Enabling poor rural people
to overcome poverty
IFAD’s first project in Angola, the Malanje Smallholder Sector Rehabilitation Project began in 1991 but was suspended in 1992 when fighting broke out again and it became impossible to maintain a presence in the project area. When the Lusaka Peace Accord was signed in November 1994 IFAD began formulating two new projects. The Northern Region Foodcrops Development Project (PRODECA) was initiated in 1997, and the Northern Fishing Communities Development Programme (PESNORTE) began in 1999. Both operations were disrupted by a fresh outbreak of war in late 1998, and were resumed after the conflict ended in 2002, when the project and programme areas became accessible again. Read more
Botswana: Read more
IFAD has funded nine programmes and projects in Burundi for a total investment of US$147.6 million. IFAD's experience in the country confirms that even under adverse circumstances programmes and projects conceived and designed on the basis of adequate consultations with and incentives to rural communities can help improve household food security. Read more
Since 1984, IFAD has funded five rural poverty reduction programmes and projects in the Comoros, for a total of US$19.1 million spread over four loans and US$450,000 in two grants. Read more
IFAD's experience in Eritrea underscores the difficulty of operating in an acutely poor country affected by armed conflict. There are severe constraints on institutional capacity and human resources. Few skilled local staff are available and the capacity of public service providers to intervene in new projects is limited. Read more
Since 1980, IFAD has invested a total of US$398 million in 16 programmes and projects in Ethiopia that have an overall cost of more than US$1 billion. IFAD has also provided US$28 million in debt relief to the country under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative. Read more
Since 1979, IFAD has invested a total of US$247.5 million in 16 loan-financed projects and programmes and three grant-financed programmes supporting government efforts to reduce rural poverty. Investments include US$18.0 million in grants under the Belgian Survival Fund Joint Programme –now the Belgian Fund for Food Security Joint Programme (BFFS.JP). IFAD has also mobilized additional cofinancing of about US$68.0 million from other donors. The Government of Kenya and project participants have contributed about US$56.0 million and US$11.0 million respectively. Read more
Lesotho
The main objectives of IFAD's operations in the country are to improve food security and family nutrition. Since 1980, IFAD has supported agricultural development by investing a total of US$60.3 million in eight programmes and projects to reduce poverty in the country's rural areas. Read more
Madagascar
Since 1979, IFAD has funded 14 rural development projects in Madagascar for a total of US$208.3 million. Four of these projects are running (the Rural Income Promotion Programme [PPRR], the Project to Support Development in the Menabe and Melaky Regions [AD2M], theProgramme of Support for Rural Microenterprise Poles and Regional Economies [PROSPERER] and the Support Project for Farmers' Organizations and Agricultural Service Centres [AROPA]). Read more
IFAD's investments in Malawi support long-term growth paths for two groups: poor emergent smallholder farmers who are located in medium- and high-potential areas and who have the potential for achieving economic independence, and marginal farmers and vulnerable households, including households headed by women, youth and orphans. Read more
Mauritius became a member of IFAD in 1979 and since that time the organization has supported three projects and programmes for a total loan commitment of US$23.1 million. Read more
Mozambique
IFAD began operations in Mozambique in 1983. Since then it has provided a total of US$218.9 million in loans for 12 programmes and projects in the country. Read more
Namibia became a member state of IFAD in 1992. IFAD’s assistance to Namibia has been limited to a single loan project, the Northern Regions Livestock Development Project, which closed in 2004. Namibia is also a participant in the regional IFAD grant-supported Phytotrade Africa programme. Read more
Since 1981, IFAD has financed 14 rural development programmes and projects in Rwanda for a total amount of US$201.8 million. The financing provided by IFAD consists of loans on highly concessional terms and, since 2008, full grant funding based on the Debt Sustainability Framework. IFAD-funded grants have financed the activities of two projects supporting post-conflict reconstruction efforts and refugee rehabilitation. Through a grant totalling US$3.8 million the IFAD/Belgian Survival Fund Joint Programme financed a programme to re-establish public health services in war-torn districts. Read more
Seychelles: IFAD first worked in Seychelles in 1991, when it began financing the Employment Generation Project, which was completed six years later. More recently, stakeholders from Seychelles have participated in activities funded by an ongoing IFAD grant, which supports the Regional Initiative for Smallholder Agriculture Adaptation to Climate Change in the Indian Ocean Islands.
South Sudan
In February 2012, South Sudan became an IFAD Member State. But IFAD's development activities in Southern Sudan predate the establishment of the Republic of South Sudan. The Southern Sudan Livelihoods Development Project has been active there since 2009. As a developing country, South Sudan is a ‘List C' member, which means it is eligible for investments and is formally included in the East and Southern Africa regional division's loan and grant operations. Read more
IFAD began operations in Swaziland in 1985 and has provided a total of US$34.3 million in loans. Two projects are currently being implemented. Both closed projects have made positive contributions to improving crop yields and boosting farm incomes through enhanced farmer participation in small-scale irrigated agriculture. Read more
IFAD has a strong and diversified portfolio in the United Republic of Tanzania. The portfolio has evolved as a result of lessons learned through IFAD’s own programmes and policy-related work, and through the activities of other donors. Read more
Uganda
For over 25 years, the Fund has been strongly committed to working to reduce rural poverty in Uganda. IFAD has contributed US$296.5 million to finance 14 projects/programmes with the objective of empowering poor people in the country’s rural areas. IFAD is currently providing financing and technical assistance for five ongoing programmes/projects. Read more
IFAD has provided loans totalling US$184.1 million to help finance 12 programmes and projects in Zambia. The first projects were designed to cushion rural poor people from the effects of central planning. Early projects were followed by operations that worked to improve household food security by ensuring support services, increased access to productive assets and dissemination of technical knowledge. Read more
Zimbabwe has been a member of IFAD since the country became independent in 1980. It has worked closely with IFAD in developing programmes that focus on improving the living conditions of poor rural people. In January 2006 however, IFAD’s financial support to all operations in Zimbabwe ceased as a result of non-payment of arrears. Read more