Please be informed that the ComMark programme came to an end on 31 December 2009. Should you have any queries or need further assistance , please contact the relevant sector staff member(s):
- Agribusiness Sector Specialist - Lucille Gavera (+27 83 290 1260) or Mike De Klerk (+27 82 452 7749)
- Textiles & Apparel Sector Specialist - Andy Salm (+353 8623 88523)
- Tourism Sector Specialist - Wouter Schalken (+264 8120 89650) or click here for information on ongoing tourism projects in Southern Africa
MMW4P Conference: Making Markets Work for the Poor in Southern and Eastern Africa
Making Markets Work for the Poor is an approach to development that aims to harness the power of markets to fight poverty. A number of agencies have built on the ideas and concepts of this approach, and have achieved practical results. The Making Markets Work for the Poor in Southern and Eastern Africa conference, held in Stellenbosch in March, was an opportunity to discuss the strengths and limitations of this approach and critically assess how markets can be made to work for the poor.
The three-day event was wide-ranging, with almot 30 presentations grouped around themes such as the role of business, international trade and globalisation, agricultural value chains, service markets, HIV/AIDS, and local development. More than 140 participants from government, donor agencies and the private sector attended, coming from all over the world.
Organisations presenting their experiences included ComMark, FinMark Trust, DFID, CGAP, Technoserve, ILO, the Tourism Enterprise Programme (TEP) and other Southern African initiatives. Private companies such as Vodacom, WIZZIT and Woolworths talked about their experiences in harnessing the power of markets to reach millions of new consumers.
