Sensemaker is in essence a pattern detection software that comes with a methodology, which relies on the use of a large number of fragmented micro-narratives to make sense of complex realities, to distil patterns, and then respond to the patterns in a timely manner. VECO chose two cases (tea Vietnam and banana chips Ecuador) for a pilot project to explore the use and usefulness of Sensemaker to measure, learn and communicate about smallholder farmer inclusion in modern markets.
These two value chains were deemed interesting for testing Sensemaker as they are quite different in nature. Both involve smallholder producers who are organised into producer organisations/ cooperatives which sell their produce to a private company that sources from them. However, they differ in context, product, geographical scope, complexity, type of farmer organisation, type of buyer and market.
The pilot project on ‘Using Sensemaker to measure, learn and communicate about smallholder farmer inclusion’ was made possible through the Thematic Learning Programme (TLP) on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of Complex Processes of Social Change, facilitated and funded by PSO (The Netherlands) and supported by HIVA (Belgium).
This case report was prepared as part of the TLP, which was a collaborative action research programme involving one Belgian and ten Dutch development organisations.
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