Project ID: 1344
Executive Board document: EB-2006-89-R-32-Rev-1

Diyarbakir, Batman and Siirt Development Project

The proposed project is the first of two investments envisaged under the new strategic framework developed by IFAD and the Government of Turkey in the 2006 country strategic opportunities paper (COSOP) aimed at reducing regional disparities and rural poverty. Appropriately positioned within the Government’s rural development and agricultural strategies, the project seeks to support the poorest mountain and upland villages in the poorest south-eastern provinces of Turkey, recognizing the importance of expanding both farming-related and non-farming employment opportunities.

The target groups will be (i) poor farm households with at least two resident members of active working age; (ii) rural poor women; (iii) poor male and female seasonal workers; and (iv) poor unemployed male and female rural youth over 16 years of age. All the above target groups would be expected, in the first instance, to be members of upland, mountain and forest villages located in the proposed project area.

Traditional governance structures within villages and strengthened village development associations will play a crucial role in setting priorities for (i) farmer education and training activities; (ii) identification of village development needs; (iii) market linkages and participation in improved supply-chain support measures; and (iv) development of training curricula for rural youth to obtain gainful employment outside the village. In accordance with IFAD policy, gender will be mainstreamed in all activities supported by the project. Consequently, male and female beneficiaries will participate equally in the design and implementation of project components. All workshops that are part of start-up activities will consider gender issues, and a follow-up workshop for project stakeholders, specifically on gender awareness, will be held in project year 2. All materials generated by the project’s management information, monitoring and impact assessment systems will be disaggregated by gender.

In line with Turkey’s national strategy for poverty reduction, the goal of the project is to improve the economic and social status of rural poor people in the provinces of Diyarbakir, Batman and Siirt. Specific objectives are to (i) improve economic efficiency and socio-economic livelihoods in poor rural villages in the project area within the framework of the current production and employment patterns; (ii) where feasible, diversify income sources and increase employment through the establishment of new – and the expansion of existing – profitable businesses, both on- and off-farm, mainly through measures to improve supply chain management; and (iii) optimize employability of members of the target groups through support to enhancing the individual and organizational skills necessary to achieve objectives (i) and (ii).

Amount of IFAD loan: SDR 16.30 million (equivalent to approximately US$24.10 million) on ordinary terms

Total project cost: US$37.36 million

Cooperating institution: Directly supervised by IFAD

Project ID: 1189
Executive Board document:EB-2003-79-R-26-Rev-1

Sivas-Erzincan Development Project

The objectives of the project are to: (i) increase agricultural productivity and income levels of the rural poor in the less developed parts of Sivas and Erzincan provinces; (ii) expand rural employment opportunities and encourage individual and group initiatives of smallholders; (iii) build and strengthen self-sustaining institutions directly related to the rural poor; and (iv) improve living conditions of the rural poor and especially of women. The project will promote beneficiary participation through capacity-building of local institutions (development committees, cooperatives and water users' associations, etc.), sensitization, facilitation and skill transfer. Community institutions will identify and prioritize community needs and regulations for sustainable natural resource management, that will be addressed by project financed programmes in agricultural production, range management and community development. Support for private and grass-roots providers of technical services, input supply and financial services will also be provided, helping them to make their services available to the target group on market-based terms.

Loan Amount:

SDR 9.25 million (approximately USD 13.1 million) on ordinary terms

Total project cost: estimated at USD 30.0 million, of which beneficiaries will provide USD 2.7 million, the OPEC Fund USD 9.9 million, and national Government USD 4.4 million.

Cooperating Institution:

UNOPS