Rehabilitation and Community-Based Poverty Reduction Project

Rehabilitation and Community-based Poverty Reduction Project

The districts of Kono and Kailahun in the eastern part of the country, on the border with Liberia and Guinea , were the hardest hit by civil war, both by widespread destruction and by mass displacement of the population. When the war ended, it was clear that strong external assistance was critically needed to allow a return to prewar levels of livelihood and production.

The objective of the project was to take rapid action to assist communities as part of a broader regeneration process. It was extremely important to restore basic production capacity to satisfy people's food needs. The return of refugees, displaced persons and former combatants to the war-torn zones put additional pressure on resources and economic opportunities, causing some tension. To support small-scale crop and livestock farmers, the project provides basic agricultural packages, including seeds, tools and livestock, and rehabilitates rural infrastructure. At the same time, it lays the foundation for long-term and sustainable development by supporting community-based institutions and building the capacity of community groups to undertake an active, participatory role in their own development.

The project has the aim of improving the livelihoods and living conditions of rural communities in general and of the most vulnerable rural households and particularly those headed by women. The objective is to help poor displaced farmers, households headed by war widows and other women, youth and former combatants, sexually abused young women and single mothers, and vulnerable children and disabled people.

Under the project, activities:

• support and empower community-based institutions and foster participatory development
• empower poor people by expanding their access to and control over fundamental assets such as capital, knowledge and technologies
• rehabilitate rural infrastructure to improve production conditions, access to markets and living conditions

The IFAD-financed project is twinned with the Agricultural Sector Rehabilitation Project funded by the African Development Bank, which currently supervises both projects.


Source: IFAD