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  • Publication | 2024

An evaluative framework for inclusive agricultural value chain policies and interventions – case: Mali

Global Food and Nutrition Security

Highlights:

  • Advancing food security requires multi-level and inclusive approaches.
  • A novel framework to (E) evaluate the social inclusiveness of policies and interventions towards (V) vulnerable social groups in (A) agricultural value chains is presented.
  • The EVA-framework structures the analysis of opportunities to improve inclusion of any targeted social group to any agricultural value chain (function).
  • In Mali, the irrigated vegetable value chain (IVVC) has great transformative potential for women and youth, but PIs focus on rainfed production with no or low provisions for social inclusion.

Abstract:

Advancing food security requires multi-level and inclusive approaches. This article presents a novel framework to (E) evaluate the social inclusiveness of policies and interventions (PIs) towards (V) vulnerable social groups in (A) agricultural value chains. The EVA-framework is applicable to any value chain, geography and vulnerable group. We apply it to the irrigated vegetable value chain of Mali, analyzing the social inclusiveness of weighted PIs towards women and youth. We find that respective PI formulation in Mali is largely not inclusive. Only few PIs set specific targets, quotas or a financial budget for women and youth inclusion. To be inclusive PIs need to consult targeted social groups, include clear targets, budgets, and accountability mechanisms, and be monitored and evaluated.