GAIN methodology

"Constraints faced by smallholders--be they women or men--in accessing markets and improving their revenues are well known and easy to enumerate. Finding workable solutions to these constraints remain a challenge. The situation is very similar in many developing countries, particularly in Africa. A major obstacle to achieving agricultural development and inclusive value chains is the lack of effective and self-reliant producer organizations. In West and Central Africa, most farmer organizations are structurally weak, lack good governance and the endogenous capacity to be self-reliant and sustainably deliver the economic services required by their members. In most cases, these organizations remain too dependent on external support that often lacks safeguards to ensure long term sustainability"--FAO website.