NGO/ECP Activities in:

In 2002, the ECP of the Western and Central Africa Region (PA) focused primarily on building the capacity of the rural poor and their organizations. An illustrative example in this regard is the grant extended to the National Women Farmers’ Association (NAWFA) in the Gambia. NAWFA was created in 1999 by a group of sesame growers’ associations (SGAs), which had been in existence since 1989. At that time, the SGAs were principally kafoos (traditional women’s village groups) that the international NGO Caritas was encouraging to grow sesame in order to improve family nutrition through increased oil availability and consumption. The groups were so successful that 72 of them decided to create an apex association to promote the economic empowerment of rural women in the country. NAWFA, with the support of the ECP grant, was charged with strengthening the capabilities of women farmers and their organizations by launching a broad range of activities. The target group comprised 48 000 women from a total of 1 070 village kafoos that belonged to the 72 founding SGAs of NAWFA. Six months after starting its work, NAWFA had carried out a detailed assessment of training needs and used the findings of this assessment to create a large file of training materials. Training activities had been launched on a broad front in group management, training of trainers in crop and livestock husbandry (sheep, goats, poultry, beef and dairy cattle), post-harvest handling and functional literacy. Facilitators for participatory monitoring and evaluation had also received training and the first lessons drawn from the experience had already been used to adjust selected training manuals. Networking among the SGAs had been initiated by holding a series of meetings and workshops. Subsequent to these activities, which were carried out most effectively, NAWFA will concentrate on expanding the delivery of training services and fine-tuning its mechanisms for collecting feedback and improving the effectiveness of its support.

In relation to PA’s ECP portfolio, a very opportune initiative has been an overall review, carried out in 2002, to assess ECP practices and resource use and identify ways to streamline processes to maximize its contribution to the implementation of PA’s regional strategy. The main findings of the review are provided below.

Prioritizing local capacity-building and training works very well with IFAD’s strategic emphasis on a people-centred approach to sustainable development. This type of support helps local NGOs optimize their performance in the areas where they are most effective such as working with the poor and their organizations; developing, testing and adapting participatory methodologies; and applying new technologies. Using the grants to bridge gaps between programme phases prevents loss of ownership. Experiences with a few ECP grants in post-conflict situations, where IFAD was not otherwise present, were also very positive. The review clearly demonstrated that the ECP complements PA’s lending programme, but that there is space for it to enhance the programme’s potential even further. In relation to ECP activities, actual performance in terms of management, monitoring, learning and capitalizing on experience often falls short of expectations. This can be attributed to the inordinate demands made on the time and attention of country portfolio managers, in addition to the lending programme and their other responsibilities.

To improve the management of PA’s ECP portfolio, the review recommends measures such as: (i) simple but systematic reporting and supervision/follow-up once a year in the field; (ii) systematic filing of ECP documentation; (iii) introducing ECP projects and programmes into the division’s portfolio review process; (iv) mandatory completion reports from NGOs; and (v) workshops at the national and intra-country levels to capitalize on the experience and lessons learned from the interventions.

In the Eastern and Southern Africa Region, impressive progress has been reported by two ECP interventions, both in Zimbabwe. The first, the Promotion of Food Security Opportunities Opposing Drought (PRO-FOOD) Project executed by AFRICARE, is aimed at improving the household food security and income of smallholder farmers in five districts. It will achieve this through the promotion of cassava, pigeon pea and sweet potato production, and their processing and use for both human and livestock consumption. The PRO-FOOD Project has directly benefited close to 1 000 families by increasing household food security through the promotion of drought-tolerant crops. As a direct result, during the recent drought period, project participants were able to eat three meals a day, while neighbouring families were only eating one. Some 10 000 small farmers were trained in agronomy and the use of these crops. In July 2002, an external mid-term review funded by IFAD was conducted to assess performance and provide recommendations for the future. The principal findings are summarized below.

• All project objectives were achieved in terms of introducing and increasing production of improved varieties of cassava, pigeon pea and sweet potato. The areas under sweet potato and cassava cultivation exceeded 2002 targets by more than 4 and 1.2 times respectively, while the area under pigeon pea increased from 4 ha to 12 ha (no target had been set).
• There is increased awareness of the crops promoted by the project.
• Households that adopted the project crops are more food secure.
• There is evidence that incorporation of cassava, pigeon pea and sweet potato improved the stability of the cropping system of participating households.

