Big talk, any walk?

The principal objective for market systems development (MSD) projects 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 skeptics 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 skeptics the hard facts they crave, we reviewed key outcome results from 135 MSD projects.

This study helps identify how MSD projects 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; and
• Provide data-driven proof of concept for future donor investments into MSD programmes.