This document provides an overview of the fundamental principles of PMSD through a series of riddles. The principles discussed are systemic thinking, participation, and facilitation. [Systemic thinking focuses on interdependent relationships and finding high impact solutions. Participation involves including all relevant stakeholders to jointly assess issues and find win-win solutions. Facilitation provides temporary support to build capacity and empower stakeholders to create their own sustainable solutions.]

1. TRAINING MATERIALS: MODULE 3
The Fundamental Principles of PMSD - riddles
 Systemic thinking
I help you to see the web of interdependent actors – the market chain,
service providers and the market environment
Ignoring me is dangerous; you may find that your actions have unintended
consequences
Use me to find those places where the smallest amount of resources can
make the biggest impact
I show you relationships, connections and interactions
I help you to work from a number of angles that contribute to a bigger
change
 Participation
I bring together representatives of government, producers, traders,
transporters and input providers to talk to each other – I exclude no one
I believe that market actors must take the lead in analysing and
transforming their own market system if improvements are to continue
sustainably in the future
I ensure the involvement of marginalised actors by building their capacities
and empowering them
I use effective tools and processes so that everybody’s voice gets heard and
win-win solutions can be found
I allow market actors to jointly assess [the issues within] their market so
that they can implement improvements that work for all of them

2. TRAINING MATERIALS: MODULE 3
 Facilitation
I provide temporary support and am a catalyst for change
When I am used for change, it is sustainable because it involves
fundamental changes in market actors’ behaviours and arrangements
I avoid entering the market system and delivering missing functions or fixing
problematic issues, because these functions might not continue when I
leave
My light-touch approach allows me to impact the maximum number of
people with the minimum resources
Rather than create solutions myself, I build the capacity of market actors to
create their own – this allow them to adapt in the future to their often fast
changing market conditions