Press release number: IFAD 35/04

Rome, 8 October 2004 – More than 120,000 rural poor people living in the North Lower region of Guinea will benefit from a USD 17.7 million project, designed to increase their incomes and give them a voice in community-led decisions.

The eight-year project will be financed by a USD 14.2 million loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to the Republic of Guinea. The government of Guinea will provide USD 2.1 million to the project, and project participants will contribute USD 1.4 million.

The loan agreement for the Support to Rural Development in North Lower Guinea Project was signed today at IFAD headquarters by Guinea’s Minister of Economy and Finance, H.E. Mr Maady Kaba Camara, and IFAD’s President, Lennart Båge.

The majority of Guinea’s population live in rural areas. Limited natural resources and poor quality soil make the North Lower region of the country particularly impoverished. The new project will introduce sustainable management of natural resources and anti-erosion measures in the region. Project participants will identify agricultural technologies that best suit their needs and the region’s fragile environment. They will also learn about the use of better quality seeds, particularly for rice and peanut farming.

Local people, especially women and young people, have traditionally not been involved in decision-making. The project will create opportunities for people to voice concerns related to their own development, analyse the problems they face and then work together to find solutions. They will receive financial assistance to develop their own agricultural, forestry and livestock microprojects that will help raise incomes, while also protecting the environment.

Rural roads will be improved to provide better access to markets. The project will also support the development of a sustainable rural financial system to serve the needs of rural poor people.

With this loan, IFAD will have financed 11 projects in Guinea, totaling USD 131.3 million.

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IFAD is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to combating rural poverty in the most disadvantaged regions of the world. Since 1978, IFAD has invested USD 8.2 billion in 660 rural development projects and programmes, about 250 million rural people have been supported in their efforts to overcome poverty.