RESIMAO EXPERIENCERESIMAO EXPERIENCE (West-African Market Information Network)(West-African Market Information Network)

Improving access to high-quality information on the regional agricultural market: the case of West Africa

PALENCIA, 29 March-1PALENCIA, 29 March-1stst April 2011 April 2011

Pierre Traoré, Chairman of the ICT Group of the Pierre Traoré, Chairman of the ICT Group of the RESIMAORESIMAO

PresentationPresentation Plan Plan::

1.1. From the creation of the MIS to the From the creation of the MIS to the creation of the RESIMAOcreation of the RESIMAO

2.2. The RESIMAO’s characteristics The RESIMAO’s characteristics 3.3. Steps towards the creation of the Steps towards the creation of the

platformplatform4.4. Current system (country level and Current system (country level and

regional level)regional level)5.5. Successes Successes 6.6. Challenges Challenges 7.7. ConclusionsConclusions

From the creation of the MIS to From the creation of the MIS to the creation of the RESIMAOthe creation of the RESIMAO

Early 1980s: adoption by States of Early 1980s: adoption by States of structural adjustment policiesstructural adjustment policies– reduction of budget deficits via reduction of budget deficits via

economic liberalisation measures. This economic liberalisation measures. This led to the liberalisation of trade in led to the liberalisation of trade in agricultural productsagricultural products

– this new environment very rapidly this new environment very rapidly revealed the information asymmetry revealed the information asymmetry between stakeholders (producers, between stakeholders (producers, merchants, consumers and institutionsmerchants, consumers and institutions) )

From the creation of the MIS to From the creation of the MIS to the creation of the RESIMAOthe creation of the RESIMAO

Late 1980s: emergence of the MIS to Late 1980s: emergence of the MIS to correct the information asymmetry correct the information asymmetry with the aim of:with the aim of:– making markets transparent by: making markets transparent by:

improving their efficiencyimproving their efficiencyensuring equal access for all stakeholders to ensuring equal access for all stakeholders to

the new opportunities of the liberalised the new opportunities of the liberalised marketmarket

– improving information available to improving information available to decision-makers to improve food decision-makers to improve food security managementsecurity management

From the creation of the MIS to the From the creation of the MIS to the creation of the RESIMAOcreation of the RESIMAO

Thus, the MIS were responsible for Thus, the MIS were responsible for collecting, processing, analysing collecting, processing, analysing and disseminating commercial and disseminating commercial information on agricultural markets information on agricultural markets to all private and institutional to all private and institutional stakeholders;stakeholders;

The MIS were very quickly faced The MIS were very quickly faced with the problem of the lack of with the problem of the lack of information beyond national information beyond national frontiers needed to develop their frontiers needed to develop their analysesanalyses. .

From the creation of the MIS to the From the creation of the MIS to the creation of the RESIMAOcreation of the RESIMAO

Exchanges of information by post Exchanges of information by post between the MIS (Mali, Senegal, between the MIS (Mali, Senegal, Niger and Burkina Faso) were Niger and Burkina Faso) were initiated and developed between initiated and developed between 1990 and 1994;1990 and 1994;

From 1995 to 2000, the MIS From 1995 to 2000, the MIS developed telephone communication developed telephone communication channels to exchange information on channels to exchange information on the main markets of the capitals of the main markets of the capitals of the various the various countries.countries.

From the creation of the MIS to the From the creation of the MIS to the creation of the RESIMAOcreation of the RESIMAO

Between 2001 and 2004, the MIS Between 2001 and 2004, the MIS exchanged reports via the Internet and exchanged reports via the Internet and developed their relationship by setting developed their relationship by setting up a regional MIS thanks to the support up a regional MIS thanks to the support of the PASIDMA;of the PASIDMA;

In November 2004: General Assembly In November 2004: General Assembly in Kpalimé (Togo): adoption of the in Kpalimé (Togo): adoption of the Bylaws, Rules of Internal Procedure Bylaws, Rules of Internal Procedure and the creation of an Operational and the creation of an Operational Unit.Unit.

The RESIMAO’s The RESIMAO’s characteristicscharacteristics Ten (10) national MIS (Benin, Ten (10) national MIS (Benin,

Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Niger, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Togo).Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Togo).

390 rural and urban markets 390 rural and urban markets (distribution, wholesale, semi-(distribution, wholesale, semi-wholesale and retail markets).wholesale and retail markets).

39 targeted sub-regional markets 39 targeted sub-regional markets of interest of interest

The RESIMAO’s The RESIMAO’s characteristicscharacteristics Products monitored (cereals; market Products monitored (cereals; market

garden products, fish, livestock, garden products, fish, livestock, input products and agricultural input products and agricultural materials, tubers and starch);materials, tubers and starch);

The RESIMAO is the ECOWAS The RESIMAO is the ECOWAS regional correspondent for market regional correspondent for market informationinformation;;

The RESIMAO has an internet The RESIMAO has an internet platform: www.resimao.orgplatform: www.resimao.org

Steps towards the creation of Steps towards the creation of the platformthe platform

Mistowa-Busylab experience: Failure, Mistowa-Busylab experience: Failure, Mistowa proved to be far more of a Mistowa proved to be far more of a competitor than a support project;competitor than a support project;

