Press release number: IFAD 16/04

17 March 2004, Rome – A new project in southern Nyanza, Kenya, will address serious social, health and environmental problems that contribute to the region’s poverty and undermine the area’s food production capacity.

The USD 17.8 million project, financed by a USD 10.9 million loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) with the balance being financed by the Government of Kenya and the benefiting communities, will focus on raising awareness about the links between gender inequality and HIV/AIDS, as well as social practices that cause other health problems or lead to environmental degradation.

The loan agreement was signed today at IFAD headquarters by Mr Båge, President of IFAD and Mr Bruce Madate, the Rome-based Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya.

The project will enhance local governance and strengthen linkages between the communities and the local government; improve women’s access to social and health services and support for agricultural activities; improve agricultural production, food security and nutrition; and strengthen local institutions. The project will also address land access rights for women and orphans by promoting conflict resolution through existing traditional community mechanisms, and the enforcement of existing regulations regarding the use of natural resources.

“Empowering women and reducing gender inequalities with regard to accessing land, education and social services represent both an essential condition and a tremendous opportunity for achieving the Millennium Goals and reducing the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” said IFAD President Lennart Båge.

“This project aims to encourage people to reflect on their behaviours, said Marian Bradley, IFAD’s country programme manager for Kenya. “It aims to raise awareness and educate people on how human practices undermine the environment and contribute to creating conditions which lead to poor health, particularly as a consequence of water-borne diseases.”

The project will benefit the neediest residents of the area, in particular people in poor health and those HIV/AIDS infected, people suffering frequent food shortages and those who lack access to potable water and proper sanitary facilities.

With this project, IFAD will have financed 12 projects in Kenya, with a total cost of USD 243.2 million.

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IFAD is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries. Since 1978, IFAD has financed 653 projects in 115 countries and territories for a total commitment of USD 8.1 billion. Through these projects, about 250 million rural people have been supported in their efforts to overcome poverty.