Project description and activities

Special Operation Facility (SOF)

In order to accelerate the start-up of project implementation, IFAD will make available a Special Operation Facility (SOF) of USD 100 000. The SOF will finance: (i) the drafting of pro-forma contracts to be negotiated with the key service providers (RDB, TWIN, OCIR-Café, OCIR-Thé, NGOs to provide cooperative formation and training services, Rwanda Power Company), (ii) the preparation of the list of beneficiaries of the distribution of the OCIR-Thé plantation at Nshili, and of the new smallholder tea plots at Nshili, (iii) the assessment of the procedures for transferring the assets of OCIR-Thé at Nshili to the NTC company once established, and (iv) the cost of the Project Start-up Workshop. The innovative features of the project (dealing with commercial operations, and with the privatisation of a large government asset in favour of poor smallholders), and Rwanda’s qualification for highly concessional lending terms, justify granting the SOF, in line with IFAD policy.