Africa Bureau sector strategy : a strategic framework for promoting agricultural marketing and agribusiness development in sub-Saharan Africa

Development of the sector could therefore have a significant beneficial impact on income, domestic consumption, food security, and foreign exchange earnings. This potential is severely constrained, however, by the inefficiency of existing marketing systems. This report outlines an A.I.D. strategic framework which addresses this inefficiency by focusing on three key factors: (1) macroeconomic and sectoral policies and regulations affecting marketing incentives; (2) the infrastructure necessary for marketing expansion; and (3) the capability of agribusiness and others to participate in marketing activities. Elements of the strategy include: (1) provision of management and technical training for public and private sector personnel; (2) incorporation of marketing and agribusiness analyses into Mission sector assessments; (3) Mission support for interventions to remove the most pressing constraints to market development; and (4) development of an integrated and flexible monitoring and evaluation system. Indicators to help Missions measure the impact of program and project interventions are included.