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2.6. Team Exercise: Assumptions & Field Survey Parameters
Session-at-a-glance
Content
Approximate
Time
Instructional Activity
Aims, Instructions & Team Formation
15 minutes Plenary presentation
Exercise 2.6. Planning Assumptions &
Field Survey Parameters
60 minutes Small Group Work
Exercise 2.6. Debriefing
45 minutes
Total Time
Small Group Feedback to Plenary
and Plenary Q&A
120 minutes
Session Objectives
After this session, participants will be able to:

Formulate assumptions (Step 1) and establish field survey parameters (Step 2) to guide
the planning and implementation of a trader survey
Session Supplies

Power-point: 2.6. Team Exercise-Assumptions & Field Survey Parameters.pptx

Workbook Exercise 2.6. Planning Assumptions & Field Survey Parameters (annexed to
this Session Guide as Annex 1)
Key Messages
Formulating assumptions and establishing field survey parameters are integral parts of
planning to conduct a trader survey.
The whole assessment team should be involved in these processes.
Guidance Materials
“Market Analysis Tool – How to Conduct a Trader Survey?”, Technical Guidance Sheet,
WFP/VAM Food Security Analysis Service.
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Facilitator Guidance and session preparation
This session represents the participants first actual planning session with regard to the Day Four
market visit. You will have to decide which scenario and conditions are driving this planning
session – that is, decide which shock or other has brought about this (mock) decision to carry out
a food security assessment and trader survey. The shock could be a natural disaster in the
country, a sudden increase in world food prices, or some other emergency situation that could
have a bearing on food security and on market functioning. Once you have decided on the
scenario and conditions, be sure to edit PPT 6 in the session presentation accordingly.
Of particular importance is the need to furnish participants in this session with a set of (mock)
secondary data – in particular, with regard to the supposed conditions of food insecurity in the
country that would have triggered a food security assessment. These (mock) secondary data
might include, but not be limited to, the following:

Major findings from an NGO nutritional survey showing increasing moderate (and/or
severe) malnutrition rates in the urban areas where the Day four market visit will be
conducted

Extreme weather changes (e.g. drought) and/or rumors of crop failures

New displacements of poor to the urban areas where the Day four market visit will be
conducted
Room Setup
Arrange for small group work in the plenary conference room.
Session Activities
Aims, Instructions & Team Formation
15 minutes
Use PPTs 1-5 to present session objectives and to remind participants of the various sub-steps
involved in conducting Steps 1 and 2 of the trader survey process.
Form teams of 4- 5 participants each. Suggest that they each nominate a team leader (they can
keep the same leader for the week or rotate the position so that each participant gets an
opportunity to lead the team.)
Show PPT 6 with the (mock) secondary data on the country context and food security conditions.
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Show PPT 7 and have them turn to Workbook Exercise 2.6. and go through the various tasks and
tables with them.
Tell them they should use flip charts to record their assumptions and field survey parameters, and
be prepared to present their results to the plenary group. Tell them they will have 60 minutes to
complete Steps 1 and 2.
Exercise 2.6. Planning Assumptions & Field Survey Parameters
60 minutes
As they work, move about the room and offer guidance as needed. If one team is “stuck” on a
particular category of information, suggest that they meet with another team to figure out the best
response. (Remind them that this is not a competition, but an opportunity to share and listen to
others’ ideas.)
About 45 minutes into the exercise, remind everyone if they haven’t yet done so that they should
have their results on the flip charts within the next 15 minutes.
Exercise 2.6. Debriefing
45 minutes
Show PPT 8 and debrief the exercise as follows:
Arrange the flip charts around the room and have everyone stand and approach the first chart.
The group’s reporter should present the group’s findings to the plenary group. Allow about 5
minutes for the presentation, and another few minutes for questions and comments from the
plenary group. Continue this process until all groups have presented and received comments.
Use any remaining time to take questions or comments from the plenary group.
Note: The groups’ results will, of course, depend upon the type of shock and the (mock)
reasons for the trader survey that you posited at the beginning of the exercise.
Be sure the following points are addressed:

Have the groups chosen livelihood groups that are indeed likely to be confronted with
food insecurity because of the selected scenario and conditions?

