EMBEDDING INCLUSION AT SCALE: IMPLEMENTING SUPPLIER INTEGRATION PATHWAYS FOR SMALLHOLDERS IN EMERGING-MARKET FOOD NETWORKS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65009/zgzh9768Keywords:
Inclusion,, Supplier,, Emerging,, Smallholders,,Abstract
This paper investigates how multinational enterprises operationalize sustainable and inclusive supply
chains by integrating smallholder producers into formal procurement systems in an emerging-market agri
food context. Using a multi- source qualitative design (40 semi-structured interviews, extended field
observations, and archival triangulation), the research develops an implementation-oriented process model
spanning paradigm reconfiguration, structural-policy realignment (e.g., accelerated payment cycles, liaison
roles), supplier capability upgrading via civil-society partnerships, and staged commercialization to
preserve economic viability. Findings codify four recur- rent execution frictions—organizational readiness
gaps, procedural bottlenecks, supplier preparedness deficits, and profitability pressures—and map each to
actionable interventions anchored in top-management sponsorship, entrepreneurial stewardship, and
incremental scaling strategies. The resulting framework delineates governance mechanisms (transparency,
multi-buyer demand assurance, and knowledge portability) that stabilize inclusion while supporting long
term competitiveness, offering generalizable guidance for firms pursuing socially resilient sourcing models
in volatile contexts.
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