module+3

Dear Participants,
Welcome to the third module. We will follow the same structure as in the previous modules. First you will get to review the content of module 3 through self-guided e-learning after which several exercises will be introduced in order to get familiar with the different learning methodologies.

By the end of this module participants will be able to - review and test their knowledge about collective input supply - prepare a peer-assist session on identified challenges participants meet within their own cooperatives - showcase an elaborated example on how to provide managers insights for making decisions - prepare different typologies of questions in order to conduct a panel expert discussion about establishing a price policy
 * Learning objectives**

This module deals with the challenges that are involved in c ollective input supply. In taking up the role of delivering inputs the dual character of a cooperative poses the challenge to balance serving members’ needs with operating as a business. The challenge for the cooperative management is to find a correct balance between input provision, cost efficiency and returns, so that members' needs are satisfied and the involved costs are controlled. **Session 2:** Peer assist on identified challenges You have read the entire module on supply of farm inputs. In this session we will focus on challenges that participant will identify in their own cooperative. In the module you already got familiar with several challenges:
 * Session 1:** Content review. Self-guided e-learning. Duration 60 minutes.

- the challenge to provide new services to its members (cf. case 1.2 the case of FUCOPRI in Niger) - the challenge to finance bulk purchases (cf. case 1.1 the experience of FCMN in Niger)

As a trainer we ask you to write down challenges that relate to the supply of farm inputs. Share the challenges with the other participants and try to present the challenge in a clear and understandable way.

The objective of this session is to select one challenge and use this as a case to work on during the training. As you could see in the training manual you will use the peer-assist method to analyse the case in depth with the participants.To understand the peer-assist method we invite you to watch the instructional video which you find here: http://itcilo.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/facilitation-method-peer-assist/. Once you have done this download the instructional sheet in order to prepare better the peer-assist you are going to conduct with your participants.Download instructional sheet:


 * Session 3:** Round robin on storage and stock management

On this topic your participants will brainstorm in specific thematic corners on the advantages and disadvantages of storage, own transport, large or small stocks and centralized or decentralized stock. For additional information on the used methodology you can download the instructional sheet:.

It is important that after an initial inventory of the different arguments you will be able to moderate a discussion and stimulate participants to come up with considerations that provide insights to managers for making decisions.Prepare at least one insightful case that might inspire participants. Work out one of the examples that is indicated in your training manual (cf. cost-benefit analysis, member needs assessment, risk analysis, an analysis of other service providers in the field).


 * Session 4:** Establishing a price policy

During the workshop you will be asked to moderate an expert panel debate. To moderate and facilitate en expert panel debate requires a lot of pedagogical competencies.Therefore it's good to review this instructional sheet about setting up panel expert debates.

The panel debate you will prepare will focus on three central questions:

- What are the pricing objectives of your cooperative? Can you explain why? - What is the pricing strategy of your cooperative? How did you decide on this strategy? - How did your cooperative fine-tune and adapt pricing policies? Do you have any tips?

Knowing this three leading questions and having revised the content of module 3 what additional questions could you come up with for your panelists? Before you design these questions we ask you to read at least one of the articles mentioned in the blog article "The art of asking powerful questions":

http://itcilo.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-art-of-asking-questions/