A FRAMEWORK FOR A PUSH/PULL APPROACH TO INCLUSIVE MARKET SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

This approach is grounded in a robust theory of change that incorporates both push and pull perspectives, recognizing that the extremely poor have unique circumstances that often preclude them from being able to take advantage of economic opportunities created in evolving market systems. The push/pull approach aims to build capacities to engage in markets and expand the diversity and quality of accessible economic opportunities for the extremely poor through a dynamic process of change. This is achieved by integrating a multitude of strategic efforts, including push strategies that build capacities and pull strategies that expand opportunities, to drive more beneficial and sustained inclusion of the extremely poor into market systems. A key feature of the push/pull approach is its emphasis on sequencing, phasing, and layering of interventions to incrementally link together push and pull strategic efforts. This approach also recognizes the importance of behaviors, aspirations, and relationships in the process of change for poor individuals, households, and market players. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for a knowledge management system that facilitates adaptive programming and learning, in support of the theory of change. In Ethiopia, the USAID mission is overseeing six programs designed to collectively feed into an overall push/pull approach. Two projects, Livestock Market Development (LMD) and Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development (GRAD), are working together to drive real linkages in practice through coordinated and strategically targeted activities. GRAD is providing a sequenced, layered package of push and pull interventions to help extremely poor households graduate from a government support program and into successful market engagement. The push/pull approach has been applied in various contexts, including in Ethiopia, where it has been used to support the economic development of extremely poor households. The approach has been found to be effective in driving more beneficial and sustained inclusion of the extremely poor into market systems, and it has the potential to be scaled up to other contexts. The push/pull approach is a framework for design, implementation, and adaptive management that is rooted in pathways out of poverty through markets. It is a market-oriented approach that seeks to strategically link efforts to support transitions out of poverty for the extremely poor and market development initiatives. The approach has been found to be effective in driving more beneficial and sustained inclusion of the extremely poor into market systems, and it has the potential to be scaled up to other contexts. In the context of the Leveraging Economic Opportunities (LEO) project, the push/pull approach is being used to advance the objectives of market development work, while remaining aligned with a systems approach. The approach is being applied in various contexts, including in Ethiopia, where it has been used to support the economic development of extremely poor households. The push/pull approach has been found to be effective in driving more beneficial and sustained inclusion of the extremely poor into market systems, and it has the potential to be scaled up to other contexts.