A spotlight on value chains
Over the last two years, COPLA has investigated a wide range of topics relating to trade, poverty and social exclusion in Latin America. Given the failings of orthodox trade theory to deal with these issues, our researchers have applied cutting-edge research techniques to help them to understand these complex linkages.
One such technique is known as value chain analysis, which describes the full range of activities required to bring a product or service from conception, through the different phases of production (involving a combination of physical transformation and the input of various producer services), delivery to final consumers and final disposal after use (Kaplinsky and Morris 2001). This analysis allows researchers and policymakers to identify strategic interventions that can help the poor at the bottom of the value chain to attract a greater portion of the value added, potentially bettering both income and livelihoods.
This page collects COPLA’s work on value chain analysis, from briefings, to in depth reports and case studies.
Value chains and upgrading strategies
Upgrading along value chains: Strategies for poverty reduction in Latin America
By Jonathan Mitchell, Christopher Coles and Jodie Keane
This briefing examines how value chain analysis (VCA) can, in a practical way, help the rural poor participate gainfully in local, regional and global trade. More...
Trading up: How a value chain approach can benefit the rural poor
By Jonathan Mitchell, Christopher Coles and Jodie Keane
This report identifies what orthodox trade theory tells us about the link between trade and poverty, explaining how and why value chains have emerged as a helpful entry point for discussions on rural poverty. It also outlines of framework for how the rural poor can upgrade their position within viable value chains and identifies key lessons learnt when attempting to do so. More...
Country case studies
- COPLA Bolivia
- The Brazil nut value chain in the northern Amazon region of Bolivia
- Sector dynamic of the Brazil nut in Bolivia and its impact on poverty (summary, in Spanish)
- Sector dynamic of the Brazil nut in Bolivia and its impact on poverty (original study, in Spanish)
- The impact of the global financial crisis on the Brazil nut value chain (original study, in Spanish)
- Tourism in Pantanal, Bolivia (original study, in Spanish)
- COPLA Nicaragua
- COPLA Peru
- Struggling downstream? The trout value chain in Peru
- Integration of small-scale trout producers with external markets: A distant goal? (Original study, in Spanish)
- Organic banana cultivation and fair trade in Peru
- Linking small-scale producers of organic bananas with exporters in the Chira Valley, Peru (original study, in Spanish
Events
From Down-trading to Upgrading: Reducing Poverty in Latin America Using a Value Chain Approach
This event explores how value chain analysis (VCA) can, in a practical way, help the rural poor participate gainfully in local, regional and global trade, with a focus on Latin America.
Online discussion from the event:
- Value chains are a strong qualitative diagnosotic tool. But how can current VC practice be improved? http://etherpad.com/odivc1
- What are the (dis)advantages of a focus on individual value chains compared to an focus on the enabling environment? http://etherpad.com/odivc2
- Given the key role that trust plays in value chain development, how can this mainstreamed into development practice? http://etherpad.com/odivc3
- Under what circumstances would successful value chain development not contribute to, or even hinder, poverty reduction? http://etherpad.com/odivc4
- If there has been an over-emphasis on production, what shifts are required in the dev community to address this? http://etherpad.com/odivc5
- How would you select an appropriate value chain to develop? What are important determining factors and characteristics? http://etherpad.com/odivc6