Project ID: 1067
Executive Board Document: EB-98-63-R-20-Rev-1

Community-Initiated Agriculture and Resource Management Project

The overall goal of this seven-year IFAD-initiated project will be to develop the productive potential of balanced, sustainable land-use systems and ensure accessible support services to poor smallholder farm families. To this end, the project will assist in developing agricultural and natural resource potential through:

(i) strengthening communities and local organizations in development planning and management, and supporting the preparation of co-managed implementation and associated investment proposals;

(ii) developing financing channels that provide sustainable services promoting savings and access to credit; and

(iii) institutionalizing and reinforcing a local, demand-driven delivery system of rural development services. The target population will total some 25 000 people, or 3 900 families, in all rural communities in the southern region, including T oledo and Stann Creek Districts, which have the highest percentage of rural poor in the country.

Innovative Features:

The project addresses the extreme geographical isolation and socio-economic marginality of indigenous communities. The target population is a complicated ethnic mix of different groups, such as Mayans, Creoles, Garifunas, Mestizos and East Indians. The aim is to involve beneficiaries directly in the design and implementation of project activities and to finance small-scale productive infrastructure investments proposed by communities or producer groups. The participatory nature of the project is reflected by the fact that the target groups are represented in both the project steering committee and the local approval committee.

Loan amount:

SDR 1.8 million (approximately USD 2.3 million) on ordinary terms.

Total project costs:

Estimated at USD 6.8 million, of which USD 3.4 million will be provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and USD 1.1 million by the Government.

Cooperating institution:

CDB.