Have they logically selected geographic areas that would be impacted?

Have they identified appropriate market chains?

Have they identified appropriate products?
When they have finished, congratulate them for their efforts.
Finally, use “2.7. Day 2 Summary.pptx” to summarize the day’s main learning points.
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Annex 1
Workbook Exercise 2.6. Planning Assumptions & Field Survey Parameters
As a team:
Given the scenario and conditions indicated by your facilitator, and using the format of the tables below,
(1) formulate your assumptions (i.e. conduct Step 1) and (2) establish the field survey parameters (i.e.
conduct Step 2) for the trader survey to be conducted on Day Four of this workshop. Please record your
responses on a flip chart for presentation to the plenary group.
Refer to the Technical Guidance Sheet “How to Conduct a Trader Survey?” as needed.
Step 1: Formulation of assumptions
Sub-step 1.a. Population Characteristics
List the affected areas, population data and food insecurity levels:
Table 1: Population
Population (# of HHs)
Pre-crisis food insecurity /
poverty (%)
Pre-crisis food insecurity / poverty
Key livelihood activities (list top 3)
Population (# of people)
Area/District 1
Area/District 2
Describe the livelihood groups and activities:
Table 2: Livelihood groups
% of population
Livelihood group 1
Livelihood group 2
Livelihood group 3
List the key items the households purchase and sell:
Table 3: Market
dependence
Essential food items purchased (list
top 3)
Key products for sale (cash crops /
livestock - list top 3)
Livelihood group 1
Livelihood group 2
Livelihood group 3
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Sub-step 1.b. Market & Availability Characteristics
Complete the table with deficit and surplus zones:
Table 4: Deficit and
surplus zones
Food item 1: Deficit/excess
Food item 2: Deficit/excess (in metric
tons if possible)
(in metric tons if possible)
Cash crop 1 etc.: Deficit/excess (in
MTs if possible)
Area/District 1
Area/District 2
Area/District 3
National
Draw the cropping and marketing seasons, example:
Sep
Oct
Nov Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar Apr
May Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar Apr
May Jun
Jul
Aug
Good harvest
Average harvest
Bad Harvest
Elaborate (hand-drawn) maps of flows of the selected market chains and draw diagrams of selected
market chains
Sub-step 1.c. Scenario on Impacts of Potential Shocks
Describe the shock, describe the impact in Table 5.
Table 5 Anticipated
impact on livelihood
activities
Impact on first key livelihood activity
Impact on second key livelihood activity
Impact on third key livelihood activity
Livelihood group 1
Livelihood group 2
Livelihood group 3
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On basis of table 3, select key market chains and predict impact of shock:
Table 6 Anticipated
impact on market chains
Impact on local availability
Impact on prices
Impact on flows
Market chain 1
Market chain 2
Market chain 3
Insert in Table 7 how main livelihood groups will react to shock & the impacts on market chains:
Table 7: Anticipated
impact on market
dependence
Market chain 1
Purchase items
Market chain 2
Sales items
Purchase items
Market chain 3
Sales items
Purchase items
Sales items
Livelihood group 1
Livelihood group 2
Livelihood group 3
Sub-step 1d: Anticipated response options
Discuss the pros and cons of various response options that may be envisaged at an early stage (without
prejudging their appropriateness and without excluding other response options which may be found
appropriate later when more data becomes available). Include, in addition to market-related issues (cash
transfers, local purchases, food aid impact on markets), issues such as implementing capacity, availability
of resources and government policy. The purpose is to bring to the fore, information needs that may arise
when programming decisions have to be recommended, so that they can be included in the survey
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Step 2: Establishing your field survey programme
Refer to the Technical Guidance Sheet “How to Conduct a Trader Survey?” as needed:
Sub-step 2.a: Timing
Sub-step 2.b: Selection of market chains
Sub-step 2.c: Selection of products
Sub-step 2.d: Define geographic limits
Sub-step 2.e: Selection of markets
Sub-step 2.f: Selection of traders
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