SCAN Approach
In 2009 a pilot phase of SCAN was completed in 4 countries (Peru, Vietnam, Tanzania and Honduras) through support from HIVOS and co-financing from Solidaridad (as well as in-kind support from various SCAN partners).
Key Steps in Rolling-out the SCAN Initiative:
1. Formation of the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Board (MAB)
The success of the SCAN project ultimately depends on the capacity of a diverse group of stakeholders to join forces and work collectively. Members of the MAB will provide advice on the strategic vision of the initiative and will contribute technical assistance materials and expertise. The MAB includes private sector experts, producers, standards bodies, NGO's and the public sector.
Members of the MAB will gain:
- A deeper relationship with other institutions involved in technical assistance delivery
- Direct access to a generic set of training materials and tools
- Direct access to National Implementation Platforms for the implementation of generic baseline practices as well as for the implementation of standard-specific practices
- Direct access to funds and resources for the implementation of baseline training activities
2. Compilation and Design of Generic Curriculum
The SCAN Technical Committee is tasked with compiling and modifying the overall content and strategy of the generic curriculum. The committee will develop specific tools on a theme-by-theme basis and will oversee the pilot testing process (along with national partners).
Training elements identified as priority themes for inclusion in the generic curriculum (drawn from multi-stakeholder consultations):
- Implementing good agricultural practices (ie. best practices)
- Compliance with standards requirements
- Organizational development
- Internal control and quality management
- Accessing and using market information
- Product development and marketing
- Financial planning
- Negotiating contracts
- Risk management
- Measuring and monitoring continual improvement
3. Developing a Delivery Mechanism
Curriculum delivery will be adapted to the specific geographic, cultural and organizational parameters of any given producer context by the National Implementation Platform . Factors to be considered in the adaptation of the generic tools to a locally applicable context include: product market potential, specifics of the local ecosystem and geographic conditions, national political and market context, requirements of relevant global standards for the region, and the existence and protocol of applicable certification bodies.
The level of producer organizational development in a specific region, and within a specific commodity sector, will determine the type of adaptation of training materials required for effective uptake.
Range of focus of training programs based on level of producer organization:
4. Testing the Generic Curriculum through Pilot Projects
Following the successful establishment of the MAB, the generic curriculum (including context specific adaptations), and the network partners for the delivery mechanism, SCAN will test the curriculum 'in the field' through pilot projects in producing countries.
The first of such pilot phases was completed in 4 countries (Peru, Vietnam, Tanzania and Honduras) in 2009 through support from HIVOS and co-financing from Solidaridad (as well as in-kind support from various SCAN partners).
Testing will be carried out in coordination with national implementation platforms and national technical assistance networks.
5. Building Sector Specific Political Support
As voluntary sustainability initiatives become increasingly integrated within mainstream supply chains, policy-makers are becoming interested in exploring ways to promote best practices and maximize results. The technical assistance needs for transitioning conventional commodity production to 'sustainable production' are great. Political support from consuming and producing governments is critical in the successful development of technical assistance for sustainable commodity production and trade.
The SCAN project will demonstrate to government stakeholders that by bringing a diverse set of stakeholders together, the adoption of a shared approach can create significant and unprecedented development results.