The second intervention in the region reporting positive results is the Pilot Marketing Linkages Programme implemented by SAFIRE in collaboration with CLUSA. Despite initial delays during start-up, 80 farmers’ groups have been established and are functioning. Together, the groups comprise 1 165 members of which 731 (63%) are women. Four cash crops are covered in the programme: paprika, groundnuts, tomatoes and Michigan pea beans. The programme has linked the groups to agri-processors, of which one, CAIRNS (for tomatoes and beans), is extremely promising. With the support of SAFIRE and CLUSA, the groups entered into contract with CAIRNS and for the first time they have received commercial varieties and input packages that are normally provided only to large commercial farmers. As a result, yields have increased by three to four times, and in some groups as by as much as six times (from 10 to 60 mt/ha). Furthermore, because of negotiated contract prices that incorporated improved inputs, agronomic practices, training and quality control, the farm-gate price increased. For example, the price of tomatoes increased from ZWD 20/kg to ZWD 30/kg.

.One of the more innovative ECP grants in Asia in 2002 was extended to the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) to improve women’s house construction skills thus helping them both to correct the damage caused by the earthquake in Gujarat and obtain higher wages. Generally, women masons are used for lifting and positioning bricks or mixing materials, but are not involved in the construction work proper. To address this situation, SEWA organized some intensive training programmes on various aspects of construction work. As a result women reconstructed their destroyed houses. In addition, they now have new prospects for long-term skilled employment. The outcome of the grant therefore has so far been very positive. Longer term monitoring, however, may show that the increase in income may not be sustained. Experience in south Asia has shown that activities undertaken by women tend to be regarded in the long run as ‘unskilled’, even though such work might have been treated as ‘skilled’ and paid accordingly before women entered that particular segment of the labour market.

In Latin America and the Caribbean Region, indigenous peoples are the largest group (about one third) of rural poor in the region. A number of ECP interventions are experimenting with innovative approaches and activities aimed at promoting the economic and social empowerment of indigenous communities. In Chile for example, an ECP grant to the Fundación San Cristobal aimed to improve the living conditions of Mapuche producers by diversifying their production and increasing the commercialization of their products. It also placed strong emphasis on enhancing beneficiaries’ organizations to ensure impact sustainability.

The results of this project have been satisfactory. Farmers’ production has increased, improving their livelihood and providing additional income to cover them throughout the year. Furthermore, Mapuche farmers have found a good market for their products by establishing a commercial agreement with a five-star hotel in Villarica.

However, the most important results come from the strengthening of the Corporación Kom Kelluayin, an organization providing support to the rural producers of the area. To date, the Corporación is responsible for the fulfilment of the commercial agreement with the hotel in Villarica, and is looking for new markets for the farmers’ products. In addition, it administers the revolving fund established by the project. The Corporación Kom Kelluayin has also developed partnerships with the governmental institutions Fondo de Solidaridad e Inversión Social and the Instituto de Desarrollo Agropecuario. These institutions provide support for improving the agricultural production systems of Mapuche farmers and the market conditions for their products.

In the Near East and North Africa Region, IFAD collaborated with the Noor Al Hussein Foundation and AIDOS in Jordan, to replicate a successful ‘business incubator’ model that supported women’s microenterprise development in Gaza. The business incubator provided training for the establishment of microenterprises, financial and marketing services, and extension support. The project was initiated in April 2002 with a survey in five villages in Bani Kenana region, within the Yarmouk river basin. The survey covered 2 300 households and generated information on the socioeconomic situation of women and their families. In addition, facilities for the incubator have been put in place. Village development councils and loan committees have been informed of the project and coordination with the IFAD-financed Yarmouk Agricultural Resources Development Project has been established. Training materials responding to the questionnaires and the opportunities identified are now under preparation.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, IOCC received an ECP grant to distribute pregnant heifers and milking machines to a small number of producers in the Brod municipality and provide them with training in milk processing and marketing. While only approved in 2002, the project has made substantial progress. Between September and December 2002, IOCC selected a farmers' association on the basis of a set of criteria (such as solid management structure, open membership, adequate human and technical resources). In close cooperation with the farmers’ association and the municipality, IOCC identified target villages and organized village meetings to select eligible farmers for the project. In addition, a competitive bidding process was used to identify the supplier of heifers. A comprehensive milk collection scheme has also been developed and potential dairies identified. In 2003, heifers will be distributed, milk collection schemes will be set up and a partner dairy will be selected. Complementing these activities, a farmers’ association fair will be organized and a reproduction centre established in Brod.