How do private sector-led market systems continue to function in fragile and conflict-affected environments? And how can development programmes credibly measure their contribution to climate outcomes?
These were among the critical questions explored at the 2026 DCED Global Seminar, where Propcom+ contributed evidence and lessons from Nigeria to the global discourse on resilience, climate-smart agriculture, and market systems development.
Representing Propcom+, MERL Director Gerald Umeze participated in several high-level conversations, panel discussions and a poster presentation where he presented programme evidence to an international audience of market systems practitioners, researchers, donors, and development experts.
Gerald Umeze, Propcom+ MERL Director (2nd left) and other panelists at the DCED Global Seminar 2026 in Nairobi
Challenging Assumptions About Markets in Fragile Contexts
During a session facilitated by Market in Crises (MiC) Community of Practice on “Resilience in Fragile Economies: Busting Myths About Private Sector Development in Crises,” Propcom+ shared evidence from Northern Nigeria that challenges a common assumption in development programming: that conflict-affected environments are inherently unattractive for private sector investment and market development.
Drawing on evidence from Propcom+’s work across eight northern Nigerian states, Gerald highlighted how private sector partners involved in livestock vaccine distribution and climate-smart seed delivery continue to invest and expand their operations even in highly vulnerable and conflict-affected areas.
Using Adamawa State as an example, he demonstrated that private sector performance was not necessarily weaker in conflict-affected areas. In both livestock vaccination and climate-smart seed interventions, Adamawa ranked among the strongest-performing states in terms of customer reach and market penetration.
The findings suggest that demand for productivity-enhancing services and products remains strong even in fragile settings. In many cases, farmers facing insecurity, climate shocks, and economic uncertainty place an even higher value on solutions that protect livelihoods and reduce risk. Although operating costs are higher, partners are also taking a long-term view, investing in relationships and market presence early. By building trust with farmers during difficult periods, they position themselves to capture greater value in the future, particularly as stability improves and markets expand.
Advancing the Conversation on Green Measurement
Propcom+ also contributed to discussions on one of the most rapidly evolving areas in development programming: the measurement of climate and environmental outcomes.
During the session “Are Our Green Claims Standing Up? Moving the Needle on Green Measurement and Evidence,” Gerald shared lessons from measuring greenhouse gas outcomes associated with livestock vaccination interventions in Nigeria.
The discussion focused on a challenge increasingly faced by programmes working at the intersection of agriculture, climate, and market systems: while global frameworks provide valuable guidance, they often do not fully reflect the realities of local contexts.
The session also highlighted a broader lesson for climate-smart development programming: credible measurement requires balancing methodological rigour with practical realities on the ground.
The discussion also explored the distinction between absolute greenhouse gas emissions and emissions intensity. While healthier livestock systems can reduce emissions per kilogram of meat, milk, or eggs produced, total emissions may still increase as herds grow. This underscores the importance of measuring both efficiency gains and overall emissions to obtain a complete picture of environmental performance.
Showcasing Evidence on Women-Inclusive Delivery Models
Does Inclusion Pay? This was the focus of a poster conversation on commercial evidence emerging from women-inclusive delivery models in Northern Nigeria, drawing from a case study of Propcom+’s intervention to scale last-mile delivery of poultry and livestock vaccines using data from one of its partners, El-Beth Agrovet Services Ltd.
The discussion generated interest among practitioners seeking practical examples of how market systems interventions can simultaneously improve commercial performance and expand opportunities for women within agricultural value chains.
Contributing Nigerian Evidence to Global Learning
The DCED 2026 Global Seminar provided a platform for sharing lessons on what works and what does not in private sector development.
For Propcom+, participation in the seminar was an opportunity not only to showcase programme results, but also to contribute practical evidence from Nigeria to global debates on resilience, climate adaptation, private sector development, and inclusive growth.
By bringing field-based evidence into these global conversations, Propcom+ continues to contribute to a growing body of knowledge on how markets can support farmers, businesses, and communities to adapt and thrive under increasingly complex conditions.