CTA-BLE-ISICAD experience: Better, CTA-BLE-ISICAD experience: Better, the RESIMAO had a platform. the RESIMAO had a platform. However, the current transfer and However, the current transfer and maintenance costs are not sustainablemaintenance costs are not sustainable

Discussions are currently being held Discussions are currently being held on the creation of a new platform with on the creation of a new platform with the ECOWASthe ECOWAS

Current systemCurrent system (country level and regional level (country level and regional level ))

SIMs nationaux

SIMs nationaux

CEDEAO:

Centre informatique

communautaire

CEDEAO:

Centre informatique

communautaire

RESIMAO:

Cellule Opérationnelle et le groupe TIC

RESIMAO:

Cellule Opérationnelle et le groupe TIC

ULCD Enquêteurs

ULCD Enquêteurs

Current systemCurrent system (country level and regional level (country level and regional level))

At country level, everything is based At country level, everything is based around the MIS (Central Unit and around the MIS (Central Unit and Local Collection and Dissemination Local Collection and Dissemination Units;Units;

There is a real information flow There is a real information flow within the MIS/OMA and between the within the MIS/OMA and between the MIS and its other partners, as per the MIS and its other partners, as per the following diagram:following diagram:

ULCD based in local chambers and networked

RESIMAOROESAO

ROPPARECAO

INSTITUTIONS

REPRESENTATION OF A TYPICAL ULCD

Current systemCurrent system (country level and regional level (country level and regional level))

The coordination of the network and the The coordination of the network and the management of all the information flows is management of all the information flows is based on massive use of ICT;based on massive use of ICT;

Thus the RESIMAO uses:Thus the RESIMAO uses:RACs (ULCD);RACs (ULCD);Print media (dissemination);Print media (dissemination);Landlines (data transmission);Landlines (data transmission);Mobile phones and the Internet (websites; e-Mobile phones and the Internet (websites; e-

mail; Skype) (transmitting and receiving data).mail; Skype) (transmitting and receiving data).

Successes Successes Information symmetry between the Information symmetry between the

stakeholders stakeholders Permanent monitoring of markets Permanent monitoring of markets

(collecting, inputting, analysing (collecting, inputting, analysing and disseminating information);and disseminating information);

Publication of weekly, monthly and Publication of weekly, monthly and half-yearly newslettershalf-yearly newsletters

Publication of price directories;Publication of price directories;

Successes Successes

Weekly online exchanges of prices Weekly online exchanges of prices between RESIMAO member countriesbetween RESIMAO member countries

Promoting contacts between the sub-Promoting contacts between the sub-region’s stakeholders (facilitating region’s stakeholders (facilitating exchanges)exchanges)

Greater visibility regarding business Greater visibility regarding business opportunitiesopportunities

Existence of national databases on Existence of national databases on agricultural productsagricultural products

SuccessesSuccesses

Existence of a joint platform;Existence of a joint platform; Farmers Farmers

– Increased bargaining powerIncreased bargaining power– Information on new marketsInformation on new markets

Merchants Merchants – Arrival of new economic operatorsArrival of new economic operators– Closer integration of marketsCloser integration of markets– Enhanced fluidity of tradeEnhanced fluidity of trade– Geographically enlarged marketGeographically enlarged market

SuccessesSuccesses

Decision-makersDecision-makers– Avoids poor policy making Avoids poor policy making

A better understanding of the reasons for price A better understanding of the reasons for price fluctuations (integration of markets) fluctuations (integration of markets)

Evaluation of the impact of natural crises on food Evaluation of the impact of natural crises on food securitysecurity

Good management of food aid (case of 1991)Good management of food aid (case of 1991)

– Facilitates the regional integration of trade in Facilitates the regional integration of trade in local agricultural local agricultural productsproducts

Today West Africans have access to Today West Africans have access to relevant, precise and reliable market relevant, precise and reliable market

information for decision-making and trade information for decision-making and trade purposespurposes

Challenges Challenges Getting all ECOWAS countries to join the Getting all ECOWAS countries to join the

RESIMAORESIMAO Promoting the emergence of national MIS Promoting the emergence of national MIS

via administrative and financial autonomyvia administrative and financial autonomy Improving coverage of the real needs of Improving coverage of the real needs of

users of the information disseminated users of the information disseminated Decentralising the MIS (bringing the Decentralising the MIS (bringing the

system closer to local stakeholders in system closer to local stakeholders in order to ensure that their needs are more order to ensure that their needs are more closely integrated) closely integrated)

Creating a new platform on the basis of in-Creating a new platform on the basis of in-house competenceshouse competences

Promoting the innovative institutional Promoting the innovative institutional development of all the network’s MISdevelopment of all the network’s MIS

Creating regional databasesCreating regional databases

ConclusionConclusionThe RESIMAO is a network of MIS at the The RESIMAO is a network of MIS at the

service of stakeholders involved in the service of stakeholders involved in the trade in agricultural products in West trade in agricultural products in West Africa and having an: Africa and having an:

efficient collection and communication efficient collection and communication network and network and

an appropriate dissemination system andan appropriate dissemination system and its role is to improve the availability of its role is to improve the availability of

food products and access to them, which food products and access to them, which are two key pillars of food security.are two key pillars of food security.

Thank you!Thank you!