216 Rebuilding West Africa’s food potential
- Increased empowerment of the organization and its members. The organization focuses on gradual empowerment
in terms of human and financial resources capacity. Strengthening technical skills and members’ decisions are
established as a priority, giving members the ability to find solutions for themselves and mobilize resources (capital,
financial services provided by the organization to its members, setting up savings and loan mechanisms). - An integrated approach taking into account the need to improve living conditions (health, education, housing,
etc.) and economic opportunities for members. This approach is judiciously combined with programs and activities
that aim to improve access to information, provide targeted training based on needs and facilitate access to
means of production. These activities are implemented with a view to empower members and render them more
accountable. This principle of integration also implies that the organization build strategic partnerships with local
economic opportunities. - Priority given to the needs of members. Priority needs of members guide the organization’s activities, be it in
terms of choice of training programs, granting of loans or engaging in activities initiated and financed by external
institutions. Activities and services are more likely to benefit members in the long term and last over time if they
respect the priority needs of members of the organization.
Figure 2. The 4 principles of the GAIN methodology (source: authors)GOVERNANCE
NEEDS BASED
AUTONOMY
INTEGRATION