Challenges in Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation: The Role of Civil Society Organizations and Development Institutions

This report contains proceedings of the IFAD/NGO workshop in Nairobi, Kenya on 6-9 May 2002. The judgements made herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), its Member Countries or the representatives of those Member Countries appointed to its Executive Board. The contents of this document may be freely reviewed, quoted, reproduced or translated in part or in full provided the source is acknowledged. IFAD does not guarantee accuracy of data included in this document and accepts no responsibility for any consequences of their use.

Report of the Workshop (PDF Format - 396 KB)

• Introduction
• Opening of the Worskhop
• Thematic Presentations and Working Groups Sessions
  • Session one: Pro-Poor Rural Financial Systems and Products (read discussion papers)
  • Session two: Addressing the HIV/AIDS Challenge to Poverty Alleviation (read discussion papers)
  • Session three: Information and Technology Systems for the Rural Poor (read discussion papers)
  • Session four: Access to Productive Resources by the Rural Poor (read discussion papers)
  • Session five: Equitable and Efficient Market Systems for the Rural Poor (read discussion papers)
  • Session six: Policy and Institutional Challenges to Poverty Alleviation (read discussion papers)
  • Session seven: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) Processes (read discussion papers)
• Workshop Conclusions
• Closing Remarks
• Annex A - Opening Remarks
• Annex B - Workshop Programme
• Annex C - Workshop Announcement
• Annex D - List of Participants

Papers Presented to the various working Sessions

Session one: Pro-Poor Rural Financial Systems and Products (PDF Format - 278KB)

• The Role of Microfinance in Poverty Reduction in Ethiopia
• Alleviating Poverty through Partnerships with Pro-Poor Rural Financial Systems
• Pro-Poor Rural Financial Services? or Rural Financial Services? An Experience in Kenya
• Challenges for Deepening Outreach in Cooperative Microfinance in Rural Areas
• Pro-Poor Financial Systems and Products in Pastoral Areas

Session two: Addressing the HIV/AIDS Challenge to Poverty Allerviation (PDF Format - 119 KB)

• The HIV/AIDS Epidemic and Economic Development
• The Negative Impact of HIV/AIDS on Development
• HIV/AIDS - A Hinderance to Poverty Eradication
• A Case from the Agricultural Sector in Uganda
• Indigenous Resources and Values for Poverty Alleviation: The Experience of the Shewula Community, Swaziland
• HIV/AIDS and Poverty in Swaziland

Session three: Information and Technology Systems for the Rural Poor (PDF Format - 80 KB)

• Knowledge Markets: Information Supply and Demand in Small Scale Rural Agriculture
• Information Supply: Electronic Delivery of Agricultural Information
• Information Demand: Farmer Field Schools
• Machobane Farming System: Towards Food Security and Poverty Reduction in Lesotho
• Tackling Rural Poverty in Uganda through the National Agricultural Advisory Services Programme

Session four: Access to Productive Resources by the Rural Poor (PDF Format - 163 KB)

• Poverty Reduction through Improved Traditional Irrigation Systems in Tanzania
• Access to Land and Water Resources for the Rural Poor in Swaziland
• Access to Land: A Key Element of Agricultural Development in Madagascar
• Land and Water Resources and Rural Development
• How Rural Transport Contributes to Poverty Alleviation: Madagascar Lalana NGO Experiences

Session five: Equitable and Efficient Market Systems for the Rural Poor (PDF Format - 460 KB)

• Viability of a Market Approach to Supporting Smallholder Agriculture: Can Smallholder Farmers Engage sustainably and Profitably in commercial Agriculture?
• Challenges in Market Development for Smallholder Farmers: A Malawi Experience
• Commercialization of Natural Resources: Establishing and Developing Benefit-Sharing Linkages between rural Producers and International Markets; CRIAA SADC's Experience in Namibia
• Marketing and Financial Services in Nampula, Northern Mozambique
• Self-Managed Commodity Associations, a Critical Success Factor in Market Linkages: The Zimbabwe Experience
• Honey Marketplace Development for Sustainable Rural Development

Session six: Policy and Institutional Challenges to Poverty Alleviation (PDF Format - 171 KB)

• Economic Policy, Accountability and Civil Society: International Prescriptions and Economic Realities
• International Prescriptions and Economic Realities: Agriculture
• Policy and Strategy, and Gaps in Strategy and Implementation
• Economic Policy, Accountability and Civil Society
• Smallholder Traditional Cash-Crop Production in Tanzania: Emerging Issues on Government Accountability in Kilosa District
• Rural Livelihood Dependence on Wildlife Resources in Gile District, Mozambique, and Policy Implications

Session seven: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) Processes (PDF Format - 103 KB)

• From Debt to Poverty Eradication: What Role for Poverty-Reduction Strategies?
• An Ethical Framework to Assess the Poverty Reduction Strategy Initiative
• Fulfilling the Promise of the PRSP
• Options for Participation in PRSP
• PRSP Design, Implementation and Expected Impact: Kenya's Experience with PRSP Processes