VAIMS: value adding & value chains
The VAIMS (value adding information management system) is a toolkit and a methodology to study value chains or commodity chains in the livestock sector.
It has been developped by a consortium of Centres of Excellence from the SADC region (University of the Free State UFS in South Africa, Univ. of Stellenbosh in South Africa, ILRI (a member of the CGIAR), and NAMC in South Africa).
Value Chain modelling
The toolkit can be used both as a research tool and as a development tool. The package was designed on purpose so that a standard implementation period for a study do not last more than three month in total (including a basic analysis of data collected). This timeframe allows for capturing the major constraints faced by the chain actors and to discuss opportunities for development or improvement. By repeating regularly such surveys and analysis, the process allows for setting up a basic monitoring system of the value chain.
The following leaflet provides a summary of characteristics of the toolkit. It contains details to contact the VAIMS focal persons both at the University of the Free State and at SADC HQ (Livestock Officer), in order to get access the full material required for launching a survey (Guidelines and Software).
VAIMS leaflet
Some indicative performances of a Value Chain as captured by the VAIMS methodology are displayed in the following diagram.
Performances VCA
The Toolkit is made of several documents: (guidelines), standard survey materials (questionnaires in four languages: english, portuguese, french, afrikaner upon request) and a software to store and analyse the data collected.
A standard planning is attached (a timeframe of the various stages of the survey).
planning VAIMS
The following documents shall be consulted before launching any specific survey in a given location of a SADC Member State.
- Theoritical Background and Literature review (Concepts of Value Chains) :
The document is here:
- Guidelines on Key Sources of information for a survey
The document is here
- Toolkit & Methodology (Handout for training enumerators on the tool and Manuals) :
The document is here
The handout book is here (with its cover page)
- Questionnaires for the surveys (available in the three official languages of SADC, plus in Afrikaner upon request)
The various survey materials, i.e. standard survey questionnaires designed for major stakeholders of a value chain i.e. Producers, Traders, Retailers, Processors, Input Suppliers were published in three SADC official languages: English, Portuguese , and French.
You can find the English versions here:
- English
The other versions shall be requested to SADC or the University of the Free State (they will be later posted here)
- Portuguese
- French
The "text" questionnaires (MS Word documents) are combined with specific MS Excel questionnaires (csv files specifically developped to interact with the VAIMS database software). Therefore, these specific spreadsheets shall be used with the software in order to guarantee a proper functionning. Contact the UFS to get the last Excel templates (.csv files) and Software.
- Software
To get the software in a CD, please read the leaflet and contact the VAIMS contact points at the University of the Free State and at SADC HQ.
Explain your project and you will get the full package in return. The software files are too heavy to be downloaded from here.
- Case studies
Botswana and Mozambique were the two countries selected for testing the toolkit in 2008 - 2009. The relevant "case study" reports are here:
In the following sections you will regularly find new information regarding the development and use of the VAIMS toolkit (updates on reports, toolkit, software, results from new case studies, academic papers related..).
Consult regularly the site to get updates.
Literature on Value Adding
The concepts used in the VAIMS study will be updated, according to new publication on the matter. You can still consult the initial literature review which prevails so far:
New Versions for the VAIMS Software
The current version of the VAIMS software is the second one. It has now adopted a new installer (from Ripside) which makes the installation easier. It can run back up of your database.
New Handout and Manuals
New materials will be developped to adapt and use the VAIMS package as one pedagogical component for courses addressing "Livestock Marketing and Trade" . It will be inserted in the curriculum of continuous education courses for professional staff (be they from the private or public sectors). PRINT has already organized three modules at UFS, which encounter a large success. These course are certified and provide credits for teh South African system.
Benchmarking and Case studies
New studies will be launched using the VAIMS methodology in order to offer a benchmarking process. The results of these studies shall be brought to this website (also mirrored at University of the Free State), so that eventually users access all relevant documents regarding the tool and can compare how it was used in various countries and livestock production and marketing areas.
So far one study has started in Namibia and Botswana is considering following up the first study.
Contact the focal person at the University of the Free State and SADC HQ (livestock unit) to get updates about current on-going studies.
