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Based on the results of a survey conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in 2003, this research assesses the impact of market-oriented RPOs (MOs) on the living conditions of small-scale farmers in the cotton producing areas of Burkina Faso. After controlling for a number of influences such as village size, household size, remittances, household education level, distance from market, household head gender, village accessibility during rainy season, existence of a local market, etc., the evaluation finds that RPO membership increases poor household living index by 17% and suggests that if funded and well managed, MOs are effective development tools that can benefit the largest number of Burkinabe people (90%) who live in rural areas and subsist on agriculture and agricultural-related activities.

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Jesuit and a graduate from the Georgetown Public Policy Institute in Washington, DC (MPP, 2010). Holds BAs of Philosophy and Theology from various institutions in Africa and a Master of Social Ethics (Boston College, 2008). Works as Project Manager at the African Institute for Social and Economic Development (CERAP-INADES) in the Ivory Coast.

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