Performance of Institutional Innovation: The Case of Maize-Related Warrantage in Benin, West Africa

Abstract

Following an institutional analysis framework, this study aims to characterize and assess the performance of warrantage models in Benin. The methodological approach combines both qualitative and quantitative methods. A “snow ball” sampling technique was used to identify the warrantage promoters in Benin. With the focus on maize, information related to the warrantage objectives, the stakeholders involved in the process, the financial parameters and the number of warranted products depositors were collected through unstructured interviews with promoters. This information was processed by using discourse analysis approaches.. The performance indicator was the growth rate of the number of warranted product depositors, referring to the new memberships per warrantage model. As a result, the marketing-based warrantage, the inputs-based warrantage, the Income Generating Activities-based warrantage, and the plural warrantage were found as the main financial schemes characterizing warrantage in Benin. Furthermore, the performance of an institutional innovation such as warrantage in Benin was related to the organizational environment, the types of stakeholders and their working strategies.