A Comparative Advantage for Comparative Analyses:

Lessons from a multi-case study

A Comparative Advantage for Comparative Analyses:

Lessons from a multi-case study

Presentation structurePresentation structure

• Project: International Comparative Analysis of NTFP Cases

• Background and rationale for the project

• Approach to the research• Main findings• Lessons on the research

approach

• Project: International Comparative Analysis of NTFP Cases

• Background and rationale for the project

• Approach to the research• Main findings• Lessons on the research

approach

The problem with NTFPs The problem with NTFPs • NTFPs seen as a way to combine development

and conservation objectives• Ambiguous and inconsistent definitions• Lots of research but no consistent framework• Questionable underlying assumptions re

– role in development– role in conservation

• NTFPs seen as a way to combine development and conservation objectives

• Ambiguous and inconsistent definitions• Lots of research but no consistent framework• Questionable underlying assumptions re

– role in development– role in conservation

Case comparison objectives Case comparison objectives

• Identify trends and patterns in the management, utilisation, and trade of commercial NTFPs

• Synthesize understanding of the role and potential of NTFPs

• Identify conditions that favour NTFP-based development

• Identify trends and patterns in the management, utilisation, and trade of commercial NTFPs

• Synthesize understanding of the role and potential of NTFPs

• Identify conditions that favour NTFP-based development

CIFOR Role CIFOR Role • CIFOR created to be “a centre without walls”• Major advantages to do comparative research• Convening power• Established networks• Credibility with partners• Trust of our donors• Mandate to do IPG research

• CIFOR created to be “a centre without walls”• Major advantages to do comparative research• Convening power• Established networks• Credibility with partners• Trust of our donors• Mandate to do IPG research

Criteria for Case SelectionCriteria for Case Selection

• Forest product has significant demonstrated commercial/trade value (may also have subsistence uses)

• Production, processing and marketing system has been researched and documented (70% of data available)

• Individual or team of experts willing to participate in the comparative analysis

• Collective set represents a wide range of cases

• Forest product has significant demonstrated commercial/trade value (may also have subsistence uses)

• Production, processing and marketing system has been researched and documented (70% of data available)

• Individual or team of experts willing to participate in the comparative analysis

• Collective set represents a wide range of cases

“Case” defined by raw material production area and the relevant trade/processing and marketing chain(s)

•114 variables (descriptors) of:• Geographic setting• Biological and physical characteristics of the product• Characteristics of the raw material production system• SE characteristics of raw material production area • Institutional characteristics of raw material producers• Policy characteristics of the production system• Characteristics of the processing industry• Characteristics of the market and marketing system• Outside Interventions

The Data

DISTRIBUTION OF CASES

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

BeninBolivia

Costa RicaCuba

EcuadorEquatorial Guinea

Korea RepublicNepal

PhilippinesSouth Africa

UgandaChina

GhanaPeruIndia

Lao PDRNigeria

VietnamZimbabweCameroonIndonesia

MexicoBrazil

number of cases

Integration into cash economy (%)

1007550250

Prod

uct c

ontri

butio

n in

to h

ouse

hold

inco

me

(%)

22

21

8

57

56

53

28

25

2034

38

48

50

47

37

46

45

19

1817

16

36

7

41

11

3

40

15

30105

32

55

5451

39

13

6

1

52

27

9

31

2

61

35

14

6059 4

24

23

49

58

44

12

43

42

2926

33

100

75

50

25

0

R2 = 0.861 y=e0.0439x

Coping

Integrated

Supplementary

Household strategy

Specialised_Cultivated

Specialised_Natural

Integration into cash economy (%)

1007550250

Prod

uct c

ontri

butio

n in

to h

ouse

hold

inco

me

(%)

22

21

8

57

56

53

28

25

2034

38

48

50

47

37

46

45

19

1817

16

36

7

41

11

3

40

15

30105

32

55

5451

39

13

6

1

52

27

9

31

2

61

35

14

6059 4

24

23

49

58

44

12

43

42

2926

33

100

75

50

25

0

R2 = 0.861 y=e0.0439x

Coping

Integrated

Supplementary

Household strategy

Specialised_Cultivated

Specialised_Natural

Coping

Integrated

Supplementary

Household strategy

Specialised_Cultivated

Specialised_Natural

Forest products in household economic strategies

Forest products in household economic strategies

Main LessonsMain Lessons• Product is less important than the social

and economic context• Key context variables are:

– property rights– size and accessibility of markets– “opportunity cost” of labour and land

• Higher incomes associated with:– intensified production of higher value

products – off-farm income

• Product is less important than the social and economic context

• Key context variables are:– property rights– size and accessibility of markets– “opportunity cost” of labour and land

• Higher incomes associated with:– intensified production of higher value

products – off-farm income

Other lessons Other lessons • Commercial FP production integrated with

other economic activities• Inherent paradoxes?

– conditions for commercialization are not met in poor areas

– process of commercialization may have an anti-poor bias

– Intensification may have negative biodiversity implications

• Important constraints exist outside the forest product sector

• Realizing development potential also requires investments in other areas

• Commercial FP production integrated with other economic activities

• Inherent paradoxes?– conditions for commercialization are not

met in poor areas– process of commercialization may have

an anti-poor bias – Intensification may have negative

biodiversity implications• Important constraints exist outside the

forest product sector• Realizing development potential also

requires investments in other areas

ProductsProducts• Methods paper (CIFOR Working Paper)• 4 Journal articles (overview article with 30 authors)• Case study books• “Restitution books”• Woodcarving analyses and book• Method adapted by several other studies• Data set – already well used

• Methods paper (CIFOR Working Paper)• 4 Journal articles (overview article with 30 authors)• Case study books• “Restitution books”• Woodcarving analyses and book• Method adapted by several other studies• Data set – already well used

PEN Opportunities…. PEN Opportunities…. • Rich data set – landmark study• Multiple outputs possible from main data set• Methodology• Text book?• Thematic studies• Limited only by our own energy and

enthusiasm…..

• Rich data set – landmark study• Multiple outputs possible from main data set• Methodology• Text book?• Thematic studies• Limited only by our own energy and

enthusiasm…..