NGO/ECP Activities in:

In 2002, 30 ECP grants were approved for a total amount of USD 2,469,000, a USD 900,000 increase over 2001. NGOs themselves contributed USD 852,500 in cash. The beneficiaries also made contributions in cash or kind to the amount of USD 65 000. Thus, the value of the total programme for 2002 reached USD 3,386,500.

Overall, ECP activities in 2002 focused on capacity-building of beneficiaries and their organizations, and on institutional development to enable the rural poor to improve their livelihoods, a focus consistent with IFAD’s mission and the first strategic objective of IFAD’s Strategic Framework 2002-2006. The specific activities supported by the ECP were also in line with the objectives of IFAD’s regional strategies. In particular, capacity-building and institutional development addressed the need for access to assets, increased agricultural production and its diversification based on sustainable resource management, adoption of appropriate technology, effective organization of rural financial services, development of rural enterprises and development of market linkages.

Western and Central Africa Region (PA)

The overarching goal of ECP activities by the Western and Central Africa Region (PA) in 2002, was grass-roots capacity-building in the context of natural resource management, access to markets, self-development and, most importantly, the promotion of sustainable rural financial services. ECP financing in the region has supported a number of capacity-building activities in these areas, and has contributed to the successful implementation of IFAD loan-financed projects. Finally, two grants were extended to help reduce the vulnerability of the poor in post-conflict and civil strife situations.

Eastern and Southern Africa Region (PF)

All ECP grants were in line with IFAD’s strategic areas of intervention in this region, namely: sustainable natural resource management, rural financial services and access to markets.

Asia and the Pacific Region (PI)

Within the overall capacity-building focus of the ECP, activities in support of women’s empowerment have a central place in Asia. This again is a key area of IFAD’s regional strategy.

Latin America and the Caribbean Region (PL)

IFAD’s regional strategic objectives of market access, women’s empowerment and the empowerment of indigenous and other marginalized populations are the focus of the ECP in the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Near East and North Africa Region (PN)

In Eastern Europe’s transition economies, due to the retrenchment of the state’s dominant role in production and marketing and drastic reduction in public services, the once state-provided market access, credit and agricultural inputs either no longer exist, or do not meet to the needs of newly privatized smallholder agriculture. In response, PN has focused its ECP activities on the creation of efficient grass-roots organizations to promote market-oriented rural development. Special attention is given to isolated and disadvantaged mountain areas.

External Affairs Department (EAD)

EAD extended two ECP grants in 2002. Both have multi-country coverage and focus on capacity-building of the rural poor and their organizations. The first deals with policy analysis and policy dialogue and the second, with enhanced access to specialized markets.

Highlights from ECP Implementation in 2002