Programme area. In addition to the areas covered in its first and second cycles (the islands of Brava, Fogo, Santo Antão and São Nicolãu, and two municipalities on the island of Santiago), the Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (PLPR) will extend its activities to other impoverished rural areas in the country in its third cycle (the islands of Maio and São Vicente, and the remaining municipalities of Santiago). Target group. The programme will target approximately 60,000 persons belonging to community development associations (ACDs) working with the programme, including: (i) smallholder farmers, especially women heads of households; (ii) microentrepreneurs, including women; and (iii) young people. Programme objectives. The overall objective is to improve the living conditions of the rural poor. The purpose is to establish effective and sustainable policy and institutional instruments for rural poverty reduction as a means to implement the Government's Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy. This will be measured by a decrease in the prevalence of poverty and by better food security and nutrition; greater asset ownership; improved access to markets; and higher production and productivity in agriculture, fisheries, livestock and income diversification. Programme description. The programme will support four components:
Important features. The PLPR, which is part of the National Poverty Alleviation Programme, was one of the first IFAD-financed programmes approved under the Flexible Lending Mechanism. Since then, it has consistently and punctually achieved the triggers set for proceeding from one cycle to the next. The first cycle focused on learning through demonstration and field-testing, and on establishing institutional infrastructure; the second on testing the effectiveness and robustness of institutional mechanisms, adjusting them as needed. The PLPR has clearly shown itself to be an effective and sustainable instrument for carrying out the national poverty reduction policy. The institutional mechanisms promoted under the programme (i.e. CRPs, ACDs, PLLPs, framework agreements and contractual programmes) have proved particularly suitable for empowering communities and their partners in the fight against poverty. During the third cycle, these mechanisms will be further integrated with national institutions and better coordinated with the Government's policies and strategies in order to make them more supportive of the Government's Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy. The third cycle will provide a unique opportunity to incorporate the programme's innovations, best practices, positive achievements and lessons learned into the new poverty reduction strategy, while also ensuring clear consolidation and exit arrangements. Potential cofinanciers and domestic contribution. No cofinanciers are envisaged, but the Government will finance around US$11.95 million during the four-year third cycle of the programme and the beneficiaries US$1.48 million. |
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