Feed the Future Enabling Environment for Food Security Project Monitoring and Evaluation Within Market Systems Development: Literature Review Summary Report

Launched in September 2015, the project enables the rapid procurement of technical analysis, advisory services, and strategic knowledge management. The Bureau for Food Security (BFS), through its Feed the Future Learning Agenda, seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of all programs in the short and long term by generating, synthesizing, and communicating evidence related to key questions in specific areas, including market systems. The main assumption of the Feed the Future Learning Agenda with regard to market systems is that a growing, resilient, competitive, inclusive, nutritious, and sustainable agriculture and food market system increases producers' income through productivity and profitability improvements. Market system strengthening (MSS) contributes to the achievement of Intermediate Results (IRs) across the Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) results framework, which supports the overarching goal of GFSS "to sustainably reduce global hunger, malnutrition, and poverty" through three interrelated and interdependent main objectives: inclusive and sustainable agricultural-led economic growth, strengthened resilience among people and systems, and a well-nourished population, especially among women and children. A total of 65 pieces of literature were identified and examined to address two related learning areas: Learning Area 1, "How do we measure a strengthened market system?", and Learning Area 2, "How do market system approaches maximize indirect impacts?" The literature highlights key insights and information obtained through a rapid literature review, focusing on two related learning areas. The context for understanding changes in market systems is characterized by the dynamic nature of markets and value chains, which are continually adjusting to new and changing prices, products, competition, and other factors. An essential feature of market systems is that they are continually changing, and markets and value chains are inherently dynamic. Market system strengthening (MSS) is defined as the process of improving the functioning of market systems to increase producers' income through productivity and profitability improvements. The literature identifies various indicators for measuring MSS, including changes in market prices, production levels, and trade volumes. Monitoring tools and indicators that best capture market systems change, are cost-effective, and work well in developing country operating environments include market surveys, value chain analysis, and social network analysis. Market system approaches maximize indirect impacts by increasing the reach and effectiveness of interventions in agricultural market systems. The literature highlights the importance of understanding the contextual environment of the topic area, including the social, economic, and institutional factors that influence market systems. The key concepts inherent to the topic area include market system strengthening, direct and indirect beneficiaries, outreach, outcomes, and inclusion. The literature reports practical issues, such as monitoring tools, cost-effectiveness, and working in developing country environments. The monitoring tools and indicators that best capture market systems change, are cost-effective, and work well in developing country operating environments include market surveys, value chain analysis, and social network analysis. The literature also highlights the importance of understanding the contextual environment of the topic area, including the social, economic, and institutional factors that influence market systems. The Feed the Future Enabling Environment for Food Security project aims to address policies, as well as legal, institutional, and regulatory factors that function as market constraints affecting food security. The project enables the rapid procurement of technical analysis, advisory services, and strategic knowledge management. The Bureau for Food Security (BFS), through its Feed the Future Learning Agenda, seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of all programs in the short and long term by generating, synthesizing, and communicating evidence related to key questions in specific areas, including market systems. The literature highlights key insights and information obtained through a rapid literature review, focusing on two related learning areas: Learning Area 1, "How do we measure a strengthened market system?", and Learning Area 2, "How do market system approaches maximize indirect impacts?" The context for understanding changes in market systems is characterized by the dynamic nature of markets and value chains, which are continually adjusting to new and changing prices, products, competition, and other factors.