Background Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important crop with potential for improving food and nutrition security, economic opportunities, and agroecosystems. Burundi and Zimbabwe are at risk of food and nutrition insecurity and a substantial proportion of the population is malnourished, mainly in rural areas. Domestically, 34.5% and 28.9% of women 15 to 49 years old suffer from chronic anemia, while 54.0% and 23.5% of the children under 5 years of age are stunted in Burundi and Zimbabwe, respectively (UNICEF, 2021; USAID, 2018)1. Common beans potentially provide a sustainable option for addressing these food and nutritional challenges and enhancing income, particularly in rural areas, through increased bean production, distribution, processing, and consumption. Therefore, investing in bean value chains would provide a sustainable source of protein and micronutrients, particularly iron and zinc, needed for a healthy life for women of reproductive age (15–49 years) and children under five years who mostly suffer from malnutrition. Consequently, investments in beans by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) were timely and generated significant beneficial impacts for many people and actors in Zimbabwe and Burundi. This study provides evidence of the economic benefits resulting from the flagship project implemented in both countries that advanced bean production and consumption for better livelihoods, especially for smallholder households. From 2015 to 2022, the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA)2 led by the Global Bean Program of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, together with the Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU) and Department of Research and Specialist Services (DRSS) in Zimbabwe implemented a flagship project titled “Improving food security, nutrition, incomes, and natural resource base and gender equity for better livelihoods of smallholder households in sub-Saharan Africa.” Through a demand-driven breeding approach, PABRA developed and promoted more than 659 marketable, nutritious, resilient, and high-yielding bean varieties across the 31 member countries during the past 25 years. By combining enhanced partnership and regional network research approaches, PABRA facilitated and empowered national agricultural research systems 1. USAID (2018) Zimbabwe Nutrition Profile and UNICEF (2021) https://www.unicef.org/burundi/nutrition 2. As part of the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture Economic Analysis of PABRA-led projects in Burundi and Zimbabwe: Application of Cost-Benefit Analysis Approach Joel Maina, Ruth Chepchirchir, and Justus Ochieng African Research and Economic Development Consultants (AFREDEC), Nairobi, Kenya https://www.unicef.org/burundi/nutrition January 2024 | Economic Analysis of PABRA-led projects in Burundi and Zimbabwe2 (NARS) members to conduct demand-led research and to develop institutional innovations that catalyze partner development organizations and other actors to invest in bean value chains. Project investments enabled the development and release of 18 new bean varieties in Burundi and six in Zimbabwe during the project life (2015–2022). Public promotion efforts spurred their cultivation by bean producers in both countries. The project also promoted: integrated crop management practices for enhancing bean yields, access to bean products for nutritious food consumption, and better linkages to profitable markets for improving farm income and laying the foundation for efficient and inclusive bean value chains. This evidence-based assessment will provide insights into the impacts of the catalytic SDC and PABRA investments in bean value chain actors facilitated by NARS in the two countries. This analysis estimates the magnitude of how PABRA has achieved a greater impact within two challenging national contexts. Beans Methods 3. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI 4. World Bank Statistics (2022) https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=BI 5. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL 6. https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1864/Burundi-Nutrition-Profile-June2018-508.pdf 7. World Bank Statistics 2022 (IBID). 8. Metari et al. (2021) https://tropicallegumeshub.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2014-Country-Strategies-and-Seed-Roadmaps-08-Zimbabwe.pdf enabled Burundi and Zimbabwe to overcome serious – but different – socioeconomic troubles. Burundi, the country with the lowest gross national income (GNI) per capita (USD 732 in 2021)3, continues to recover from the social unrest of the 1993 to 2005 civil war and political coup in 2015. Burundi had a population of 12 million as of 2020, with more than 85 percent living in rural areas4. Bean consumption in Burundi is the highest in the world (41 kg annually per person)5, providing 50% of the daily protein and 20% of caloric intake6 In contrast, Zimbabwe has a per capita GNI that is five times larger (USD 3,810) than that of Burundi. Nevertheless, political and economic upheaval has caused severe inflation and currency devaluation. The population is estimated at 15 million, with more than 70% living in rural areas7, making legumes, including common beans, a major source of protein and macronutrients for many