Rural Development Programme for Mountainous and Highland Areas

 

Initiated by IFAD, this is the organization’s first programme covering two countries: Georgia and Azerbaijan. By developing a common strategy for both countries, IFAD helps alleviate the shared disadvantages and constraints that communities in mountainous areas face during the transition from a centrally planned to a market-based economy. The programme helps poor people in mountainous and highland areas in both countries improve their living standards in a sustainable way, increasing their incomes while protecting the natural resource base and environment.

The target groups of small-scale farmers, divided almost equally between Georgia and Azerbaijan, operate individually or as members of voluntary associations. Many of those who will benefit directly from activities are women, especially those who bear the entire burden of family and farm work because male members of their families have migrated to find employment elsewhere.

The programme introduces some key innovations, including:

• establishment of the Mountain Areas Development Agency as an autonomous, service-oriented institution
• development of farmer-led extension services and community-owned and managed credit delivery systems
• establishment of a collaborative framework that facilitates networking among all levels of the programme

The programme's objective is to improve living conditions and raise incomes for mountain communities in a way that is sustainable, while helping protect and restore the environment. Programme activities include:

• strengthening local capacity for better participation in the market economy
• improving access to financial, technical and commercial services
• developing community-based institutions responsible for rehabilitating and protecting the environment
• raising productivity for livestock and crops
• supporting the development of processing and marketing initiatives

Source: IFAD

email this article

In this section Project overview Documents Contact information Mr Henning Pedersen Country programme manager IFAD Via Paolo di Dono, 44 00142 Rome, Italy Tel: +39 0654592635 Fax: +39 0654593635 h.pedersen@ifad.org Facts and figures Total cost: US$9.2 million IFAD loan: US$8.0 million Duration: 2001-2008 Geographical area:  highlands at altitudes above 500 m Directly benefiting: 10,600 households Status: ongoing Partners Government of Georgia United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)