M4P defined

M4P is an abbrevaition for the term "Markets for the Poor" or as commonly used "Making Markets work for the Poor". It also a synonym to Market Development. By definition M4P is an approach to poverty reduction that focuses on developing market systems that benefit the poor people by offering capacities and opportunities to enhannce their lives. M4P facilitation builds on a detailed understanding of market systems and a clear vision of the future, allowing agencies to address identified constraints and bring about large scale and sustainable change.
M4P is a contemporay approcach to development, that many agencies and development practictioners are struggling to learn and adopt. it is a flexible and dynamic approcach that can be adopted and customized in various socio-economic settings. M4P is an approach that promotes systemic change, change that goes beyong individual players and that is relevant to the wider environment, affecting many. M4P is about scale and sustainability.

Case Example: M4P  identifies the role in the market system of actors like petty rice trader at local mill, anlyses their constraints, opportunities and leverages. Through facilitation, M4P places a vision of a better business practices of these traders that will improve their business competitiveness in the market. The expected outcomes will be increase volume of sales and profit, formalized business, enhanced capacity for advocacy, access to finance from FI. on the impact this may result into demand for more paddy from small rice farmers and better market access for the same. If facilitation was  done appropriately these changes will continue even after the intervention by the M4P facilitators in the area.