Rapid Market Appraisal Toolkit

Clients First !

A Rapid Market Appraisal Tool Kit
Theoretical background and experiences from various RMA events

3

EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING IN IN TER NATION AL CO -OP ER ATION

Clients First !

A Rapid Market Appraisal Tool Kit
Theoretical background and experiences from various RMA events

3

EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING IN IN TER NATION AL CO- OP ER ATION

Experience andLearning in International Co-operation – Helvetas Publications, No. 3

Clients First !

This Helvetas publication no. 3 describes the main characteristics of a basic market study as well as the methodology of a Rapid Market Appraisal (RMA). It allows to quickly measure the demand and opportunities for a particular product. RMA is an effective way of obtaining relevant information about a marketsystem for a specific production sector whilst at the same time minimising cost, delays and working time. The document provides details on how to conduct a RMA in agricultural markets and offers practical advice and examples of such marketing studies. It also offers practical methods of identifying constraints and business opportunities, a checklist of observations and monitoring tools for futureplanned interventions. The document is enriched with Helvetas’ own experiences from Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. Experience and Learning in International Co-operation (Helvetas Best Practice Publications): Publication No. 3: Authors: Editor: Clients First! Stefan Joss, Hans Schaltenbrand, Peter Schmidt Helvetas Zurich, Switzerland (Hans Schaltenbrand, Peter Schmidt) in collaboration with Mike Burchell(UK); Hoang Huong, Ruedi Lüthi (Vietnam); Eugene Ryasanov, Franziska Vögtli (Kyrgyzstan) Bazaar in Jalalabat, Kyrgyzstan, February 2002: A visitor in the bazaar informs the RMA team about taste preferences and quality aspects of dried apricot varieties. Years ago the person himself was a trader of dried fruits. What begun as a degustation event became a highly important information gathering sessionon dried apricot trading peculiarities. Photo by Stefan Joss. 3-908156-07-6 Skat Consulting Vadianstrasse 42 CH-9000 St.Gallen, Switzerland Phone: +41 (0)71 228 54 54 Fax: +41 (0)71 228 54 55 E-mail: info@skat.ch Website: http://www.skat.ch

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Helvetas, Swiss Association for International Co-operation, works towards the elimination of the causes of marginalisationand promotes solidarity with the poor in the south and the east. Its mission is to actively contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of economically and socially disadvantaged people in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Currently Helvetas runs programmes of co-operation in 22 countries. We concentrate on four working areas: infrastructure in rural areas, sustainable management ofnatural resources, education and culture, and civil society and the State. Helvetas was founded in 1955 as the first private Swiss development organisation. Much of what was pioneering in our work has become common practice within the Swiss development co-operation agencies, a trend which continues today. Through such publications, Helvetas contributes to the process of learning through sharing ininternational co-operation. For more details or comments, please contact our head office: Helvetas, Swiss Association for International Cooperation P Box 181 .O. St. Moritzstrasse 15 CH-8042 Zurich, Switzerland Phone: +41 (0)1 368 65 00 E-mail: helvetas@helvetas.org Fax: +41 (0)1 368 65 80 Website: http://www.helvetas.ch For RMA related information please do visit our country programme web sites:http://www.helvetas.kg (Kyrgyzstan) or http://www.helvetas.org.vn (Vietnam) and http://www.atc.kg the web site of the Advisory Training Centre of Rural Advisory Services, ATC in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Executive summary

Clients First! focuses on one vital element of market research that should be carried out before deciding to support at the agricultural production side or to proceed with an...