IFAD
in Brazil
IFAD began its operations in Brazil in 1980. To date IFAD has provided a total of US$141.7 million in loans for six projects. Two of these projects are closed, three are ongoing and a sixth project began operation in 2006.
IFAD’s strategy in Brazil
IFAD works closely with the Brazilian government and supports its efforts to reduce poverty and increase the productivity of rural poor people in ways that are both sustainable and environmentally friendly. Over the years IFAD has developed a strategic partnership with the federal and state governments and has welcomed the participation of municipal governments, and of the private sector and locally based organizations. The organization’s strategy in Brazil focuses on developing a well-defined niche within the general area of rural development and poverty reduction, in which IFAD loans can be most effective at the level of state governments. IFAD’s interventions focus on the semi-arid North-East, the region with the greatest concentration of rural poor people. The target groups include poor farmers, agrarian reform settlers and rural workers, and particuarly women and young people within those groups.
The Country Strategic Opportunities Programme approved by IFAD in 2008 outlines the organization’s current strategy in the country, which is to:
- focus investment projects at the state level, with new loans agreed betweeen IFAD and the state governments, with the guarantee of the federal government
- continue to focus on the North-East but also to explore the possibility of working in other regions in the future
- pioritize knowledge management and policy dialogue to take advantage of the production potential of the North-East, with special attention to improving policy dialogue with the federal government
The goal is to break the vicious cycle of poverty that is perpetuated by the lack of sustainable sources of income and employment for poor rural people.
The strategic objectives of IFAD’s interventions in Brazil are to:
- increase small-scale farmers’ commercial agricultural production and improve their access to markets
- improve poor rural people’s access to off-farm employment and business activities, focusing on women and young people
- foster knowledge generation and dissemination to improve the capacity of poor rural people and local institutions to co-exist with semi-arid climatic conditions, adapt to climate change and exploit the region’s development potential
- deepen the discussion on rural poverty reduction and family farming policies at national and international levels
To strengthen its presence in the country, IFAD will work to set up an office in Brazil. The office would interact with programmes and projects on a day-to-day basis and follow up on knowledge management and policy dialogue activities. IFAD would also intensify its commitment to direct supervision of ongoing and new programmes and projects.
Building partnerships is a priority for IFAD, particularly partnerships with government agencies at state and federal levels, and with civil society organizations, other international cooperation agencies, academic and research institutions and the private sector.
IFAD-funded operations contribute to increasing incomes and improving livelihoods in the North-East, mainly by promoting water security, supporting agricultural development and natural resources management, and encouraging poor people’s participation in development processes through improved access to education, infrastructure and other support services.
Source: IFAD
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Ongoing IFAD operations
