 |
|
|
|
 |
|||
The Executive Board reviewed, for the first time, a Country Strategic Opportunities Paper, specifically the COSOP for the Federal Republic of Nigeria (document EB 2001/72/R.29), which had been formulated along the guidelines used for the prototype COSOP presented to and approved in a seminar held for Directors in September 2000. There was a rich exchange of ideas and opinions on IFAD’s strategy in Nigeria, with comments being made on various aspects of the COSOP.
The main areas discussed concerned the need to: articulate policies that support and add value to IFAD-funded projects; prioritize development interventions according to strategic focus and connect those interventions with policy analysis; internalize lessons learned; and involve communities and other stakeholders in policy dialogue and project implementation. Concern to have more emphasis on gender-balanced and environmentally sustainable development was also expressed. The importance was highlighted of better articulation of the role of civil society and government institutions in rural development and poverty alleviation.
