Value Chain Analysis

Contributing to economic and social development

The Value Chain Analysis program mainly targets participants from non-European countries and/or NGOs who are active in these countries.

Social and economic developments are the corner stones for local economic growth. In order to achieve local economic growth, participation in the global economy is a necessity. However, participation of small businesses and farmers is often hampered by issues such as capital, infrastructure and knowledge. By assessing the gaps and opportunities in the value chains, policy makers and practitioners will be able to develop policies, programs and strategies that create added value for the local economy.

This course provides you with more in-depth knowledge on how to analyze and develop frameworks for local economic development. By discussing various value chains you practice how to analyze a value chain. The course addresses various models for sustainable local economic development and you learn how to design a public private partnership for development program including the organization of multi-stakeholder-meetings. You will get insight into other innovative forms of local economic development such as the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) and Cluster strategies.

Reasons to follow the Value Chain Analysis course

• Explore the concepts of value chains, Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) and public private partnerships and learn how to analyze them
• Understand the link between value chain analysis, public private partnership and policy development
• Get to know the importance of multi-stakeholder meetings and learn how to manage them

Course objectives

At the end of the course you

• are able to develop a value chain
• understand the governance structures of different value chains
• know how to analyze a value chain (its gaps and opportunities)

Course topics

Topics included in the program are:

• What is a value chain?
• Contribution of value chain to sustainability of businesses from a policy perspective
• Value chain relation to local economic development
• Value chain analysis concepts
• Value chain relations to sustainable business.
• Different forms of public private partnerships for development and pros and cons of these partnerships
• Other forms of local economic development strategies such a BOP and Cluster development

Teaching methods

The program adopts various teaching and learning techniques, such as: lecture/discussion format, case studies and decision-making models, obligatory and recommended literature, business planning, group discussion and presentations, exercises and research with computer and library facilities, field visits and workshops, conducting your own value chain analysis. Strong emphasis is placed on student participation and involvement. The purpose is to utilize the experience and background of the students in a more synergistic program, compared to traditional school formats.