1.6 Synthesis and Recommendations
The synthesis of a VC analysis must deliver a clear picture of the operation of the VC, highlighting the main results and critical points. It encompasses answering the four Framing Questions, pointing at the risks, to inform on growth, inclusiveness and sustainability of the VC, summing up the main benefits and strengths, and identifying the main leverage points for possible action (figure 1).
Figure 1: Overview of the synthesis
Key indicators presented when answering the Framing questions, show in a systematic way the performance of the VC in various fields. The VCA4D experts informs decision makers by presenting the range of situations and showcasing disparities between types of actors and sub-chains.
The Risk Analysis explores how future unfavourable events could negatively affect the situation as observed by the team, looking particularly at their consequence on growth, inclusiveness and sustainability. It encompasses three steps: identifying the kind of risk (environmental events, economic shocks…), the factors at work and their corresponding relevant
indicators, and the VC step and actors affected; ascertaining the capacity to manage consequences and appraising the “Risk level” (from Low to Extreme).
Consequences of the important benefits and negative impacts for each of the type of actors (farmers, workers, businesses…) are underscored and exposed, based on indicators and evidence-based results. Shedding light on the disparities of impacts between types of actors (e.g. using the common typology) can highlight a variety of situations and the need or potential for change.
The knowledge built on the VC enables the team of experts to elaborate recommendations for future action. Recommendations may stress actions internal to the VC (e.g. organisation or technological improvement) or within a widerscope (e.g. fiscal policy or infrastructure works). Concise recommendations and suggestions for improvement are introduced, but not as detailed as in a project identification. The team of experts ascertain the strengths to enhance by identifying pathways that enable actors to deliver positive outcomes. Also, they are expected to identify leverage points, i.e. situations where the change to bring in (investment, organisational change, subsidy, etc.) will spread in a rapid and sizeable transmission and/or a multiplication of the sought effects.