Guidance
Big talk, any walk?
What results from 100+ projects can tell us about market systems development effectiveness
- Published by
- ILO Systems Change Initiative
The principal objective for MSD programmes is to deliver lasting results for its target group at scale.
Through their work, many MSD practitioners develop an unconditional faith that MSD theory delivers better development value for money than its alternatives. However, when sceptics or donors ask for evidence to demonstrate that MSD delivers on this promised objective, little comprehensive data is available to satisfy them.
To help MSD believers assess whether practice matches their faith in MSD theory and offer donors and sceptics the hard facts they crave, key outcome results from 135 MSD projects are reviewed.
This study helps identify how MSD programmes performed on key metrics relative to each dollar spent under certain conditions, which could support MSD practitioners and donors to:
- Develop sensible evidence-based outcomes and impact-level targets
- Gain a deeper understanding of conditions and characteristics that can potentially yield better outcomes
- Provide data-driven proof of concept for future donor investments into MSD programmes