“How to” Manage Adaptively in Value Chain Development Projects

Projects using a market systems approach to Value Chain Development can never be certain whether the activities they plan to undertake will be successful in edging closer to their ultimate goals. As it is generally impossible to design the ‘perfect’ solution in advance, it is thus vital that learning about ‘what works’ is not just left until the time of the final evaluation, but can be baked into the implementation cycle.

This ‘how-to’ note expands on the ILO’s guide on Value Chain Development for Decent Work by providing guidance that helps projects manage adaptively rather than implement by blueprint. It outlines the ‘Do-Measure-Learn-Adjust’ adaptive management process; a set of key principles to uphold this process; and how to lead people and manage teams in order to foster a culture of learning and adaptation.