Investing in rural people in Sao Tome and Principe

IFAD’s presence in Sao Tome and Principe since the 1980s has been reflected in the financing of seven investment projects in the agriculture sector. These projects have facilitated community development in several rural localities, the creation of four cooperatives, and the revitalization of the cocoa, coffee and pepper value chains for organic niche markets, as well as the promotion of rural entrepreneurship in general.

IFAD remains one of the country's most important technical and financial partners in the rural sector, and its work has sparked the development of strategies and mechanisms to support poor rural populations, especially women, and their effective inclusion in relevant development interventions.

IFAD and the Government of Sao Tome and Principe have worked together to improve policy frameworks, particularly for the market access of smallholder farmers, above all women and youth, and in the promotion of food and nutrition security. IFAD has sound expertise and experience in the promotion of grass-roots community organizations, which will be further capitalized on in the implementation of this strategy.