Trust and Information Flow in the Value Chain: Lessons from the Zambia PROFIT Community-based Agent Network Model (Screencast and Presentation)

Marina Krivoshlykova and Jennefer Sebstad of DAI presented “Trust and Information Flow in the Value Chain: Lessons from the Zambia PROFIT Community-Based Agent Network Model.” The seminar was the 42nd installment of the Linking Small Firms to Competitiveness Strategies Breakfast Seminar Series sponsored by the USAID Microenterprise Development office. Ms. Sebstad gave an overview of PROFIT’s approach to value chain development, including the overall goal and the principles of intervention. Ms. Krivoshlykova discussed PROFIT’s role in the retail input sector, focusing on the key features and operations of the Community-Based Agent Model. Ms. Sebstad then introduced their qualitative study and findings from said study. The purpose was to understand PROFIT’s role in building commercial relationships between the input supply industry and smallholders and to assess the role of the retail agent model. Findings spanned many themes, including the changes seen in smallholder behavior, trust and information flow, systemic changes, and gender issues.