Feasibility &
Market Research
Understanding local economies, value chains, and opportunities for livelihood interventions — providing the evidence base that turns good intentions into well-designed, fundable programs and enterprises that actually work.
Programs designed without evidence set communities up to fail
The development sector is littered with well-funded programs that trained people for jobs that don't exist in their communities, supplied inputs for markets that are already saturated, or designed interventions around assumptions that a single week of field research would have disproved.
Evidence-free program design wastes donor money, raises and then dashes community expectations, and often leaves target populations worse off than before. Rigorous pre-program research is not a luxury — it is the foundation on which effective interventions are built.
Our Feasibility & Market Research service provides the contextual intelligence that program designers, NGOs, donors, and community organizations need to make informed decisions — about what to fund, where to work, who to target, and how to design for sustainable impact.
Our Research Service Areas
Six integrated research service areas covering the full intelligence needs of livelihood program design and implementation.
Market Opportunity Assessments
Deep-dive analysis of local and regional market demand, pricing structures, buyer networks, and competitive landscapes to identify viable livelihood and enterprise opportunities.
Value Chain Analysis
Mapping complete value chains from input supply through production, processing, and market — identifying where communities can enter, compete, and capture maximum value.
Feasibility Studies
Technical and financial feasibility assessments for proposed livelihood programs, community enterprises, or organizational expansions — answering whether an idea will actually work.
Community & Stakeholder Needs Assessment
Participatory community assessments that go beyond surface-level data to understand livelihood systems, cultural constraints, social capital, and real community priorities.
Geographic & Sectoral Scans
Rapid or detailed scans of geographic areas or economic sectors — providing the contextual intelligence needed for program design, donor proposals, or investment decisions.
Program Baseline Research
Pre-program research that establishes the evidence foundation for M&E — ensuring that the right questions are measured, and that change can be attributed to your intervention.
A Mixed-Methods Toolkit
We combine quantitative and qualitative methods — selecting the right mix for each research question, community context, and timeline.
Focus Group Discussions
Structured community conversations generating qualitative insight on livelihoods, needs, and opportunities.
Key Informant Interviews
In-depth interviews with market actors, community leaders, buyers, and sector experts.
Household Surveys
Quantitative surveys capturing income data, asset profiles, and livelihood patterns at scale.
Participatory Rural Appraisal
Community-facilitated tools including seasonal calendars, wealth ranking, and resource mapping.
Market Surveys & Price Monitoring
Direct market data collection on prices, volumes, buyer requirements, and seasonal trends.
Remote Sensing & GIS
Geographic data analysis for rural areas including land use, accessibility, and market catchment mapping.
From Research Question to Actionable Insight
A six-stage research process that delivers credible, accessible findings — not just data.
Research Scoping
We work with your team to clarify research questions, define the geographic and thematic scope, and agree on a methodology proportionate to your timeline and budget.
Desk Review
A thorough review of existing data — market reports, sector studies, government data, and previous assessments — to avoid duplication and build on existing knowledge.
Field Research Design
Designing survey tools, interview guides, and sampling frameworks tailored to your specific research questions and community contexts.
Data Collection
Trained field researchers deploy to communities using mobile data tools — collecting quantitative and qualitative data with quality controls at every stage.
Analysis & Synthesis
Mixed-methods analysis combining quantitative data processing with qualitative coding — producing insights, not just data dumps.
Reporting & Dissemination
Accessible research reports, executive summaries, and community feedback sessions — ensuring findings reach decision-makers and the communities that participated.
Common Research Scenarios
Our research services are most valuable at four key decision points in the program and organizational lifecycle.
Livelihood Program Design
Pre-program research identifying which livelihoods to support and for which communities — feeding directly into program design and M&E baselines.
Our Livelihood ProgramsCBO Program Planning
Helping CBOs understand their communities' real needs and the market opportunities available before designing or pitching programs.
CBO Support ServicesStrategic Planning Evidence
Providing the organizational context scan and sector intelligence that grounds a strategic planning process in reality.
Strategic Planning ServicesDonor Proposals
Building the evidence-base — needs assessments, gap analyses, market data — that makes donor proposals credible and fundable.
Talk to Our TeamWhat you receive from every research engagement
Every research engagement produces a standard set of outputs — crafted to be accessible to different audiences and immediately useful for decision-making.
Discuss Your Research NeedsProven Research Expertise
Over 100 market assessments, feasibility studies, and community needs assessments delivered across 8 African countries.
Field research teams and partner networks in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, DRC, Ghana, and South Sudan.
Of feasibility and market studies we deliver, 85% directly inform programs that go on to receive donor funding.
From scoping to final report delivery — proportionate to study depth and geographic scope.
Ready to design programs on evidence, not assumptions?
Tell us about your research question or program design challenge — we'll scope an engagement that gives you the intelligence you need within your timeline and budget.