ComMark: Making markets work for the poor

ComMark aims to reduce poverty in the region by putting into practice the development approach known as ’making markets work for the poor’, or MMW4P, which has become increasingly prominent within the international development community. ComMark is active in commodity and service sectors that offer significant potential for pro–poor growth. ComMark aims to address the regulatory, policy, productivity, institutional and business service constraints in these sectors to make them work more inclusively and effectively for poor people – whether as workers, entrepreneurs or consumers.

ComMark reports

An initial baseline survey for the Alfred Nzo livestock improvement project
Madolo, M., ComMark, 2008
An initial baseline survey for the Alfred Nzo livestock improvement project
This baseline survey was motivated by a three-year joint venture entered between WBHO Ltd and ComMark to expand our current Eastern Cape Red Meat project to the area of Alfred Nzo district municipality, where WBHO is constructing a road between Mt Frere and Matatiele. The aim of the survey is to provide an empirical foundation for ComMark to make strategic decisions around the allocation of project resources and the design of project components.
HIV/AIDS in the South African agricultural sector: Towards the development of a long term intervention
Inglelozi Management Solutions, 2008
HIV/AIDS in the South African agricultural sector: Towards the development of a long term intervention
This report contains the results of preliminary research into HIV/AIDS in the agricultural sector, with particular reference to the situation in South Africa. It covers both secondary desktop research and interviews with roleplayers. (For a list of interviews, please see Appendix A). It is intended as input for a workshop aimed at developing a practical strategy and action plan for addressing HIV/AIDS in the agricultural sector in South Africa.
Accelerating shared growth: Making markets work for the poor in South Africa
Commissioned by ComMark and written by CDE, 2006
Accelerating shared growth: Making markets work for the poor in South Africa
To introduce a wider audience to the development approach known as 'making markets work for the poor', this publication examines the principles of the MMW4P concept and illustrates them through a range of local and international case studies that provide practical examples.

Other reports

Towards collective business action and cross-sector collaboration in responsible competitiveness clusters in southern Africa
Hamann, R., Kambalame, D., de Cleene, S. and Ndlovu, N., 2008
Towards collective business action and cross-sector collaboration in responsible competitiveness clusters in southern Africa
Responsible competitiveness clusters are cross-sector collaboration initiatives focused on identifying and acting upon synergies between sustainable development and economic competitiveness objectives. Through three Southern African case studies, this paper investigates the incentives, opportunities and challenges encountered in the emergence of such clusters. The third case study, which makes extensive reference to ComMark’s work in this area, discusses options for enhancing the competitiveness of the Lesotho textile sector.
Insights from international cases
Tanburn, J., 2005
Insights from international cases
This paper is an edited version of "Making Markets Work for the Poor - Insights from International Cases" prepared for the Centre for Development and Enterprise as part of the Commark project in South Africa. The paper provides a number of examples where markets and private sector providers play a role in service provision. In this context, 'markets' is to some extent a code-word for all of the systems within which poor people live.
Poverty, profits, and poverty reduction
DAIdeas, 2004
Poverty, profits, and poverty reduction
For every business, the one item that never leaves the agenda is the search for the next big growth opportunity. Yet how often do large, multinational corporations look to the developing world for that prospect? And how often do the poor in developing countries look to multinationals for products and services to improve their lives? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer is more and more often.

Giving development a face

This series of reports is the result of an assessment of a sample of our projects in the following programme areas: agri-business, regional standards, labour-intensive manufacturing, regulation and policy support and co-ordination.
Assisting the Mariveni Emerging Farmer Project to become EurepGap compliant
2008
Assisting the Mariveni Emerging Farmer Project to become EurepGap compliant
Achieving and demonstrating that private standards are being met is a costly exercise for developing country farmers. However, without this investment they have no choice but to sell their product locally. To help Southern African farmers lower these costs and access export markets, DFID launched a project with ComMark in 2006. ComMark has been able to provide the Letsitele project with technical assistance and support to raise the standards of food safety management.
Eastern Cape Red Meat Project
2008
Eastern Cape Red Meat Project
An analysis of the livestock sub-sector confirmed that most communal farmers keep cattle for a variety of reasons, which often do not include their potential for a steady financial income. The main objective of this programme is to increase the income of communal cattle farmers by assisting them to realise higher prices for their cattle – through information around grading, classification, market systems and abattoir procedures, and the facilitation of access to formal markets.
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Project and partner news

Confronting Climate Change
In project: Measuring and Mitigating the Carbon Footprint of the South African Fruit and Wine Sector
Confronting Climate Change
South Africa’s fruit and wine exporters on 7 July 2008 launched an innovative research programme to measure the carbon footprint of the industry. The project will also establish how the South African industry measures up, in terms of its carbon emissions, internationally. As part of the initiative, the process will enable the sector to formulate a carbon reduction plan with effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to meet the challenge of climate change.
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2008 Africa Regional Conference: The Business of Organic - Integrating the Cotton and Textile Supply Chain
In project: Organic Cotton Farming in South Africa: business case development and demonstration pilots
Africa is a major production area of organic ingredients for apparel, food, home and beauty products as well as the location of many high quality manufacturers of textile, apparel, home, food, and beauty products. Brands and retailers including Aveda, Coop Switzerland, Marks & Spencer, Nordstrom and Woolworth's South Africa are offering their customers a growing variety of certified organic and fair trade products from Africa.
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ALAFA chosen to present its Lesotho HIV Workplace Programme at the XVII International AIDS Conference
In project: Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight AIDS (ALAFA)
The Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight Aids (ALAFA) was researched and implemented by ComMark with seed funding from DFID. Within two years of implementation, the programme covers 75% of the 46,000 textile and apparel workforce in Lesotho with its education and prevention programme and 50% of workers currently have access to medical monitoring and treatment with ARVs.
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