Mutual interests, different strengths
BSF and IFAD each offer unique expertise. But together, these strengths create a unique synergy and bring added value to our joint projects. This has proven to be a successful formula for more than 25 years.
BSF provides grants that address basic needs such as health and family nutrition. BSF grants may fund a new village well or build and equip a medical centre. Strong, healthy children grow to be strong, healthy adults who are able to participate in, and benefit from, other projects funded by IFAD loans. These projects help people increase their food production, raise their incomes, improve their education standards, secure rights to land, water and other natural resources, and gain power to shape the decisions and policies that affect their lives.
Our joint projects:
- offer improved technologies that boost crop, dairy and livestock yields
- increase market access so that farmers can receive higher, more reliable incomes from their hard work
- support financial services that help poor people save money or get a loan to start a small business
- provide education and training to encourage farmers to expand their income-earning activities
- help women acquire new skills that help raise their incomes
- empower communities to develop and strengthen their organizations so they have a stronger voice and are able to influence institutions and policies, including laws and regulations of relevance to rural poverty
- help communities to rebuild lives after the devastation caused by HIV/AIDS, natural disasters and armed conflict
Working with the most vulnerable people
The Joint Programme operates in the poorest countries in Africa, focusing on regions of high food insecurity and malnutrition.
A country or region is selected on the basis of:
- its Human Development Index, which measures life expectancy, literacy, educational attainment, and GDP per capita
- whether it is in a post-conflict or crisis situation
- how much Overseas Development Aid it receives
- good governance during the previous 10 years
Moma district in Mozambique is one region in which the Joint Programme operates. The district has 52,000 inhabitants, but only one poorly equipped hospital with two medical doctors. Medication to combat malaria, diarrhoea, HIV/AIDS and other diseases is rarely available. Less than 1 per cent of the population has improved sanitary facilities and more than 50 per cent has no access to potable water. Only 40 per cent of children attend primary school and the teacher-pupil ratio is 1:120. No other donors are active in the district.
Study: multi-sector approach adds value
A recent study conducted in Kenya, Mali and Mozambique by the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) on behalf of the Joint Programme, illustrates – qualitatively and quantitatively – how combined support to both the social and economic sectors can increase synergy and add value to both sectors.
When household members have access to better health care, they feel fitter, more protected and confident, and are more eager to seek and embrace innovation. This boosts their capacity to be more productive, which leads to higher incomes.
More than 20 per cent of women who have improved access to water have more than 30 extra minutes a day to invest in other activities such as economic pursuits, childcare and personal development. In places where improved access to water used for agriculture is combined with adequate training and extension services, the positive effects on productivity, poverty reduction, food security and nutrition are significant.
Investments in education, including training, capacity building in school committees and local governments, and new or improved infrastructure, have positive effects on economic performance. These investments encourage people to participate more in networks, improve household, business and farm management, and be innovative when it comes to accessing information and markets. People have better awareness of health, hygiene, nutrition and food security issues. Significantly, women who are literate take a more active role in reducing poverty and establishing preventive health measures in the household.
This multi-sector approach contributes to stabilizing migration. New opportunities in agriculture, combined with better access to social and marketing infrastructure, keep young people closer to home, as long as land and water are available and there are opportunities for trade, fresh cash injections and networking.
The study showed that, through the social components of the Joint Programme, it is possible to improve the wellbeing of very poor people. In combination with adapted agricultural interventions, 13 per cent more poor households take part in economic sector activities.
