| Project ID: 1298
Executive Board document: EB-2006-89-R-27-Rev-1
Enhancement of the Peasant Camelid
Economy Support Project
Poor small-scale producers of domestic camelids (llamas, alpacas), peasant
communities managing undomesticated vicuñas, and rural populations devoted to
related economic activities – especially women and youth – tend to be excluded from
business opportunities, diversified banking services and access to technical
assistance. With around 3 million animals belonging to 53,000 peasant families, real
market opportunities (fibre, meat, hides, handicrafts, eco-tourism) and significant
rural job creation potential, there is strong rationale for enhancing a sector that
represents an opportunity for economic development and poverty reduction.
The direct beneficiaries will be 14,100 poor and food-insecure households with
unmet basic needs. The target group comprises poor producers of South American
domestic camelids, peasant communities managing undomesticated populations of
vicuñas, and related artisans and small-scale traders. They live in the altiplano in a
fragile environment where natural resources are scarce and of poor quality.
Remoteness and poor communications further exacerbate the group’s vulnerability.
They have limited access to diversified financial and technological services. The
project will focus on 6,300 families of market-led productive poor (family herds of
over 100 head of llamas and alpacas), and expand outreach to 7,800 additional
poorer families, most of whom are part of a community-based economy, with fewer
assets (fewer than 100 heads). Women will represent 55 per cent of targeted
beneficiaries (30 per cent of them heads of household) and 23 per cent will be young
people.
The project aims to enhance, increase and accumulate social, human, financial,
physical and natural assets of poor camelid producers and microentrepreneurs,
especially women and young people, who will have better access to financial
services, sustainable technical assistance, knowledge and information. It would
eliminate or significantly reduce poverty levels among 6,300 targeted families and
alleviate poverty conditions and help improve food security for an additional 7,800
families.
Amount of IFAD loan: SDR 4.8 million (equivalent to
approximately US$7.23 million) on highly concessional terms
Total project cost: US$14.38 million
Cooperating institution: Directly supervised by IFAD
Project ID: 1145
Executive Board document: EB-2000-70-R-15-Rev-1
Management of Natural Resources in the Chaco and High Valley
Regions Project
The overall goal of the five-year IFAD-initiated project is to
reduce rural poverty and desertification, thereby allowing beneficiary
groups estimated at 63 758 persons or approximately 15 424 families
to significantly improve their economic standing. To that end, the
project seeks to:
(i) improve the management of natural resources by enhancing the
capacity of small-scale farmers to manage such resources sustainably
and rationally; and
(ii) facilitate access to technical assistance and other rural
services aimed at strengthening small-farmer organizations and municipalities.
The population of the project area is estimated at 343 417 persons,
or approximately 79 617 families. More than 70% of the target group
is indigenous. Some 738 organizations, including rural womens organizations,
are expected to benefit from involvement in competitions promoted
by the management of the natural-resources component, while approximately
489 organizations will benefit from project-supported technical
assistance services.
Innovative features:
The project has incorporated the lessons learned in other IFAD-financed
projects, such as the Promotion of Technology Transfer Project to
Peasant Communities in the Highlands and the Management of Natural
Resources in the Southern Highlands Project in Peru and the Small
Farmers Technical Assistance Services Project (PROSAT) in Bolivia,
and has several innovative features. First, it promotes the development
of rural markets for the provision of technical support services.
Thus the project will enable beneficiaries to purchase technical
support from private-sector or NGO service providers, which must
therefore satisfy local demand. Second, the project uses beneficiary
competitions to encourage and demonstrate environmental conservation
activ itie s. The combination of incremental production with adequate
natural-resource management will have a catalytic effect in the
reduction of rural poverty through higher income and long-term revalorization
(appreciation in the value) of beneficiaries productive assets.
Another innovative aspect is that the project was designed and will
be implemented under CDF.
Loan amount:
SDR 9.2 million (approximately USD 12.0 million) on highly concessional
terms.
Total project costs:
Estimated at USD 15.0 million, of which USD 1.1 million will be
provided by the Government and USD 1.8 million by the beneficiaries.
Cooperating institution:
Andean Development Corporation (CAF).
|
