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Reducing rural poverty in Africa is a high priority for IFAD. The largest share of IFAD loans has gone to 20 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, 24 countries in Western and Central Africa, and 7 countries in North Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa remains IFAD’s highest priority, absorbing as much as 40 per cent of new commitments.

In 1985, in response to a critical situation of famine and drought, IFAD launched a Special Programme for Sub-Saharan African Countries Affected by Drought and Desertification (or Special Programme for Africa), in partnership with the Belgian Survival Fund. The project aimed to mitigate the impact of drought and reverse the process of desertification over an eight-year period. Income-generating activities such as small-scale food trading and processing of small farmyard livestock were included in 80 per cent of the projects. Support for these activities rapidly reduced the drought recovery time for many households and communities.

IFAD is working with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) to assist Africa’s farmers and their organizations through the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The partnership supports the development of agriculture, trade and market access, and it has produced the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

IFAD in Western and Central Africa

IFAD's Western and Central Africa includes the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, the Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

Together with partners and donors, IFAD works with governments in the region to strengthen the capacity of rural poor people and their organizations, with the objective of improving productivity and incomes. Programmes and projects work to provide rural poor people with access to technology and basic financial services, and reduce their vulnerability to major threats to livelihoods, such as HIV/AIDS and conflict. IFAD’s investments in the region include a focus on education, especially for women, as an effective way of combating poverty, with direct benefits for women and a positive impact on the nutrition and health of their families.

IFAD has financed more than 166 investment projects in 24 countries in the region, for a total commitment of US$1.7 billion. Through grants to regional bodies and NGOs, IFAD supports agricultural research, training, studies and community development. Encouraging discussion of the rural and agricultural policies proposed by NEPAD, IFAD supports the Network of Farmers' Organizations and Agricultural Producers in West Africa (ROPPA).

Read more:

• Regional strategy for rural finance

IFAD in Eastern and Southern Africa

IFAD's Eastern and Southern Africa includes the countries of Angola, Botswana, Burundi, the Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

IFAD is a principal source of development assistance for the economic activities of rural poor people in Eastern and southern Africa. Since it began operations in 1978, IFAD has financed some 141 investment projects and programmes in the region, for a total commitment of approximately US$1.8 billion. It currently supports governments in their poverty reduction efforts through 41 operational programmes. The objective is to improve incomes and assets and to put resources, organization and influence in the hands of the rural poor, with particular emphasis on women, to sustain the impact of the programmes.

Two issues will continue to influence IFAD’s planning and programming in Southern and Eastern Africa: the HIV/AIDS epidemic and situations of conflict and post-conflict. IFAD has been deeply involved in post-crisis recovery in Angola, Burundi, Mozambique and Uganda.

Read more:

• Eastern and Southern Africa: Agricultural Marketing Companies as Sources of Smallholder Credit in Eastern and Southern Africa: Experiences, Insights and Potential Donor Role

North Africa

IFAD's North Africa region includes the countries of Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Somalia, the Sudan and Tunisia.

Working with governments and other partners and donors, IFAD funds projects that support rural and agricultural development. Investments finance improvements in irrigation and livestock and provide rural poor people, particularly women, with access to credit and financial services. IFAD has invested in some 57 projects in seven countries in the region, for a total of about US$742.0 million.

Read more:

• Impact of Trade Liberalization on Agriculture in the Near East and North Africa - Joint IFAD and IFPRI publication
• IFAD in the Near East and North Africa region | Arabic

Source: IFAD