Organization and Performance of Cotton Sectors in Africa ... - infoDev
Organization and Performance of Cotton Sectors in Africa ... - infoDev
Organization and Performance of Cotton Sectors in Africa ... - infoDev
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METHODOLOGY AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK:A TYPOLOGY OF AFRICAN COTTON SECTORSThis comparative study was undertaken to exam<strong>in</strong>e the complex issues raisedabove, with a view to br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g fresh <strong>in</strong>sights to <strong>in</strong>form <strong>and</strong> guide decisionsrather than fuel<strong>in</strong>g old controversies. To implement its study, the World Bankbrought together a large <strong>and</strong> diverse team <strong>of</strong> experts <strong>and</strong> researchers withextensive experience <strong>in</strong> cotton sectors across the cont<strong>in</strong>ent. The review wasbased on detailed case studies <strong>in</strong> n<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the ma<strong>in</strong> cotton produc<strong>in</strong>g countries<strong>of</strong> Sub-Saharan <strong>Africa</strong>: Ben<strong>in</strong>, Burk<strong>in</strong>a Faso, Cameroon, <strong>and</strong> Mali <strong>in</strong>WCA; <strong>and</strong> Mozambique, Tanzania, Ug<strong>and</strong>a, Zambia, <strong>and</strong> Zimbabwe <strong>in</strong> ESA.The study analyzes systematically <strong>and</strong> thoroughly the relations between sectororganization <strong>and</strong> sector performance <strong>and</strong> outcomes, with the aim <strong>of</strong>establish<strong>in</strong>g evidence-based causality l<strong>in</strong>ks between a given sector organization<strong>and</strong> a series <strong>of</strong> performance <strong>in</strong>dicators. Conversely, it does not pretendto provide detailed prescriptions to guide further reform processes <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividualcountries. Stakeholders <strong>in</strong> the various countries will need to drawimplications from the comparative analysis <strong>and</strong> apply pert<strong>in</strong>ent lessons totheir local circumstances.The study followed a four-step process. It first drew on available experienceto develop a conceptual framework that would generate testable hypotheses.Next, it developed an analytical framework that <strong>in</strong>cluded the characterization <strong>of</strong>clearly dist<strong>in</strong>ct sector types—based on the market structure <strong>and</strong> associatedframework for seed cotton—<strong>and</strong> a set <strong>of</strong> empirical performance <strong>in</strong>dicators withwhich to test the hypotheses. Third, the team used the country case studies,together with a broad range <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation sources (literature review, historicalanalysis, key <strong>in</strong>formant <strong>in</strong>terviews, focus group <strong>in</strong>terviews, secondary quantitativedata, <strong>and</strong> newly collected data), to “tell the story” <strong>of</strong> reform <strong>in</strong> each country<strong>and</strong> to <strong>in</strong>form the comparative analysis. This story entailed comput<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>dicators;benchmark<strong>in</strong>g performance, past <strong>and</strong> current, by country <strong>and</strong> sectortype; <strong>and</strong> draw<strong>in</strong>g conclusions on the major drivers <strong>of</strong> that performance, particularlywith regard to sector structure.The conceptual framework for this comparative analysis <strong>of</strong> cotton sectors restson the idea that economic systems benefit from both competition <strong>and</strong> coord<strong>in</strong>ation,but that <strong>in</strong> the real world <strong>of</strong> imperfect markets <strong>and</strong> weak states there is likelyto be a trade-<strong>of</strong>f between them. Conventionally produced cotton is an <strong>in</strong>put<strong>in</strong>tensivecrop, so <strong>Africa</strong>’s frequently fail<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>put <strong>and</strong> credit markets present aparticular challenge to its development. National quality reputation for cottonalso rema<strong>in</strong>s important, provid<strong>in</strong>g a second major justification for sector coord<strong>in</strong>ation.Competition is important to ensur<strong>in</strong>g efficiency <strong>and</strong> equitable shar<strong>in</strong>g<strong>of</strong> benefits between buyers <strong>and</strong> sellers. Yet, too much competition will makeit difficult or impossible for stakeholders to engage <strong>in</strong> the coord<strong>in</strong>ation neededto provide important services such as quality control, <strong>in</strong>put credit, research,<strong>and</strong> extension. A well-function<strong>in</strong>g cotton sector is one that strikes a balanceEXECUTIVE SUMMARYxxv