IFAD calls for policies to end poverty in West and Central Africa

IFAD calls for policies to empower rural youth, encourage private investment, increase access to land and finance to end poverty in West and Central Africa

Abidjan/Rome, 23 November 2016 --Youth unemployment, insecure land tenure and weak value chains are the main obstacles in the way of ending poverty and inequality in West and Central Africa, says a new report to be presented today in Abidjan by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Youth under the age of 35 account for 75 per cent of the population of the region which also has the highest number of rural youth than any other region in the world. Empowering youth is the first step towards achieving prosperity in the region, says the report.

IFAD signs US$25.5 million agreement to revitalize irrigation for drought-hit farmers in Zimbabwe

Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of IFAD.

Rome, 18 November 2016 – The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Zimbabwe signed a US$25.5 million agreement today to revitalize 6,100 hectares in 152 existing smallholder irrigation schemes in the semi-arid zones in four provinces:  Manicaland, Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Midlands. Over 27,700 poor rural households will benefit from this programme.

The agreement was signed in Rome by Patrick Chinamasa, Minister for Finance and Economic Development of Zimbabwe and Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of IFAD.

The Smallholder Irrigation Revitalization Programme (SIRP) will cover some 46 per cent of the country’s estimated total irrigation-equipped area of about 13,000 hectares. The total cost of the project is US$51.3 million, including $15 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development, $7.9 million from the Government of Zimbabwe and $3.2 million from the beneficiaries themselves.

FAO`s contributions towardsthe eradication of food insecurity, poverty and poverty in the Gambia extolled

10 November, 2016, Banjul – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today signed three letters of Agreement (LoAs) amounting to GMD6,632,374.75 (six millions, six hundred and thirty-two thousand, three hundred and seventy-four dalasi and seventy-five bututs) with three institutions for the implementation of specific activities under the Action Against Deforestation Project.  The Department of Forestry received DGM3, 658,012.55, the Agency for the Development of Women and Children (ADWAC) received GMD933, 183.20 and the Natural Resources Consulting (NACO) received GMD2, 041,179.00.  The forestry department also received three motor bikes over D370,000and  2 cameras and 3 GPS.Each institution also received a laptop to facilitate implementation.