households. Although bean consumption is approximately 12 kg per person annually, the processing of nutritious bean products is attracting new consumer interest – both in and outside of Zimbabwe8. This analysis used both primary and secondary data obtained from interviews and project documents, respectively, to estimate: The additional investments from both public and private sources attracted by the initial SDC investments. The counterfactual or business as usual (BAU) context in which a “without project” is compared with a “with project” scenario. The counterfactual hypothesizes what would have happened if PABRA had not promoted improved bean varieties and complementary technologies resulting in producers’ continued cultivation of local varieties. The different estimated benefits between the two scenarios are assumed to be the incremental benefits generated by the PABRA flagship project. Gender implications and other socioeconomic benefits such as job creation, enterprise development, and the distribution of economic benefits by gender. The economic benefits and their distribution among five links along the bean value chain: seed multiplication, seed distribution, bean production, trade, and bean processing. Measures of net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) were estimated. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=BI https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1864/Burundi-Nutrition-Profile-June2018-50 https://tropicallegumeshub.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2014-Country-Strategies-and-Seed-Roadmaps- Application of Cost-Benefit Analysis Approach 3 Results Investments In Burundi, project investment funds of USD 1.47 million came from four sources: SDC (79%), Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) (6%), Syngenta (12%), and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) (3%). In Zimbabwe, two sources invested USD 1.78 million: 96% came from SDC and 4% came from TAAT. Investment in beans functioned as an effective catalyst in generating significant additional funding and follow-on financing from a variety of private and public stakeholders. In Burundi, an estimated USD 249 million in additional investments were made by farmers, processors, traders, and other public and private stakeholders during the project period from 2015 to 2022, with farmers and traders investing more than 96%. In Zimbabwe, additional investors contributed about USD 732 million, with more than 95% being invested by farmers, traders, and processors during the same period (Figure 1). 80 60 40 20 0 % of in ve st m en ts b y a ct or s Zimbabwe ZimbabweBurundi 2015 – 2022 2015 – 2035 Burundi Seed houses/ merchants Seed multipliers Farmers / producers Traders Processors Figure 1: Percentage of total investments by actors between 2015-2022 and 2015-2035 Our study estimated the investment levels for a 20-year period (2015–2035), which is a common analytical financial approach for agricultural projects accounting for longer-term funding. If the investments were to continue in the two countries up to 2035, approximately USD 2.2 billion (NPV; 12% discount rate) in Burundi and USD 3 billion in Zimbabwe would be invested by other value chain actors, including farmers and traders. January 2024 | Economic Analysis of PABRA-led projects in Burundi and Zimbabwe4 Economic benefits Bean yield increased by 70% in Burundi and almost doubled in Zimbabwe from 2015 to 2022 because of the enhanced use of improved varieties and complementary integrated crop management practices, particularly among women, who represent more than 60% of the bean farmers in both countries (Figure 2). Investments in the bean value chain, both project-based and additional investments, generated substantial economic benefits. The SDC catalytic project-based investments and additional investments by farmers and public and private bean value chain actors generated substantial benefits. For instance, Burundi evidenced a total of USD 310 million (NPV) and a net incremental economic benefit of USD 263 million from 2015 to 2022, generating a BCR of 2.05.9 The incremental NPVs were calculated by subtracting the NPVs for the business as usual or counterfactual from the total NPVs for the project (Table 1). The investments in Zimbabwe generated an estimated net economic benefit of USD 312 million from 2015 to 2022, with a BCR of 1.51. If the project or investment continues to 2035, net incremental economic benefits of USD 3.2 billion in Burundi (BCR 2.46) and USD 1.92 billion (BCR 1.64) in Zimbabwe would be generated from 2015 to 2035. 