USAID-sponsored studies and training contributed to a change in regional trade policy.
In 2006, animal trade – primarily targeting poultry -- was banned...
Market Information System
USAID ATP and E-ATP are supporting market information system (MIS) partners who collect and disseminate efficient commercial market information data on more than 50 agricultural commodities in more than 100 markets in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.
MIS works on three levels:
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Giving individual private sector operators access to commercial information based on their needs;
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Increasing the ability of value chain organizations at the national level to provide MIS services to their members; and
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Strengthening the capacity of a public regional MIS system to provide market information to agricultural, trade and economic analysts and policy makers.
The Esoko Platform
MIS uses the Esoko platform, a database that distributes information to some 20,000 registered users via mobile phone, giving individuals and businesses the opportunity to share information quickly and affordably.
In each country, an MIS manager supervises the market enumerators, and verifies and validates the information uploaded onto the Esoko platform. Esoko processes and analyzes the data -- which include prices and market locations, bids and offers, and stakeholder profiles – and then makes that information available to users through the Internet and by mobile phone text (SMS) messages. Users may also request prices, upload offers or receive specific personalized alerts from the Esoko platform.
Using a sophisticated but user-friendly way to share information across countries, markets, languages and currencies, Esoko is providing an indispensable database for agricultural trade. With its support of MIS, USAID ATP and E-ATP are helping to maintain a dynamic inter-regional trade environment.
MIS Technical Support Services
In addition to connecting value chain actors to market information through the Esoko platform, the following support services are offered:
Organizational, technical and financial support
USAID’s support of MIS is aimed at increasing commercial activities and connecting people with each other and to information. Professional and inter-professional organizations receive technical and financial support, access to periodic market events, and the opportunity to link up with other associations, businesses, informal groups of traders, or any other group.
Market enumerators training
USAID’s support of MIS is aimed at increasing commercial activities and connecting people with each other and to information. Professional and inter-professional organizations receive technical and financial support, access to periodic market events, and the opportunity to link up with other associations, businesses, informal groups of traders, or any other group.
Market enumerators training
In order to harmonize and improve MIS information-gathering methods, market enumerators receive training in the collection, dissemination and use of market information.
MIS training
MIS partners and market facilitators identify and train the value chain actors in using the Esoko platform to get current market data, upload bids and offers, and receive timely SMS (text).
Market facilitators’ network
To strengthen and support value chains actors’ trade linkages USAID programs facilitate the establishment of market facilitators’ networks in large West African markets.
Five private pioneering organizations receive ongoing USAID support because of the efficient MIS services they offer agricultural dealers:
- Burkina Faso: Association pour la promotion de la sécurité et de la souveraineté alimentaires (APROSSA)/Afrique Verte
- Mali: Association malienne pour la sécurité et la ouveraineté alimentaires (AMASSA)/Afrique Verte
- Côte d’Ivoire: Association nationale des organisations professionnelles agricoles, Côte d’Ivoire (ANOPACI)
- Nigeria: Aid Network(IFAnet) and Dawanau Market Development Association (DMDA)
- Ghana: Esoko Ghana
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