The Coalition Paysanne Malgache (CPM) revised the ESFIM collaborative research proposal with the assistance of the Agrinatura researchers. The adjustment has been done on the basis of the priorities areas identified during the 2009 inception workshop but with an in depth review of each topic and a clearer definition of the terms, and underlying concepts, through exchanges of views with various member of CPM’s governing bodies. Accordingly the focus of the first selected thematic area has shifted from the ‘solution focused’ concept of Business Service Centre to the broader and more ‘problem oriented’ issue of farmers’ capacity in designing relevant marketing strategies to sale their products. CPM feels that there is a need to take stock of several initiatives and actions that have been implemented by NGOs and farmers’ organizations in Madagascar during the last years targeting the enhancement of farmers’ decisions making capacities. The second thematic area that will be investigated within the collaborative research is “Market Information Systems” looking at several on-going actions in Madagascar. These two themes will be investigated through desk studies complemented with consultation of selected resources persons. Since both issues are closely related, using information on one hand, and getting information on the other hand, the outcome of both studies will be jointly presented during a single workshop. The third area that has been selected, aims at analyzing constraints and benefits associated with collective actions for marketing. This theme will be addressed through a more in depth study, reviewing available documents on the subject, but including also case-studies through field visits and interviews of selected stakeholders in selected sites where this type of institutional arrangements is promoted. The case-studies will cover the whole range of different institutional formats of collective action for marketing agricultural product, from informal marketing group to the officially established cooperatives. Collective actions for marketing in Madagascar, and marketing cooperative in particular, have mitigated records in terms of impact. The study will provide key elements to Malagasy FO to further improve the strategies pursued to further strengthen these key institutional arrangements for empowering smallholders into market. The three studies will produce a working paper, but also “a position note” (similar to a policy brief) that will summarize the position of Malagasy FOs participating to ESFIM, to be used for advocacy proposes. During the last six months CPM has also maintain its contacts with several public administrations in the ministry of trade and ministry of agriculture. In spite of the fragile and uncertain political context, there is genuine interest from officers of these administrations to collaborate with CPM in the context of the ESFIM project, including the provision of complementary resources.