M&E for Agricultural Value Chains and Market Systems Training Course

This advanced course develops technical skills in M&E for agricultural value chains and market systems programmes, covering systemic change measurement methodology, market facilitation indicator design and sustainability assessment. Participants work through real market systems measurement challenges rather than conventional beneficiary-counting M&E, examining what it takes to credibly measure change a programme did not deliver directly. The course closes with a systemic change measurement framework designed for a defined value chain intervention.

Market systems and value chain programmes work by changing how a market functions, not by delivering direct benefits to a fixed list of beneficiaries, which means the standard M&E toolkit built around counting direct participants fits poorly against interventions designed to produce indirect, systemic change that spreads through market actors the programme never directly touched.

The making markets work for the poor approach and related systemic change methodologies have developed their own distinct measurement standards over the past decade, yet many M&E practitioners working on value chain programmes still default to direct beneficiary counting because it is more familiar. This advanced course moves beyond conventional M&E into the systemic change measurement, market facilitation indicator design and sustainability assessment skills that value chain and market systems programmes genuinely require.

• Explain why conventional M&E fits poorly against systemic change interventions
• Apply systemic change measurement methodology to market systems programmes
• Design indicators appropriate to market facilitation rather than direct delivery
• Assess crowding-in and market actor adoption as measurement categories
• Evaluate sustainability of change after programme withdrawal
• Structure attribution and contribution analysis for indirect impact
• Assess value chain indicator frameworks across different commodities
• Design measurement approaches for scale and systemic reach
• Advise programme teams on market systems M&E design

This course is designed for:

• M&E officers assigned to value chain and market systems programmes
• Market systems development programme managers
• Agribusiness and private sector engagement M&E staff
• Development partner market systems staff
• Research staff supporting value chain evaluation
• Donor programme officers overseeing market systems awards
• Agricultural finance and investment M&E staff
• Consortium M&E coordination staff on market systems programmes

The programme is delivered through facilitator-led technical sessions combined with systemic change case studies, indicator design exercises and a measurement framework build, structured around small-group work and real or anonymised value chain M&E material rather than lecture alone. Each module closes with a short applied task so participants leave with working tools rather than notes alone.

Institutions sending staff on this course can expect:

• Market systems M&E that credibly measures systemic, not just direct, change
• Improved attribution and contribution analysis rigour
• Stronger indicators appropriate to market facilitation approaches
• Better-informed assessment of sustainability after programme exit
• Increased donor confidence in systemic change reporting
• Reduced reliance on ill-fitting direct beneficiary counting
• Improved measurement of scale and systemic reach
• A documented market systems M&E strengthening approach
• Stronger overall credibility of value chain programme results

By the close of this course, participants gain:

• Advanced technical skill in market systems and value chain M&E
• Confidence to apply systemic change measurement methodology
• Sharper attribution and contribution analysis skills
• Practical experience designing indicators for indirect, systemic impact
• Stronger standing in market systems programming discussions
• A completed measurement framework for direct application
• Improved ability to assess sustainability after programme withdrawal
• A specialist network across African market systems M&E practice
• A foundation for senior market systems M&E leadership roles

At Strategic Revenue Africa, our certification goes beyond proof of attendance—it represents practical competence and measurable capability. Upon successful completion of our training programs, participants are awarded a Certificate of Completion from Strategic Revenue Africa, recognizing their ability to apply acquired knowledge in real-world settings. As an organization focused on architecting sustainable revenue and strengthening organizational performance, our certifications signal that participants are equipped with skills that drive results, not just theory.

Prior general M&E experience is expected, alongside some exposure to value chain or market systems programming. This is an advanced, practitioner-level course building sector-specific depth onto existing M&E foundations.