The BEAM Exchange aims to create a platform for straightforward advice on how to implement market systems approaches successfully. It provides guidance, tools and resources to help markets change the way that they work, so that poor people are included in the benefits of growth and economic development.

This three year programme is funded by the UK Department for International Development and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The project is managed by PwC-led alliance who bring experience of market systems development, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), impact evaluation, knowledge management and community building.

BEAM aims to bring together a globally engaged group of professionals, incentivised to share their knowledge and learning. This meant the website needed to be low bandwidth and accessible to all.

BEAM started with a User Enquiry to inform the project. They were able to talk people within the field of market systems development to investigate what information they need, what terms they understand and how they like to operate. This gave a good basis of understanding that informed the kickoff of the website project during the discovery phase. This included a workshop, wireframe mockups and the beginning of the visual design process. We then proceeded with an agile process which allowed us to start building functionality right away in order to meet the tight deadline.