Supporting rural households during the pandemic: Results and evidence from IFAD’s Rural Poor Stimulus Facility

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IFAD launched the Rural Poor Stimulus Facility (RPSF) to improve the food security and welfare of vulnerable rural people.

From a total of 64 RPSF projects, a sample of 13 projects were chosen to undergo a rapid assessment. Results indicate that the RPSF helped up to 2.9 million households maintain or increase many development and welfare indicators, including production, income and food security.

The findings suggest future emergency responses should emphasize investments in effective market linkages and production. Digital projects can reach more households but are more likely to have smaller impacts. Interventions should better increase the ability of households to adopt advice and consider the barriers faced by households.

Download the rapid assessments:

• Bangladesh | Burkina Faso | Djibouti | Ethiopia | Gabon 
• Gambia | Kenya | Laos | Malawi | Mali | Mongolia
• Niger | Nigeria | Rwanda | Latin America and Caribbean
• Pakistan (Development and Expansion of Digital Agricultural Advisory Services for Smallholder Farmers in the Context of COVID)
• Pakistan (Resilience Building of Poor and Vulnerable Households)