Engaging Unattached Youth inSmall-Scale Ornamental Fish Farming:

An Urban Value Chain Approach

2012 Global Youth Economic Opportunities Conference

Project Partners

The Competitiveness Company – Implementing PartnerA not-for-profit project management and consultancy firm based in Kingston, Jamaica. Their mission is to enhance the prosperity of the country, improve MSME competitiveness and widen opportunities for the young and unemployed.

SEEP Network – Technical and Learning PartnerA global network of over 130 practitioner organizations dedicated to combating poverty through promoting inclusive markets and financial systems.

Jamaica Ornamental Fish Farming Project

Why Urban Value Chain Development?

Why Urban Value Chain Development?

How can we harness the resources of today’s

cities to reduce poverty and benefit the

vulnerable populations?

JamaicaThe Competitiveness

Company with 2 other orgs.

Jamaican Ornamental Fish Urban Value Chain

Kenya AMPATH with 2

other orgs.Value Initiative

Program (horticultural value

chain)

IndiaACCESS Dev. Services

with 4 other orgs.Jaipur Jewellery Artisans

Development Project

IndonesiaMercy Corps

Indonesia with 3 other orgs.

VIP (Tofu and Tempe)

Urban Value Chain DevelopmentPractitioner Learning Program

What We Are Learning

Reaching vulnerable populations in urban

areas

Results measurement in complex market

development projects

Improving working conditions in urban

informal sectors

Leveraging social networks in VCD

Models and Strategies for value

chain finance

Engaging Governments and policy makers in

VCD

VCD strategies in different sub-sectors in an urban setting

www.seepnetwork.org/value

Who Are the Youth in this project?

Unattached Youth•Unemployed •Not looking for work •Not in School •Not in Vocational Training•More likely to join gangs•More likely to be pregnant at

a young age

High unemployment among youth and in Urban Areas

• Long term economic stagnation

• High rates of crime• High rates of slum

conditions

Jamaica and The Urban Youth

Program Objective

The development of competitive and export-oriented niche value chains that result in

sustainable profitability of urban youth entrepreneurs.

Methodology – Value Chain SelectionIdentify and

list SME Sectors

Identify and List existing

SMEs

Develop Criteria for

Unique SME Market

Segments

Screen SME sectors

Analyse segment

characteristics

Develop Criteria for Value Chain

selection

Identify Market

Trends and Opportunities

Select Value Chain and Develop

Interventions

Project Development Process

Why The Ornamental Fish Value Chain?

Existing & Potential Market Demand

Total export value – Over US$300 Million per year

Total value of aquarium industry US$ 27 Billion

On average, over 1.5 billion fish traded

104 exporting countries vs. 144 importing countries

Resilience: Industry rebounded well from 1997, 2001 and 2008 Recessions

Annual Growth of 8% per annum

Why The Ornamental Fish Value Chain?

Good fit with Local Conditions and Target Group

•Jamaica’s climate is ideal for year-round production

•Proximity to the high demand markets: Canada & the U.S.

•Logistical cost advantages through air freight

•Fish breeding already a Youth entrepreneurial activity

Major Value Chain Challenges

Ineffective farming methods and backward technology

Community Divisions affected economic activity

Low levels of technical knowledge

Few support services (training, extension, quality control)

Access to Finance (Given profile of target group)

Low levels of market knowledge both locally and internationally.

Very little State support for exporting.

Overall impact goals

Objectives

Intended results

Market development interventions

Wealth creation, and stability in communities

Increased local and export sales

Improved market knowledge and

relationships

Accessible Market-based

support services

Market Driven and productive Farmer Groups.

Strengthen links between farmers

and local exporters

Effective and affordable

Support Services

1. Identify and train new young urban farmers;

2. Upgrade production systems;

3. Introduce demanded species;

4. Develop breeders

1. Build capacity of local exporters;

2. Conduct market research;

3. Build farmer – exporter relationship

1. Develop extension services ;

2. Negotiate with suppliers;3. Increase access to

technical information4. Expand Breeder capacity5. Engage MOA to support

farmers with QA.

Program Causal Model

Interventions – Activities & Results

Updating skills and available technical

knowledge and training

Introduce new technology to

improve efficiency and productivity in a

backyard setting.

Interventions – Activities & Results

Aggregate production

and minimize operational

costs through collaboration

Interventions – Activities & Results

Market learning and penetration exercises

to gain market knowledge and

initiate exporting relationships

Interventions – Activities & Results

Link Urban Youth Farmers to local sources of micro-finance where necessary.

Interventions – Activities & Results

Ornamental Fish Value Chain

Breeders and Brood stock Importers

Suppliers or Packing MaterialsHardware Fish Food & Supply

Wholesalers

Input Supply

Urban Fish Farmers

Pet Shops

Domestic Consumers

Exporters

Consolidators/ Agents

Foreign Consumers

Micro-Lenders

Trainers

Extension Officers

Fish-Farm Technicians

Train-the-trainer

Market

information

Build Capacity Of Trainers to

deliver Training and

Advice

Build Capacity Of Para Vets

and Technicians

Engage Lead Firms to Link

Large number of Small Farmers to Export Markets

Key Lessons and Challenges

• Working with at-risk youth in volatile urban communities requires

• Enhancing and matching existing skills to sustainable markets• Identifying and involving influential voices within their

communities• Selecting and working with exemplars• Learning about the power structure and daily life in the

community• Include several group exercises that require communication

and interdependence.

• Value Chain Selection must be rigorous and based on current data, context.

• Clusters/Production Groups are a useful mechanism for Economic Development in Urban Context.

Nicardo NeilProject and Marketing

ManagerThe Competitiveness

Companynicardo@thecompetitivenesscom

pany.com

Thank You!

Yibin ChuProgram MangerThe SEEP Networkchu@seepnetwork.org

More resources, publications, and information about The Value Initiative

www.seepnetwork.org/value