Markets
When designing a humanitarian intervention and deciding whether to use CVA, a market analysis should be part of the overall response analysis. Supporting markets to function well has been shown to lead to faster recovery and increased resilience in disaster affected areas.
Many organizations have invested in the development of tools to support market analysis and are considering market-based programming more holistically. This includes interventions that use the market (such as cash transfers to affected populations), as well as interventions that directly support markets (such as conditional grants to traders to get their market back up and running).
Related initiatives
Featured content
Introduction to Market Analysis
Course
This 30 minute online course provides an introduction to the analysis of markets in emergency contexts, with input from some of the world’s leading thinkers on the topic.
A Practical Guide to Market Analysis in Humanitarian response
Course
A three to four hour online course designed to provide future humanitarian market assessment team members with a solid understanding of theory and steps of market assessments so that they can join assessment teams prepared with a basic understanding of what they will be doing and why.
Market Support Interventions in Humanitarian Contexts – a Tip Sheet
Guidelines and Tools
This tip sheet defines what market support programming in humanitarian contexts is, and what it can look like in practice. It enables humanitarian practitioners to systematically consider market support interventions alongside other programme activities. The scope includes support interventions focusing on supply/availability and on demand/access. The tip sheet is based on secondary data...
Market Based Programming (MBP)
Guidelines and Tools
Market Based Programming (MBP) in Oxfam’s work means we always consider existing markets – through assessments, analysis and programming – across all phases of a response and across all technical sectors. You can also watch the videos below which are available in English, Spanish, Arabic and French.
Thematic lead
Latest
Market Information and Food Insecurity Response Analysis (MIFIRA)
Report
This paper outlines the importance and rationale for agencies to undertake a “response analysis” before choosing an appropriate programme delivery mechanism to a humanitarian situation. The Market Information and Food Insecurity Response Analysis (MIFIRA) framework is introduced. This provides a...
The use of cash and vouchers in humanitarian crises: DG ECHO funding guidelines
Guidelines and Tools
A brief guide to assist programme staff in writing funding proposals for cash-based interventions. A humanitarian guidance note about cash transfer programming is also available.
Niger: Food Security and Safety Nets
Report
From the perspective of social protection, this study is designed to synthesize considerable existing analysis, review food and nutrition security policies and programs in Niger, and provide an action plan for strengthening the existing system and developing an effective food security and safety net...
Market Information and Food Insecurity Response Analysis
Report
This paper outlines the importance and rationale for agencies to undertake a “response analysis” before choosing an appropriate programme delivery mechanism to a humanitarian situation. The Market Information and Food Insecurity Response Analysis (MIFIRA) framework is introduced. This provides a...
A Guide to Economic Growth in Post-Conflict Countries
Guidelines and Tools
This Guide to Economic Growth in Post-Conflict Countries seeks to develop comprehensive recommendations for USAID and similar donors on how to encourage economic growth in countries emerging from conflict. The Guide is based on the premise that improved economic wellbeing can enhance the prospects for...
Strategies for Development in Conflict Affected Countries in the ESCWA Region: The role of the state and private sector
Report
This study on private sector resilience in conflict-affected countries in the ESCWA region is part of a series of publications, which examines mechanisms and policies for development in spite of conflict. The studies include policy recommendations that are aimed at enhancing the capacity of policymakers...
Can Cash Transfers Promote Food Security in the Context of Volatile Commodity Prices? A Review of Empirical Evidence
Report
This working paper synthesizes the theoretical and empirical literature on the use of cash transfers in response to food crisis situations, with particular attention to their use in situations that are exacerbated by volatile, often inflationary, commodity prices. The paper is designed for policymakers...
Winners and losers among a Refugee Hosting Population: Consumption, economic activities and agglomeration
Report
Every year, thousands of refugees are forced to leave their countries of origin and are hosted by their neighboring countries. However, very few is known about the impact of these refugees on the local economy and its inhabitants. Based on hypothesis formulated during a two-month iterative field...
