Market Systems Development (MSD) to Reduce Poverty
Market systems thinking offers a powerful approach to sustainable poverty reduction. This course develops practical skills to analyse market systems and design interventions that reach the poor and create lasting change.
Registration opens November 2nd, 2026
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and registrations will close at course capacity
Duration: 22.02.–26.02.2027
Teaching format: Classroom
Course objective:
The MSD approach is based on systems thinking and the recognition of the importance of functioning systems for poverty reduction. Originally developed to analyse and strengthen systems based on market logic and promote private sector development, the approach has since emancipated itself from its origins. It is now also applied successfully to systems providing basic public goods or services such as education and health.
In contrast to interventions that focus on the direct provision of goods or services to low-income communities, an agency applying MSD acts as a neutral facilitator to align local key actors and stimulate changes in their behaviour to improve the functioning of the overall system. This leads to more sustainable and scalable impacts, beyond the lifetime of a project.
Key topics:
- Getting to know the strategic framework of the MSD approach
- Analysing and understanding system dynamics
- Navigating complexity
- Facilitating system change
- Reaching sustainability and scale
- Monitoring and measuring systemic interventions
- Managing MSD projects
ECTS points: 3
Examination: Written assignment completed during the course
Course fee: CHF 950
Lecturers:
- Dr. Kenneth Harttgen, NADEL (coordination)
- Niklaus Waldvogel, Swisscontact
- Manuela Kälbling, Swisscontact
- Rob van Hout, Helvetas
Sustainable Development Goal
Managing Projects and Processes