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 kg /h a kg /h a 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 2018 2018 2020 2020 2019 2019 2021 2021 2022 2022 Figure 2: Bean yield per ha in Zimbabwe (A) and (B) Burundi. A B 9. IRR is a discount rate that makes the NPV of all cash flows equal to zero Bush Climbers Bush rainfed Bush irrigated Application of Cost-Benefit Analysis Approach 5 The BCR is greater than 1 (2.05 in Burundi and 1.51 in Zimbabwe), indicating that the project benefits are greater than its costs. This means that every USD 1 invested generated USD 2.05 in Burundi and USD 1.51 in Zimbabwe, making the SDC project a sustainable venture10. The performance results are robust for the economic shocks within both the best- and worst-case scenarios during the project period and up to 203511. Distribution of the economic benefits Grain traders and bean farmers benefited the most in Burundi. Bean traders and bean farmers earned more than 99% of the net incremental benefits (traders 22.5% and farmers 77%). The remainder of the benefits were earned by seed merchants (0.04%), multipliers (0.7%), and processors (0.04%). However, in Zimbabwe, producers, traders, and processors were the main beneficiaries, accounting for 41%, 24%, and 23% of the benefits, respectively. The balance was shared among seed houses (8%) and seed multipliers (2.8%). The main strength of this study is that the analysis adopted a value chain approach, while similar studies concentrated on individual actors, mainly farmers. Table 2 presents the distribution of the discounted net incremental economic benefits for each actor. Farmers and traders earned higher returns per dollar invested in bean business in Burundi; whereas, in Zimbabwe, multipliers, processors, and seed houses earned higher returns per dollar invested. Period Country BAU or counterfactual without project (USD) With project (USD) Net incremental benefit (USD) Benefit-cost ratio 2015–2022 Burundi 46,404,626 310,091,349 263,686,723 2.05 Zimbabwe 82,874,117 395,411,934 312,537,817 1.51 2015–2035 Burundi 259,601,601 3,465,048,623 3,205,447,022 2.46 Zimbabwe 288,541,883 2,213,159,055 1,924,617,172 1.64 Table 1. Economic NPVs of the BAU case and with SDC project at a 12 percent discount rate Table 2. Net incremental economic benefits (USD) per value chain actor discounted at 12%, 2015–2035. Actors Zimbabwe Burundi NPV BCR NPV BCR Seed houses/merchants 104,829,907.8 1.9 3,435,230 1.2 Seed multipliers 62,624,594.7 2.7 2,373,521 1.2 Farmers 386,810,896.2 1.3 2,478,728,004 4.9 Traders/aggregators 274,531,231.0 1.3 724,155,706 1.5 Processors 537,930,204.9 2.2 1,346,495 1.3 Farmers and traders are the main beneficiaries, receiving 99% and 65% of the generated net benefits accrued in the bean value chain in Burundi and Zimbabwe, respectively 10. IRR is a discount rate that makes the NPV of all cash flows equal to zero. 11. Sensitivity analysis for the project assumed changes at 10% in costs and in project benefits, or both, to create worst-case and best-case scenarios January 2024 | Economic Analysis of PABRA-led projects in Burundi and Zimbabwe6 Processors, seed merchants, and multipliers in Zimbabwe earned higher net economic benefits than their counterparts in Burundi. This implies a better- established food processing sector and seed system in Zimbabwe. Gender and other socioeconomic benefits Overall, 60% of the benefits generated by farmers accrued to female farmers in Burundi, whereas, in Zimbabwe, 40% and 10% of the benefits were earned by women and youth, respectively. In addition, in Burundi, 50% of the net benefits went to village- based small traders while 20% and 30% accrued to large and medium traders, respectively. These results demonstrate that investments in bean value chains benefit not only large traders but also vulnerable small traders, who are mostly women in both countries. Investments in the bean value chains also helped generate more job opportunities and private enterprises. In Burundi, three processors (Totahara, Kaflobe, and Rengerubuzima) are linked to the creation of at least 145 new product outlets/enterprises, including 142 traders and 3 cooperatives. During the project, the number of small and medium seed enterprises increased from 15 producing 10 tons in 2014 to 315 (55% of them women-led) producing 1,595 tons of certified and quality-declared seed by 2021.12 In addition, an estimated 1,969 traders benefited from increased production, resulting in greater harvests being available for sale/trading. These enterprises created employment opportunities for at least 1,162 people, 51% of whom were women. This is in addition to many more casual labor and other indirect employment opportunities. In Zimbabwe, the project supported the creation of more than 15 new seed enterprises, more than 50% led and owned by women, while indirectly supporting many more individuals and seed enterprises. These provided more than 1,100 direct employment opportunities (56% female) as well as many more indirect employment opportunities for women and youth. The percentage of women employed in seed companies and aggregator businesses grew from 10% in 2014 to 38% in 2021, while the number of processors increased from 5 in 2015 to 15 in 2022, which significantly increased the investment in the bean value chain in Zimbabwe. Women bean producers and small traders are the main beneficiaries of the SDC investments in the bean value chain in Burundi and Zimbabwe. 12. For details, see the link https://www.pabra-africa.org/empowering-women-entrepreneurs-to-deliver-quality-bean-seed-in-burundi/ Application of Cost-Benefit Analysis Approach 7 Impact on government policy and programming In Burundi, the project influenced the recognition of high-iron bean (HIB) varieties within the input agricultural support program of the government. The use of high-iron beans was further institutionalized in government sectors and integrated into the school feeding approach to improve the nutrition of school meals with HIB for kindergarten and primary school kids and in training school children on the nutritive value and the various ways of preparing bean-based products. On the other hand, the promulgation of a mandatory food fortification policy in Zimbabwe resulted in increased demand for biofortified beans and processors began to commercialize them. The project influenced the government to support the bean subsector by recognizing beans as a strategic crop and included it in the Pvumvudza Presidential, a conservation farming program launched in 2021. This program is distributing small packs of seeds in partnership with DRSS and the Ministry of Health. 