Project ID: 1299
Executive Board document: EB-2005-86-R-29-Rev-1

Integrated Agricultural Development Project in the Governorate of Siliana - Phase II

Who are the beneficiaries? The project area consolidates the areas of investment under the first phase of the Integrated Agricultural Development Project in the Governorate of Siliana and extends into areas considered to be relatively poorer. The project would cover all the southern districts of the governorate and eight subdistricts in the north, bringing the project universe to 27 800 households (including 12 600 farms). The target group will encompass the following categories: (i) poor landless households that require state welfare assistance to meet their basic needs; (ii) rural households that rely on women’s labour in agriculture and men’s seasonal low-skilled employment; and (iii) households with relatively greater economic security that have access to larger landholdings and herd sizes and higher skilled employment. Project activities are tailored to service low- and averageincome households and promote economic complementarities; specifically the increase in valueadded production among average-income households should stimulate demand for services, the establishment of new businesses and the generation of employment among the low-income categories.

Why are they poor? The incidence of poverty in the project area is roughly 30%. Geographically, poverty stems mainly from poor access to services due to physical isolation and the high investment cost of restoring the productive potential of land suffering from moderate to extreme erosion. Accordingly, the mountainous southern districts of the project area are relatively poorer. Household poverty levels are mainly related to the sources of income of the various members who are active in the workforce and their ability to move into higher-value or more stable employment. Households with seasonal, low-skilled, poorly remunerated and relatively vulnerable employment (owing to drought, shifts in public investment, or liberalization in the textile industry) are considered poor. These households are also characterized by a high school drop-out rate among children after they have completed the primary level. Poor smallholder households also suffer from low agricultural productivity, dependency on government subsidies and dependency on public investments for wage labour opportunities. The young women of poor households are isolated from mainstream information, sensitization and vocational training services.

What can beneficiaries expect from the project? Focusing on the reliance of local livelihoods on on-farm and off-farm incomes, the project will seek to boost agricultural productivity, support the development of small and medium-sized businesses and open up access for young people, especially women, to the labour market. Mechanisms will be established that assist communities and local administrations alike in planning and supervising synergistic and targeted activities to foster self-help and local development initiatives. Under this approach, landless households are likely to benefit from the project’s infrastructure services and technical support for employment creation, while smallholders will benefit from the actions to enhance agricultural productivity and environmental conservation.

Loan amount: SDR 10.9 million (equivalent to approximately USD 15.5 million)

Total project cost: USD 38.9 million

Project ID: 1213
Executive Board document: EB-2002-76-R-19-REV-1

Agropastoral Development and Local Initiatives Promotion Programme for the South-East

Poverty in Tunisia remains essentially a rural phenomenon. In 1990, two thirds of the nations poor lived in rural areas. Poverty levels in rural areas can be as high as 13%, almost twice the national average of 7%. Poverty is endemic in the south-east as a result of harsh natural conditions and climatic hazards. Only those who have built up large herds and capital are able to resist recurrent droughts. For many decades, the bulk of the population has adopted survival strategies such as temporary wage labour, other precarious activities and emigration abroad. Although public investments have considerably improved infrastructure, water supply, electricity and other social services, there are still significant pockets of poverty. Women and youth, in particular, are likely to be poor as they have no economic autonomy and little access to decision-making. Small- and medium-scale agropastoralists, who are the most vulnerable to recurrent droughts, are also among the poorest people in these areas.

The programme covers the south-eastern part of the country. This area, which encompasses the Governorate of Tataouine and a large pastoral community in the Governorate of Kebili, Delegation of Douz, is sub-arid and arid. Its main potential is extensive pastoralism and marginal dry-land agriculture, with some scattered recent irrigation. The programme will affect some 10 000 households (66 000 people) in Tataouine and 1 000 households in Douz (7 000 people). The villages hold transhumant land rights over 25 socio-territorial units (STUs), in addition to two inter-community areas. Those households comprise a focal group of 6 500 farmer-herders, and 3 500 rural households that have no significant farming activities (landless). Through its income-generating and diversification activities, the programme will address the needs of about 17 000 young rural men and women who have little access to land and other productive assets.

The programme goes beyond participation, seeking to promote a broad-based partnership between the people, the state and other operators. While a number of activities of general concern will be implemented through public investment and services, the main programme thrust will focus on activities programmed and implemented on a participatory basis through territory- and community-based agricultural development allocations. It is expected that programming and implementation of about 35% of total investments will be under the direct responsibility and control of community-based organizations.

Loan amount:

SDR 14.1 million (equivalent to approximately USD 18.7 million) on ordinary terms.

Total programme costs USD 44.3 million

Cooperating Institution:

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

Project ID: 1104
Executive Board Document: EB-98-65-R-27-Rev-1

I ntegrated Agricultural Development Project in the Governorate of Zaghouan

This six-year IFAD-initiated project is expected to respond to the needs of the targeted population by improving the management of natural resources in the project area in a participatory and sustainable manner. Improved management will lead to increased productivity and incomes, and thus better living standards and conditions. The project area, which covers the four south-eastern communes in the Zaghouan Governorate, has a population of approximately 83 000 inhabitants (1994 figures), 70% of which live outside the rural towns. Taking into consideration the recent experiences in community development and the participative approach adopted by the Government of the Republic of Tunisia, all project activities will be implemented with the participation of the population in their own development, on the basis of sharing in the decision-making process and in the maintenance of project investments. Group formation is a prerequisite for project interventions. Within this framework, the project will provide training and support for associations of users of irrigated perimeters, drinking water points and rangelands, based on relevant existing laws. In order to provide support to other project activities such as those targeting rural women, and to facilitate coordination between various associations, the project will promote social structures based on socio-territorial units. The target group will include:

(i) small and medium landholders practising rainfed agriculture;

(ii) smallholders irrigating less than 3 ha;

(iii) forest users' communities;

(iv) rural women; and

(v) youth.

These target groups will be interested in one or more project activities according to their needs, interests, and the potential of their farms. However, some project activities related to the management of commonly-owned natural resources (rangeland), and soil and water conservation (watershed management) will affect other categories of smallholders living and exploiting the agro- and sylvipastoral resources.

Innovative Features:

The project's design is innovative in two ways. For the first time in Tunisia, all project activities will be based on active beneficiary participation, and group formation or users' associations will be a prerequisite for most investment activities to be financed by the project. Secondly, the project includes as backstopping activity in the field of microenterprise development through support from the National Solidarity Bank of Tunisia, a newly-established bank specializing in microcredit.

Loan amount:

SDR 11.4 million (approximately USD 16.0 million) on ordinary terms.

Total project costs:

Estimated at USD 33.4 million, of which USD 12.4 million will be provided by the Government, USD 2.9 million by a national financial institution and USD 2.0 million by the beneficiaries.

Cooperating institution:

AFESD.