Project ID: 1205
Executive Board Document: EB-2002-76-R-17-REV-1

Rural Poverty-Reduction Programme

The priority needs expressed during participatory rural appraisal (PRA) training exercises and during field visits were: (i) support for herding as a perennial livelihood; (ii) creation of opportunities for non-herding income-generating activities (IGAs); and (iii) improvements in social services, particularly in primary education and health care among the isolated herder communities. Communities, individual households and public support services share an awareness of constraints and opportunities; however, they lack the financial, technical and human resources to deal with them effectively.

The target group comprises 80 000 households, equal to 90% of the total population of the four aimags (provinces) that have been selected from the poorest in the country. Poverty prevails throughout practically the entire rural population, including the residents of the aimag and soum (district) centres. Almost all households range from poor to very poor and live in exceptionally harsh conditions with limited food availability and negligible cash income. In addition, a new group of very vulnerable poor households, consisting of single women with young children, has appeared in rural centres, representing almost 15% of the population there. In general, women form a significant part of the target group because they experience inferior social and economic standing, despite the fact that they tend to be better educated than men.

Loan amount:

SDR 11.2 million (equivalent to approximately USD 14.8 million)

Total programme costUSD 19.1 million

Cooperating Institution

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)