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The SEEP Network has partnered with Pollen Group to offer an introductory course on inclusive market systems development (MSD) in thin markets, in contexts such as post-conflict, environment related emergencies, and highly underdeveloped markets with limited or distorted private sector engagement. The training will strengthen practitioner application of systems-thinking and facilitative approaches to program design and implementation. The outcome of this course is a more comprehensive understanding of how to instigate systemic change in thin markets, leading to larger and more sustainable impact.

Throughout the training, participants will engage with a fictional case study based on the experiences of SEEP members implementing MSD programs in thin markets. This case will help practitioners to identify vulnerable groups, analyze thin market constraints, develop intervention strategies that are inclusive of vulnerable groups, identify leverage points for systemic change, and design partner engagement strategies that spur behavior change among public and private market actors.

This training is aimed at mid to senior level managers of market systems programs that may have some familiarity with the approach but have not experienced an in-depth training on market systems, M4P, or facilitation. The training will cover 6 main topics:

1. The foundational concepts of market systems development;
2. Frameworks to shape inclusive strategy and intervention design;
3. How programs can engage in thin market contexts and, within these contexts, target vulnerable or marginalized groups as beneficiaries of systemic change interventions;
4. Tools and tactics on how to engage market actors while promoting ownership and sustainability;
5. M&E for systemic change;
6. Organizational processes for more flexible and adaptive programming.

Audience

This training is aimed at mid to senior level managers of market systems programs that may have some familiarity with the approach but have not experienced an in-depth training on market systems, M4P, or facilitation.

Participants will gain:

• Strengthened understanding of complex systems, systems-theory, and its application to analyzing problems;
• Increased knowledge of market systems facilitation tools and frameworks to strengthen the design of project intervention strategies;
• Strengthened capacity on the use of facilitative tactics during project activities, including strengthening formal and informal feedback loops to inform learning and planning;
• An understanding of thin markets versus thick markets, and how to engage marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Meet the Trainers:

• Raksha Vasudevan joined Pollen Group Consulting after two years working in the humanitarian sector in west Africa, Europe and the Middle East. As a market development Strategist, she has undertaken market analyses of the livestock sector in northern Kenya and access to digital financial services in West Africa. Previously, Raksha worked with a management consulting firm in Canada and a microfinance NGO in south Asia. Raksha holds a Master’s in Development Studies and a Bachelor’s in Commerce. 
• Christine Livet is a Senior Strategist with Pollen Group Consulting, with extensive experience working with market systems and facilitative programs in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. She specializes in organizational change management, developing performance management systems, and training/mentoring of field staff in market systems and facilitation. Prior to working with Pollen Group (as well as formerly under Engineers Without Borders Canada), Christine worked in the dairy sector in Nepal and with the Canadian donor agency supporting the design of economic growth policies and strategies. She studied international development and economics at the University of Ottawa.

ITF is the International Taekwon-Do Federation, founded on March 22, 1966 in Seoul (south) Korea, by General Choi Hong Hi, who developed Taekwon-Do, to promote the teaching of this martial art.

At that time, nine countries were involved: Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, West Germany, USA, Turkey, Italy, and Egypt. Taekwon-Do is now taught in almost every country in the world, and General Choi is recognized as the Father of Taekwon-Do.

The mission of the ITF is to represent, promote, and work for the development of the practice of Taekwon-Do in all countries by coordinating and certifying Taekwon-Do activities such as competitions and seminars setting and enforcing high quality standards for technical and teaching identifying and collaborating with affiliated organizations, such as Continental Federations, National Associations, and Allied National Associations, providing assistance to local Taekwon-Do organizations Certification for Black Belt holders, international instructors and umpires.

The Africa Investment Funds and Asset Management (AIFAM Forum) convenes regional capital owners (pensions, sovereign funds, insurers, central banks etc.), fund managers, and investment professionals from the continent to meet with institutional investors and other stakeholders who are interested in opportunities on the continent. The meeting is an invitation-only session on developing viable financial products/structures that can increase the availability of capital to invest in the continent’s infrastructure, deepen capital markets innovation and mainstream investing alternative asset classes.