Read more:
Democratic Republic
of Congo:
Women's Groups in
North Kivu Project
Kenya:
Women Finance Trust Development Programme
Tanzania:
Water Supply and Health Project in Marginal Areas
Uganda:
• District Development
Support Programme
• The Uganda Women's
Efforts to Save Orphans (UWESO)
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About BSF | ||
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Strategy | ||
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BSF and IFAD | ||
| Belgium and BSF invest in Africa | |||
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BSF operations | ||
| Challenges for tomorrow | |||
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Contacts | ||
Belgium and BSF invest in Africa BSF gives preference to countries in sub-Saharan Africa where the Belgian Government is already active. The map shows the countries where BSF and IFAD fund projects. The black dots represent the projects in each country. On the following pages are detailed descriptions of projects in four of them, indicated on the map in bold. Grants plus loans pay for big improvements Projects are financed by BSF grants (a maximum of 45 per cent of total costs) and IFAD loans (a minimum of 55 per cent) plus contributions from any other financial partners, including the government and project participants. Project costs range from US$ 1 million to US$ 20 million. These funds help a country to make essential improvements in services, infrastructure and knowledge. In a few cases, BSF has paid for an entire project, for instance, in conflict-torn countries, when the lack of a recognized government or unsettled loans has prevented IFAD from participating. These stand-alone grants offer a more flexible way to fund activities and often lay the groundwork for an IFAD loan later on. BSF and IFAD projects: Who does what? In close collaboration with BSF, IFAD designs a project in consultation with government officials and community members. After reviewing the project design, the government accepts responsibility for carrying out the work. A coordination unit is formed of specialists knowledgeable in nutrition, sanitation, crop science and other areas being addressed by the project. Foreign consultants are rarely used, because strengthening the capacity of local officials contributes to a country's long-term well-being. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other community-based groups often implement parts of the projects, from setting up health clinics to distributing farming tools. Other groups help to supervise projects, for instance, the United Nations Office for Project Services. To keep tabs on progress, each year BSF conducts a full evaluation of two projects from its portfolio.
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The Belgian Government believes a significant amount of investment is needed for a country to benefit from development assistance. That is why it funds activities in fewer than 20 countries around the world, most of them in Africa.