Evaluating and promoting inclusive markets
Ghana MADE is a Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) programme intended to improve the incomes and resilience of poor farmers and small-scale rural entrepreneurs in the Northern Savannah. While other donor programmes focus on the infrastructure and regional cooperation deficits, MADE aims to complement these efforts and stimulate economic growth through improving the way that agricultural markets work.
It is inherent to the nature of the M4P process that continual monitoring is at the heart of the intervention. In parallel with its implementation, we are conducting an impact and process evaluation of the MADE programme. Using qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis we aim to assess the effective operation of the programme and determine whether its target market is being served. Our evaluation uses a theory based, participatory approach, drawing on data collected by the Ghana MADE programme as well as conducting primary data collection to fill gaps or supplement existing data.
The M4P approach aims to make market systems more effective, sustainable and beneficial for poor people. In addition to contributing to the evidence base for Northern Ghana, our objective is to inform the international debate on the value of this approach within the context of ‘thin’ markets and thereby feed into future policy and funding decisions relating to tackling poverty reduction.