Implementing Sustainable Private Sector Development: Striving for Tangible Results for the Poor -- Reader

Implementing Sustainable Private Sector Development: Striving for Tangible Results for the Poor -- The 2006 Reader

By: Alexandra O. Miehlbradt and Mary McVay. Jim Tanburn, Editor

The key challenge for private sector development in 2006 is showing tangible, significant results in poverty eradication. In this light, private sector development communities of practice are asking fundamental questions. Can market development deliver on its promise of large-scale, sustainable poverty reduction? If so, how can programs measure these results and widely disseminate successful strategies? If not, what are the alternatives? Is it better to focus only on opening markets through policy reform, or must programs also stimulate markets to respond? Can the poor compete in global markets, and if not, what are the alternatives? Are small enterprises and small-scale farms the best avenue for reaching the poor? Are massive transfers to the poor in fact a better solution than market development?

These big-picture questions have challenged donors, researchers and practitioners focused on making markets work for the poor to consider the underlying rationale of market development strategies and how to enhance their demonstrable and sustainable contribution to poverty eradication.

- How can programs be better designed and implemented to open and stimulate markets to drive economic growth that significantly reduces poverty?

- How can they put in place change processes with their own momentum to develop country markets and institutions? How can programs adapt to more challenging contexts, such as crisis-affected settings? How can programs better hold themselves accountable for achieving poverty eradication?

- How can practitioners package messages and evidence to reach audiences they may not currently be reaching, such as developing-country parliamentarians and donor-country taxpayers?

The 2006 Reader focuses on private sector programs that open and stimulate markets to generate significant and expanding benefits for the poor.

Available at www.bdsknowledge.org/dyn/bds/docs/497/PSDReader2006.pdf