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o
You must manage peoples’ expectations by discussing potential responses with market actors is really
important. You need to know if your potential action will have the desired effect. This is will help inform the
feasibility aspect in the next step.
Case Study example:
o
Understanding the market map. Identification of constraints and opportunities in a market system. The
EMMA in Liberia 2010: Small wholesalers and retailers cited limited access to credit/ capital, storage and
transportation as constraints to increasing their capacity to bring rice into their shops. In sharp contrast,
larger wholesalers and retailers were able to increase their capacity to bring more rice into the area.
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Step 9: Response Recommendations
Before starting Step 9, the EMMA leader should have…
o
consulted market actors and key informants about possible market-support actions; or
o
analysed supply-and-demand constraints in
the market system;
o
assessed the market system’s expected capacity to contribute to the emergency response and listed any
plausible emergency market-support options to reinforce this capacity.
Objectives
Decide what type of direct or indirect assistance to recommend including further investigations.
Estimate how much assistance is required and describe when, and for how long, assistance or other indirect
support should be provided, and how its impact could be monitored.
Key Outputs
The results of this step will be expressed in two related response frameworks:
Response-options framework: see Box 9.15, ANNEX Step 9 (EMMATKp180). This first framework summarizes
information about the full range of plausible response options emerging as information from the EMMA
fieldwork, and insights from your analysis. With reference to timeframes ‘short term’, ‘medium term’, ‘long
term’, ‘DRR related’ etc.; these response options may include both:
o
direct in-kind or cash-based assistance to target groups, and
o
in-direct market-support options for restoring or bolstering the market system’s capabilities (see
EMMATkp156 Box 8.17 for definitions of direct and in-direct response).
Response-recommendations framework: see Box 9.16, ANNEX Step 9 (EMMATKp181). This second
framework presents to decision makers a small number of the most feasible response recommendations.
These may include a combination of activities identified in the options framework.
Key Activities in Step 9
Decide whether responses can or cannot rely on the market system performing well. (EMMATKp161 Sec 9.2)
Consider various options for response arising from the response logic. (EMMATKp167-178 Sec 9.3-9.6)
Appraise the options for market-system support identified during fieldwork. (EMMATKp167-178 Sec 9.3-9.6)
Examine the feasibility and risks of the most attractive/ plausible response options. (EMMATKp180 Sec 9.7-9.8)
Describe anticipated outcomes (and indicators for monitoring these). (EMMATKp180 Sec 9.7-9.8)
Summarize findings, interpretations, and conclusions. (EMMATKp180 Sec 9.7-9.8)
Additional Supporting Information:
1.
Response Analysis Decision Trees for supply systems
and income systems
These are useful guides in thinking through the presenting, forecasted context and potential response types.
See Annex Step 9 (EMMATKp164, p166 Box9.3 and 9.4)
2.
What is meant by “Reasonable Price”? (EMMATKp165 Box9.4)
A key issue for humanitarian agencies using cash or local procurement is to avoid doing harm by driving up
prices. Markets can supply almost anything if the price offered is high enough. But by paying excessive prices
(directly through procurement, or indirectly through cash-based interventions), humanitarian agencies risk
merely diverting goods to the target population by depriving other groups who lack the same assistance.
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However, it is also reasonable to expect supplier prices in an emergency situation to be higher than in the
baseline. Traders may face greater costs and risks than normal – for example in transport and storage.
EMMA’s assessment of what is a ‘reasonable price’, based on information about costs and bottlenecks faced
by traders, must take these factors into account.
Field based advice:
o
It is important to speak to your key informants about potential responses to check their feasibility
o
Do not disregard response options that your organisation may not implement, other agencies with different
mandates will read your EMMA report and use your analysis.
o
Many agencies are opting for responses that they are familiar with and not using EMMA analysis to its full
potential by implementing equally important but less ‘classical’ interventions. Donor
resistance is often cited
as the reason – lobby donors and use your analysis to illustrate your recommendations.
o
Monitoring, and how you are going to do it should be thought about here. When listing indicators in the
response recommendations framework, think carefully about how you are going to monitor these indicators
and make a list of other indicators that may also require monitoring (prices, number of traders etc…)
Case Study examples: Advocacy can be a response too!
o
Abyei, S Sudan (2011): After
the EMMA
in S Sudan, Mercy Corps is advocating for NGOs to change their ways
of working. The EMMA illustrated the negative impact of historical in kind distributions on local markets.
Following the EMMA Mercy Corps is implementing a market based response that aims to strengthen markets
as well as meet needs