13. Nchanji et al. (2023) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1040977/full 14. Katungi E; Kalemera S; Mutua M; Maereka E; Chirwa R; Chimboza D; Gamu F F. 2020a. Bean technology adoption and its impact on smallholder farmers’ productivity, bean consumption, and food security: Evidence from Zimbabwe. 15 Katungi E; Nduwarigira E; Ntukamazina N; Niragira S; Mutua M; Kalemera S; Buruchara R A. 2020b. Food security and common bean productivity: Impacts of improved bean technology adoption among smallholder farmers in Burundi. Discussion The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation-led catalytic investment of USD 3 million attracted additional funding of USD 249 million in Burundi and USD 732 million in Zimbabwe from farmers and private and public stakeholders during the project period (2015–2022). These benefits have been achieved due to the increased adoption of improved varieties and integrated crop management technologies, especially among women farmers, who represent the majority in Burundi (Nchanji et al., 2023)13 and Zimbabwe (Katungi et al., 2020a).14 For instance, the increased use of improved varieties and complementary technologies has led to the expansion of land under bean production, and beans now occupy 45% of the total cropped area in Burundi (Katungi et al., 2020b)15. By 2020, more than 72% and 68% of the farmers in Burundi and Zimbabwe, respectively, were adopting improved varieties (Katungi et al., 2020a, 2020b). This demonstrated that bean is an important crop, particularly in Burundi, where it significantly contributes to gross domestic product. However, if investment continued for another 13 years up to 2035, it would generate higher net incremental benefits of USD 3.2 billion in Burundi and USD 1.92 billion in Zimbabwe. Grain traders and bean farmers benefited the most in Burundi, earning more than 99% of the economic benefits, whereas, in https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1040977/full January 2024 | Economic Analysis of PABRA-led projects in Burundi and Zimbabwe8 Zimbabwe, they earned 65%, followed by processors (24%), seed merchants (8%), and multipliers (3%). These findings imply that Zimbabwe has a better- established food processing and seed system sector. The performance of the project in the base scenario (2015–2022) is considered robust for changes in cost and benefit estimates within best- and worst-case economic scenarios during the project period and in the future up to 2035. This clearly indicates that such interventions are sustainable and can address the food and nutrition security challenges and enhance income through increased bean production, distribution, processing, and consumption. In addition, positive NPVs and a BCR greater than 1 imply that the economic benefits of the bean value chain improvement project in the two countries are larger than its costs and that the project is sustainable and can be replicated in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Women bean producers and small traders are the main beneficiaries of the SDC investments in the bean value chain in Burundi and Zimbabwe. These results run counter to the common criticisms that development in sub-Saharan Africa often focuses on the needs of large commercial producers, traders, and merchants instead of facilitating the participation of women and less commercial traders (Siri et al., 2020; Ranjitha et al., 2021).16 These results demonstrate that investments in bean value chains benefit not only large traders but also vulnerable small traders, who are mainly women and youth in both countries. More women bean producers benefited from the improved bean value chains because most of them were more likely to adopt non-purchased integrated crop management technologies such as organic soil fertility management practices and improved varieties than their male counterparts (Katungi et al., 2020a). With increased consumption of beans and their products, the project contributed to the sustainable supply of nutritious high-iron beans needed for the healthy life of women of reproductive age (15–49 years) and children under five years who mostly suffer from malnutrition. The project helped improve the nutrition of children and women and facilitated the creation of private enterprises that generated employment opportunities that benefited women and youth. This is in addition to the many casual labor and other indirect employment opportunities. Finally, the project also influenced government policy and programming by ensuring recognition of HIB varieties within the agricultural input support program of the government and integrated HIB and bean-based products in the school feeding program to improve the nutrition of school learners in Burundi. The integration