Cash transfers in emergencies: A synthesis of World Vision’s experience and learning
Report
This HPG study report, commissioned by World Vision, looks at the shifting view towards cash programming by the humanitarian community, and focuses on the specific challenges and needs which World Vision would have to address when considering the use of cash in emergencies. A general background of cash...
Choice, dignity and empowerment? Cash and food transfers in Swaziland: An evaluation of Save the Children’s emergency drought response
Report
This evaluation report looks at the Save the Children’s cash transfer project, which was a response to the 2007/8 food crisis in Swaziland, with the aim of not only providing humanitarian assistance but also as a way to break the dependency of rural families on food aid. Selected beneficiaries were...
Value Chain Tools for Market Integrated Relief: Haiti’s construction sector – Guided case studies in value chain development for conflict-affected environments
Report
This case study seeks to apply and document the use of the value chain approach to channel infrastructure program design from direct implementation to a market-integrated relief model. The market-integrated relief approach addresses the needs of crisis-affected populations by working through local...
Cash Transfers for Disaster Risk Reduction in Niger: A Feasibility Study
Report
This HPG study report, commissioned by CARE, examines the appropriateness, cost-effectiveness and feasibility of cash transfer programming as part of a disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy in Niger. It gives a general livelihood context of Niger and then looks at the feasibility and appropriateness,...
Case Study of the Poultry and Grape/Raisin subsectors in Afghanistan: Guided case study in value chain development for conflict-affected environments
Report
Is the value chain approach effective for restoring market-based economic activity in a severely affected post-conflict environment?. The goal of this study is to gather empirical evidence to answer this question, looking at the role of the value chain approach in the work of USAID’s Rebuilding...
The Practitioners’ Guide to the Household Economy Approach
Guidelines and Tools
This guide is aimed at those carrying out household economy approach (HEA) assessments, and is intended to serve as both a refresher guide for experienced practitioners and a set of reference reading materials to accompany formal trainings for new practitioners. The Practitioners’ Guide is presented as...
Market Assessment and Analysis: Learner’s notes
Guidelines and Tools
This document presents the “Learner’s Notes” that accompany a distance learning course on Market Assessment and Analysis. The course illustrates how markets operate and how they relate to and affect food security and vulnerable households. It describes market components and how they function...
Market Development in Crisis Affected Environments: Emerging lessons for achieving pro-poor economic reconstruction
Report
This paper documents practitioner experience and innovations in market development for income generation and livelihood security in crisis and post-crisis settings. War and natural disaster have devastating impacts on people’s ability to generate income and secure a sustainable livelihood that can...
A Synthesis of Practical Lessons from Value Chain Projects in Conflict Affected Environments
Report
Over the last year, at the behest of USAID, 10 organizations captured results and lessons learned from projects that used value chain programming in conflict-affected environments. The goal of this paper is to extract larger lessons that emerge from these implementing organizations and the programs they...
Direct Cash Transfer to Post Election Violence affected Host Population: Nakuru, South Rift Valley, Kenya. Internal Evaluation
Report
Post-election violence in Kenya started in late December 2007 and led to a large-scale destruction of property, disruption of transportation and labour markets, and displacement of an estimated 250.000 to 300.000 people throughout the country. Homes and shops were burnt or looted; farms were affected as...
Dowa emergency cash transfer, Malawi
Report
This case study looks at the innovative Concern Worldwide project which provided monthly cash transfers to beneficiary households using smartcards utilising mobile ATMs to deliver the cash. The report examines the choice of programme delivery mechanism, the targeting of beneficiaries, coordination, cost...
Is cash a feasible alternative to food aid for post-drought relief in Lesotho
Report
This report summarises the findings from a study undertaken to assess whether or not a cash based response by World Vision to the current drought in Lesotho would be an appropriate and feasible response. It looks at the potential problems which could affect the feasibility of cash interventions and...