Village Development Fund Programme - Phase II

Village Development Fund Programme - Phase II

The aim of Phase II of the Village Development Fund Programme was to consolidate the achievements of the first phase and remedy its main failings. The objectives of the programme were to:

• increase food production in order to ensure food security and income for families
• improve the living conditions of poor farmers
• establish a village-based, participatory development process

A specific aim of the programme was to create and strengthen an institutional infrastructure to:

• ensure the sustainability of the development programmes
• intensify technical and literacy training for villagers to enable them to participate in decision-making
• integrate various support activities for the creation of national institutions

Phase II concentrated its activities in villages in the north of the Ségou circle that were more isolated and had not previously benefited from development projects. The programme achieved many of its objectives related to providing farming materials and establishing community infrastructure, including literacy programmes, training and farmer organizations. However, questions remain as to the sustainability of the development process that was established.

Source: IFAD