  Professional organizations  Faith-based organizations, mosques, churches  Farmer organizations, CBOs  NGOs – international and local  Others

What are the Roles of Civil Society?  Research  Oversight  Advocacy  Facilitation  Implementation Agronomic Economic Policy Production standards Environmental safeguards Women, minorities, poor Based on research Extension to oversight function

Implementation & Facilitation  Implementation: making changes in a market system  Facilitation: stimulating others to make changes  Which civil society actors are permanent, sustainable parts of a market system? Limited Growth with no Poverty Reduction Growth with Poverty Reduction

Value Chain Approach  Sustainability is defined by a value chain’s ability to invest in ongoing improvements and expanded benefits for smallholders  Facilitation ensures local ownership of improved performance and eases project exit  Knowledge management needed to ensure that interventions are resulting in desired changes Implementation & Facilitation

Challenges  Limited civil society participation in design and implementation of key national/government programs  Weak information base  Relies on good will  Thin on the ground  Conflict and duplication among civil society groups