1. Catholic Relief Services
Improving access to and performance of markets in a conflict and post conflict environment
Critical skills for farmers to effectively engage in markets
Farmers need financial skills to save , make decisions on borrowing and keep financial records t
Partnership for Recovery and Resilience Learning Event
November 13-15, 2018
Juba

2. CRS – Skills for Marketing and Rural Transformation - (SMART ) Skills
SMART Skills - CRS integrated approach to link farmers with markets
Organization management, financial skills-SILC, market and enterprise skills, natural resource management and innovation
Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC)- Private Service Provider (PSP) Model - CRS savings-led microfinance approach
Provides affordable, convenient and sustainable access to financial services
Support Field Agents to transition to PSPs
PSPs offer services to SILC groups for a fee beyond project period
Critical skills for farmers to effectively engage in markets
Farmers need organization skills, financial skills to save , make decisions on borrowing and keep financial records , market skills –identify marketing opportunities, develop market strategies, skills to conserve water, soil and other natural resource, skills for new, efficient and profitable ways of doing things.

3. SILC- PSP : What worked well
Integration of SILC in agriculture, livestock fisheries and other sectors
Financing farm input, fishing equipment, animal drugs, etc.
Diversification of livelihoods, increased productivity and income and thus contributing to resilient households
Investment in small enterprises and business expansion
Saving in assets such as livestock and small ruminants
Improved social cohesion and creation of social capital e.g. Financial skills for Field Agents and SILC members
Accumulation of high levels of savings by majority of SILC groups and producer groups
Improved social cohesion among communities
Increased and diversified income
Contributing to food security
Asset growth
Increased ability of targeted conflict affected households deal with social and economic shocks resulting in recovery of livelihoods

4. SILC- PSP : What worked well
SILC Outreach as at September,
David Gai a member of producer group said “ I’ve learnt new innovation skills and have increased production. Last year I produced 750 kgs of sorghum and sold 250 kgs seeds at 36,000 SSP and left with 500 kgs for consumption. Beside this, I borrowed 30,000 SSP which I added to my savings and started livestock trading.”
Performance Indicators
Total
Active SILC groups
444
Active members
9,526
Active number of women
6,156
Accumulated savings
USD159,785
Value of loans outstanding
USD90,345

5. SILC-PSP: What didn’t work well
Hyperinflation
Eroded value of savings
Market price fluctuation
Lack of formal financial services to support SILC activities
Low literacy levels
High dropout of field agents in some locations
Suspension of savings activities in few cases due to insecurity
Eroded value of savings
Market price fluctuation of input and commodities affected business performance of some small enterprises

6. SILC-PSP: What could be done differently next time
Promote other asset growth approaches
Facilitate financial linkages with formal financial institutions
Introduce functional adult literacy and numeracy in future programming
Recruit and build capacity of average qualified field agents
Integrate peacebuilding in all livelihoods projects
Eroded value of savings
Market price fluctuation of input and commodities affected business performance of some small enterprises
Suspension of savings activities due to insecurity

7. Value addition techniques and Market strengthening: What worked well
Value addition mentorship
Post harvest handling and management of crop, fishery and livestock products
Marketing and business skills – CRS SMART Skills
Extension services in agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors
Inclusion of women to contribute to more inclusive market systems
Facilitation of market linkages
Innovation Platform Forum
improved quality of meat and milk sold to consumers.
Improved quality of smoked fish thus attracting higher prices on the market.
Reduction of post-harvest losses
High sales reported by fisherfolks.
PICS bags for storage to reduce pests damage. Low adoption of the technology due to low supply
Marketing and business skills – CRS SMART Skills
Identification of marketing opportunities
Business planning skills
Diversification into other high profitable value chains e.g. livestock trading
linkages between producer groups and private input-suppliers and producer groups with private buyers.
Innovation Platform Forum
Identified challenges facing value chains.
Developed production and market strategies to strengthen value chains
Build relationships of value chain actors i.e. producers, in-put suppliers, traders, processors and business development service providers and policy makers/regulators.

8. Market strengthening cntd: What worked well
Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) business model
Feeder road construction and rehabilitation – DRR/Food for Asset projects
What didn’t work well
Lack of enabling business environment
Low capacity of business development service providers e.g. private –input suppliers, skills trainings, cold chain services
Low engagement of the private sector in market systems
Insecurity
(CAHWs) business model to improve availability and accessibility of animal drugs contribute to resilient livestock market system
Lack of enabling environment
Weak infrastructure i.e. roads
Poor mobile communication networks
Weak/ lack of business related regulations
Devaluation of South Sudanese currency

9. Value Chains and Market strengthening: What could be done differently
Promote private sector partnerships to improve cold chain system, input supply etc.
Facilitate market infrastructure development
Low cost credit facility to producer groups and private input suppliers
Support policy makers and regulators to create an enabling business environment
Invest in sustainable market information system
Partner with research institutions e.g. AGRA

10. Thank you for your Attention

11. “This presentation was made possible through support provided by the U
“This presentation was made possible through support provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of Contract No. AID- OFDA-A The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development.”