of biofortified beans in the school feeding program was supported in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), World Vision International, and other partners. Biofortified beans have also become one of the major value chains promoted by the Burundi First Lady’s Foundation, known as the Umugiraneza Good Action Foundation. In Zimbabwe, the promulgation of the mandatory food fortification policy resulted in increased demand for biofortified crops such as beans and processors began to commercialize biofortified beans. The project influenced the government to support the bean subsector by recognizing beans as a strategic crop and included it in the Pvumvudza Presidential, a conservation farming program launched in 2021. This program is distributing small packs of seeds in partnership with DRSS and the Ministry of Health. These achievements demonstrate that beans have been recognized as an important crop with potential for improving food and nutrition security, economic opportunities, and agroecosystems in Burundi and Zimbabwe. SDC-led investment of about USD 3 million from 2015 to 2022 attracted investment from bean value chain actors, which together generated net incremental benefits of USD 264 million in Burundi and USD 312 million in Zimbabwe during the project period and would generate net incremental benefits of USD 3.2 billion in Burundi and USD 1.92 billion in Zimbabwe if investment continued up to 2035. 16. Ranjitha P; Mudege N N; Njuguna-Mungai E; Nchanji E; Vernooy R; Galiè A; Najjar D. 2021. Moving beyond reaching women in seed systems development. In: Pyburn R; van Eerdewuk A (Eds.), Advancing gender equality through agricultural and environmental research: Past, present, and future (pp. 113–145). International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, D.C. Siri B N; Nchanji E B; Tchouamo I R. 2020. A gender analysis on the participation and choice of improved and local haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by farmers in Cameroon. Agricultural Sciences 11(12), 1199–1216. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2020.1112079l Application of Cost-Benefit Analysis Approach 9 Conclusions and recommendations The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation–funded bean flagship project has exceeded its intended objectives of improving household food and nutrition security and income in Burundi and Zimbabwe through increased bean production, distribution, and consumption. The economic benefits of the project exceed the costs, as demonstrated by the positive NPVs and BCR greater than 1. This indicates that the project not only increased the income of the value chain actors but is also sustainable for addressing food and nutrition challenges. In addition, the project influenced government policy and programming. Collaboration with the Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi and other development partners (e.g., NGOs), farmers, and the emerging private sector resulted in annual multi-stakeholder fora to review and plan bean value chain activities. In addition, the use of biofortified beans has been institutionalized in government sectors, and biofortified beans have been integrated into school feeding programs to improve the nutrition of school meals for learners in Burundi. In Zimbabwe, high-iron bean was included as a strategic crop. The project contributed to inclusivity and equity since women and small traders emerged as the main beneficiaries of investment in the bean value chain in both countries. There is still, however, room for additional improvement, especially with respect to the following: (1) strengthening demand-driven bean breeding programs, including developing climate- resilient and consumer- and farmer-preferred varieties; (2) the deepening and commercialization of seed systems to attract more investments along the bean value chain; (3) increased adoption of biofortified bean varieties at the farm level; (4) increasing and diversifying the consumption of biofortified beans at the household level; and ( 5) developing and optimizing convenient, highly nutritious bean-based products while fostering women and youth entrepreneurship. The following are recommendations for different actors. January 2024 | Economic Analysis of PABRA-led projects in Burundi and Zimbabwe10 Donors X There is a need for long-term commitment from donors to ensure continuous research and development, along with learning processes in demand-driven programming, and thus be able to improve livelihoods. X Donors can fund projects that replicate the PABRA approach demonstrated in Burundi and Zimbabwe to realize suitable economic benefits by catalyzing investments in value chains from both public and private actors. Research organizations X Co-develop research products between CGIAR and NARS to ensure constructive problem- solving, national ownership, and mindset change while also catalyzing other public and private investments to increase bean production and income. X Foster institutionalization of demand-led research that attracts private enterprises that contribute to the scaling out of the research products, improve their relevance, create jobs, and provide inclusive market opportunities to smallholder farmers. X Test high-yielding climbing bean varieties, especially successful ones in Rwanda, in densely