KIT: Chain development: Connecting people, markets and values

Royal Tropical Institute KIT  thematic resource on Chain development: Connecting people, markets and values

The pressures of globalization and liberalization are creating exclusive supply chains between preferred business partners. Smallholder agriculture is poorly prepared for these changes.

A targeted effort is needed to include poorer households in value chains: organizational development, technical upgrading, management skills and access to financing are all required. KIT Chains was set up to address these issues.

Mission

Work on rural poverty alleviation by developing value chains that benefit smallholder producers in low-income countries. Integrate three dimensions of sustainability: social, ecological and economic or "people, planet, profit."

Approach
Work evolves around two key challenges:

1. Chain empowerment of smallholder producers
Develop strategies and tools for value creation by smallholder producers through vertical integration (chain activities) and horizontal integration (chain management).

2. Involving the private sector in poverty alleviation
Develop strategies and tools for setting up business ventures with private entrepreneurs that are both commercially viable and beneficial to poverty alleviation.