Stakeholder platforms METHODOLOGIES

TO FOSTER PRO-POOR
I N N O VAT I O N

Stakeholder platforms offer a space for public-private

collaboration. Papa Andina promotes stakeholder platforms, as
they have demonstrated high potential for empowering market
chain actors, especially small farmers, and improving access to
markets, services, and research results.

How does it work?

Stakeholder platforms bring together a combination of actors who share interests
linked to specific market chains and innovation processes. By interacting within the
platform, they improve their mutual understanding, create trust, learn, reach consensus
over priorities, define roles, and engage in joint action.

Stakeholder platforms can perform three main functions useful for enhancing the
competitiveness and empowerment of small-scale farmers:
• Stimulate joint innovation and formulate demand for research
• Improve coordination and governance in the market chain (e.g. by matching demand
and supply or by developing information services and business standards)
• Carry out advocacy for policy changes and public awareness

Types of platforms
Two main types of platform can be described:
1. Commercial platforms bring together market chain actors such as farmer
organizations, traders, processors, supermarkets, as well as chefs, NGOs, and
researchers. They focus on the creation of new products, development of niche
markets, and advocacy.
2. Local platforms involve actors from a delimited geographical production area such as
local public authorities and NGOs, and farmer organizations. They focus on
market coordination issues, empowerment of farmer organizations and
access to agricultural and financial services.

Both types of platforms interact with public and academic institutions at the
national level. Research and development organizations play an important
role in facilitating
gpplatforms.

LOCAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

PLATFORM R&D ORGANIZATIONS

MUNICIPALITY

NGOs
COMMERCIAL PLATFORM

FARMERS TRADERS PROCESSORS RETAILERS CONSUMERS

PRIVATE SERVICE PROVIDERS NGOs

NARIs
UNIVERSITIES
 KeyReadings

How are platforms used? • Linking Smallholders to

Many platforms have resulted from Participatory Market Chain Approach the New Agricultural
(PMCA) and have served to sustain the innovation dynamics and interaction Economy: An Evaluation
of the Plataformas
among actors created through the PMCA process.
Program in Ecuador.
FAO, ESA, Working Paper
In the Andes, Papa Andina and its strategic research partners have been No. 09-06. 40 p. 2009.
supporting and facilitating commercial platforms in La Paz (Bolivia), Lima (Peru), Cavatassi R. et al.
and Quito (Ecuador) and local platforms in Chimborazo (Ecuador), Puno (Peru),
and Colomí (Bolivia) to address potato, native potato, and chuño (naturally • Multi-stakeholder
dehydrated potato) market chains. In collaboration with other institutions, Platforms for Innovation
further stakeholder platforms are being created in Bolivia, focused on market and Governance in
Market Chains.
chains for products such as fruit, quinoa, and Faba beans.
Article presented at ISTRC
Symposium, Lima, Peru.
2009. Thiele, G. et al.

Results
Public-private collaboration in the framework of platforms has generated major
changes in market chains involving small farmers. For example:
• Ecuador: Stakeholder platforms have enabled thousand of small farmers to sell
their potato production to a portfolio of clients (local restaurants and fast
foods), increasing their yields from 6.3 to 8.4 MT/ha and their gross margin
from USD 63 to 259/ha in the process.
• Bolivia: The “Andibol” stakeholder platform has enabled small farmers to sell
processed chuño in local supermarkets and start exporting it to Spain,
resulting in a 20-40% price increase compared to local markets.
• Peru: A stakeholder platform has enabled 100 organized farmers in the Lake
Titicaca region to sell 200 MT of quality tunta for a total value of USD 590,000.

Contact
Papa Andina
cip-pandina@cgiar.org
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