populated small farm regions of Burundi and Zimbabwe. Explore solutions to barriers to their adoption, particularly the availability of cost- effective staking materials (e.g., fast-growing trees and bamboo) produced on-farm and/or by special service providers. X Scale up the PABRA approach to other countries by prioritizing and aligning research and development activities with national needs and priorities. The government can invest in the bean value chain if it sees value in the investments, particularly if the project contribution is aligned with the country’s economic blueprints, policies, and strategies. Scaling and other local partners X Engage partners in research and development to enhance ownership and relevance of the research products that reach the last mile where many smallholder farmers live. X Advance a demand-led multi-stakeholder platform to coordinate various interventions of diverse actors, attract more investment, and speed up access and commercialization of research. X Continue deliberate investment in interventions that address the effects of climate change in bean production. Agricultural policymakers and program managers X Support partnerships with the private sector, public sector, civil society organizations, and NGOs for research and development support to achieve wide-scale impact. X The private sector can invest on its own if the right research products, initial stimulus, and the right engagement are provided, and the value chain commercialized. X Continue to support activities that achieve positive progress toward gender equity and social inclusion. The bean value chain is an important instrument for women’s economic empowerment, including breaking social norms and systemic barriers that hinder the engagement of women in decision-making and in the bean value chain. All partners and CGIAR X The PABRA flagship project in Zimbabwe and Burundi laid sustainable foundations for future research and investment in bean and other crop value chains. Thus, as a lesson, One CGIAR can explore how to expand the PABRA approach to other commodities in sub-Saharan Africa. X Notably, other economic impacts of the flagship program involve attaining gender equity and inclusion. The project supported women running small and medium seed enterprises and women scientists engaged in bean research and development. This confirms that the bean value chain is an important instrument for women’s economic empowerment, including breaking social norms and systemic barriers that hinder the engagement of women in the decision- making process. Application of Cost-Benefit Analysis Approach 11 Acknowledgments The financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), in the federal administration of Switzerland, and Federal Department of Foreign Affairs is appreciated and acknowledged. This analysis relied on input from many organizations, including national agricultural research organizations and farmer groups, and individuals without whom the findings presented would not have been possible. We are grateful to the CIAT-PABRA team, the Southern African Bean Research Network (SABRN), and PABRA lead teams in Burundi (ISABU) and Zimbabwe (Crop Breeding Institute, CBI) for their logistical, technical, and oversight support throughout the implementation of the study. In particular, the following individuals warrant a mention. From CIAT: Jean Claude Rubyogo (Nairobi), Enid Katungi (Uganda), Douglas White (CIAT consultant), Eileen Nchanji (Nairobi), Eliud Birachi (Rwanda), Sylvia Kalemera (Tanzania), and Mercy Mutua (Nairobi). From ISABU (Burundi): Astere Bararyenya, Eric Nduwarugira, and Blaise Ndabashinze. From CBI (Zimbabwe): Shylet Tsekenedza and Andrew Chiwawa. From the Alliance: Teshale Assefa Mamo (ECABREN-Tanzania/Arusha) and Wilson Nkhata (SABRN-Malawi). Valuable was the information provided by many bean value chain actors: seed companies and merchants, seed multipliers, producer representatives, bean grain traders, and bean processors, as well as other government and NGO stakeholders that collaborated in the PABRA program. Lastly, efforts by the AFREDEC research team that contributed immensely to data collection, analysis, and report writing cannot go unmentioned. This study was commissioned by the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) and implemented by AFREDEC. African Research and Economic Development Consultants Ltd (AFREDEC- www.afredec.com) is a consultancy firm incorporated in Kenya. AFREDEC has experience in countries and created linkages in Rwanda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Nigeria, Somalia, Mozambique, Burundi, Seychelles, Cameroon, Liberia, Southern Sudan, and Ethiopia. The firm has interest in agriculture and rural development, finance and economic development, water and irrigation, energy and social (including health and education) sectors. It combines a wealth of professional skills and experience gained by its staff and associates gained from years of experience and involvement in diverse consultancy, advisory and development research projects across sub-Saharan Africa. AFREDEC has provided consultancy services to clients including WFP, FAO, PWC Kenya, Government of Kenya, AGRA, Practical Action, Swisscontact, GAIN, IUCN, Gatsby Africa, among others. alliancebioversityciat.org cgiar.orgwww.pabra-africa.orgwww.afredec.com