FISH MARKET SYSTEM ANALYSIS WITH SMALLHOLDERS IN ZIMBABWE

Participatory Market System Mapping with CAFOD and local stakeholders to identify opportunities for strengthening the local fish value chain

This work concerned a market system analysis of the fish value chain around Lake Binga Zimbabwe. Ian Barney, member of Collaborative Impact and lead on its work in the area of Sustainable Business & Industry, spearheaded this work with CAFOD.

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is the official aid agency for the Catholic Church in England and Wales. It supports livelihood and enterprise development that is firmly rooted in principles of resilience (defined as: understanding and engaging with a changing world) and sustainability (framed as: ensuring the durability of that resilience by balancing economic, social, and environmental benefits).

By understanding how and why the system as a whole is changing, stakeholders are better placed to collaborate and build capacity to develop livelihoods and businesses in a sustainable manner.

The market system analysis of the fish value chain around Lake Binga Zimbabwe aimed at generating such understanding. The process was structured using the Double Diamond (4D) model and involved interviews, focus group discussions and a Participatory Market System mapping with a wide range of stakeholders.

The result was a detailed map of the value chain, the enabling environment and the business services needed to facilitate and support the development of the value chain, on the basis of which opportunities and constraints were identified for creating greater value for small scale fisheries.