Project ID: 1327
Executive Board document: EB-2006-87-R-13-Rev-1

Rural Development Project in the Departments of Niari, Bouenza and Lékoumou

Who are the beneficiaries? The beneficiaries are vulnerable rural poor communities living in the departments of Niari, Bouenza and Lékoumou of the Republic of the Congo, who have very limited access to markets and resources (in particular, financial resources). Such vulnerable groups include small subsistence farmers who depend mainly on rainfed agriculture and forest products for their livelihoods. Women and youth are particularly vulnerable, as they are traditionally excluded from decision-making processes and have even less access to resources and information.

Why are they poor? Low agricultural productivity, scant income-generating activities and lack of access to financial services are the main causes of poverty in the project area. Local communities are rarely involved in the decision-making process (constraints analysis of their situation, prioritization of the process, identification of solutions and implementation of appropriate activities). Marketing inefficiency; high transaction costs; weak organization in collecting and distributing agricultural products; rudimentary processing equipment; scarce financial services; and a frail communication system connecting producers, traders and consumers are all major problems afflicting rural areas throughout the Congo. These problems are particularly marked in the project area.

What will the project do for them? As marketing inefficiency and transport costs are the main constraints faced by smallholder producers and traders, the project will support the rehabilitation of rural infrastructure (in particular, feeder roads) to grant smallholders better access to markets. This will in turn increase the production of food and cash crops and improve farmers’ incomes. The project will support the establishment of a maintenance system for local roads. It will also build the capacity of producers’ organizations for the collection and group sale of agricultural products and the identification of agricultural markets. Farmers’ organizations and groups will be strengthened to help them better market their products, and thereby improve their food security. The project will promote high-value products and will ensure farmers’ access to better quality inputs (for example, seeds and plants). In particular, the project will support the widespread distribution and use of disease-resistant cuttings for cassava and improved seeds. Overall, the capacity of the local rural poor population will be enhanced under the project, and women and youth will receive particular assistance. The project will support the development of existing rural financial systems to enable them to provide appropriate and sustainable financial services to the rural poor.

Loan amount: SDR 5.9 million (equivalent to approximately USD 8.4 million)

Total project cost: USD 20.8 million

Project ID: 1216
Executive Board document: EB-2004-81-R-16-REV-1.pdf

Rural Development Project in the Plateaux, Cuvette and Western Cuvette Departments

The proposed project will cover three departments: Plateaux, Cuvette and Western Cuvette. About 300,000 persons (50,000 households), representing approximately two thirds of the total population of the three departments, would directly benefit from the project. It is, however, expected that other people will also benefit indirectly from most of the project interventions: rural infrastructure, as well as empowerment, especially women through participation in decision-making. Strong emphasis would be placed on mainstreaming women into project activities. Mechanisms would be put in place to foster the active participation of women in the planning, implementation and M&E of the activities. The project will also target youth, who, due to the deterioration of the economic situation, have been returning to rural areas.

The objective of the project is to increase, in a sustainable manner, the incomes and food security of the target population, as well as to improve living conditions. The specific objectives of the project are: (a) to facilitate the access to markets and production zones; (b) to strengthen the capacities of grass-roots organizations and that of economic interest groups; (c) intensify and diversify agricultural and fishery production; and (d) facilitate the access of smallholders to financial services.

Loan Amount

SDR 8.05 million (equivalent to approximately USD 11.9 million)

Total project cost:USD 15.1 million

Cooperating Institution:

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)