Making market infrastructure fit for purpose through consultative processes

ONE of the major reasons why African countries are littered with abandoned market sheds intended for the poor is because these structures are set up without sufficient consultation.  

Those with a lot of money think they know what poor people need and quickly build what they call “world-class” markets when what is needed are simple structures that preserve local culture and identity.  

Consultative processes involving several users such as farmers, vendors, traders, transporters and customers can inform market designs and also assist in meeting the needs of different enterprises. 

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