The Challenge
The field of Market Dynamics is a relatively nascent one, having arisen in the last few decades in response to recognition of opportunities to address public and private sector markets that fail to optimize access to critical global health commodities such as diagnostics or treatments—these products can languish for years without reaching their intended recipients at the bottom of the pyramid. When executed effectively, market dynamics interventions can address this by improving availability, affordability, acceptability, and awareness of life-saving products. However, the field of market dynamics is often not widely understood, including by the key stakeholders whose support is required to ensure success in interventions. As a result, market dynamics activities may not be effectively funded and resourced, or may simply be misaligned across or within development organizations.
The Opportunity
In 2013, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID’s Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact convened a “Market Innovations Lab” to bring together a group of key actors in the market dynamics space. Representing organizations that occupy varying roles in the field including funders, facilitators, implementers, and strategists, participants brought diverse experiences together to begin building a community of practice for market dynamics.
Our Work
As a key actor in the Market Dynamics landscape, R4D was asked to participate in the Market Innovations Lab by providing case studies that considered the institutional success factors that enable success in market dynamics practices. To do so, our team engaged in several activities to develop case studies.
- External consultations: The team consulted with experts across organizations that utilize market dynamics interventions, with a focus on the Clinton Health Access Initiative, GAVI Alliance, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria, UNITAID, and the South African Ministry of Health.
- Analysis and framework development: R4D analyzed these consultations, along with strategy documents and evaluation reports, to classify institutional factors that enabled success of flagship market dynamics interventions.o Our team developed a framework integrating key enabling competencies for an institution: a board-approved mandate, strong senior leadership, dedicated capacity and expertise, and an innovative and flexible culture.
- Engaging dialogue: R4D participated in discussions to identify, define, and characterize the sources and symptoms of global health market shortcomings, and to catalog market dynamics approaches.
