Programme description

The programme is divided into three different types of training session each day:

1) Main plenary session for all participants (morning)
2) Small group workshops on core skills in market development (morning)
3) Small group workshops or seminars of elective subjects (afternoon)

Morning plenary and core skills sessions are attended by all participants. Elective subjects in the afternoon will be based on small group workshops or seminars where participants will be able to choose a specific subject of interest from a small menu of subjects on offer in each week. Some time will be left 'free' for individual study or group discussions.

Morning sessions

1) Plenary session: Big issues in market development (8.45-10.00 daily)
Most days of the programme will begin with a 1¼-hour session focusing on 'big' issues in market development. Thus, as well as developing skills and knowledge of practical tools, participants will become familiar with on-going areas of debate. These sessions will be for all participants and will take the form of lectures, seminars or discussions focusing on subjects that complement the core skills and electives sessions.

2) Core skills in market development (10.30-12.45 daily)
Market development is an emerging and diverse field. Core skills sessions provide participants with a central body of knowledge, frameworks and skills to make sense of market development in their own situations. In particular, they will enable participants to (a) understand the rationale for a market development approach (why it's important) and (b) develop rigorous approaches to pursuing market development goals (what it is and how it is undertaken). Core sessions also offer a framework to examine and test specific interventions that are the subject of afternoon electives. Participants will be divided into smaller groups of 18-20 to provide a more appropriate environment for interactive learning. Among the key topics covered will be:

♦Markets and wider development: understanding where market systems fit into economic development and poverty reduction
♦Understanding market systems: assessing demand, examining supply-side capacities, understanding impediments to better functioning markets and market analysis as a basis for action
♦The role of key actors: the appropriate role of main players such as the private sector, government, associations and the not-for-profit sector, and how they complement each other in markets systems
♦Sustainability: the central importance of sustainability and how to design interventions for lasting impact
♦Intervention options: designing and implementing interventions to meet long-term objectives
♦Monitoring and evaluation: practical approaches to M&E

Afternoon sessions

3) Elective subjects (14.00-17.00 daily)
These offer participants an opportunity to focus on subjects in which they have a specific interest. The elective choices are listed below.

Week 1:  Participants choose one from three different electives offered in this week. Each elective is 12 hours in duration - four afternoons. Participants will not be able to move from one class to another but must remain with their elective class throughout the week.

Week 2: In this week, electives are shorter; each elective is 6 hours in duration - two afternoons. Participants choose two from three electives offered in week 2. Participants will not be able to move from one class to another but must remain with their elective classes throughout the week.

Participants therefore attend a total of three elective subjects, one in week 1 and two in week 2.

Week 1 elective options

Choose one of the following:

Wealth creation for the rural poor through competitive agricultural markets - Michael Field

Market research: gathering and using market system information effectively - Alexandra Miehlbradt

Evolving roles of the state in enabling market development - David Elliott

Week 2 elective options

Choose two of the following:

Impact assessment in market development projects - Alexandra Miehlbradt

Market development in conflict- and emergency-afflicted situations - Diane Johnson

Managing market development projects - Prashant Rana and Jim Tomecko

Further information about the elective and plenary subjects is available in the programme brochure (you can download this from the 'Current Programmes' web page), or by contacting Jan Hutchinson (Programme Manager) on global@springfieldcentre.com.