The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will provide 38.7 million U.S. dollars to Tajikistan for implementation of the rural population support project, according to the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan (MoF).
The issue related to implementation of the project were reportedly discussed at a meeting of Tajik Deputy Finance Minister Yusuf Majidi with IFAD Director of Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Bernard Hien and IFAD Country Director Mikael Kauttu that took place in Istanbul.
The MoF Secretariat says the main objective of the progress is in improving well-being of the rural population, strengthening food security and eliminating the vulnerability of the population to climate change.
A total cost of the project is about 78 million U.S. dollars. For implementation of the project, it is also planned to attract 39 million U.S. dollars from the Green Climate Fund and 160,000 U.S. dollars from the Food and Agriculture Fund.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized agency of the United Nations that works to address poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries. It is the only multilateral development organization that focuses solely on rural economies and food security.
Headquartered in Rome, Italy, IFAD is involved in over 200 projects across nearly 100 countries. It funds and sponsors initiatives that improve land and water management, develop rural infrastructure, train and educate farmers in more efficient technologies, build up resilience against climate change, enhancing market accessibility, and more.
IFAD has 177 member states and works in partnership with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Since its foundation in 1977, IFAD has provided US$22.4 billion in loans and grants and coordinated an addition US$31 billion in international and domestic co-financing.
In Tajikistan, IFAD has been investing in the rural poor since 2008, by strengthening local institutions and grassroots organizations, and expanding their access to land, productive technologies and resources.
Key activities include: natural resource management; implementing land reforms; and strengthening local institutions and grass-roots organizations.
Overall, the impact of the IFAD country portfolio has benefited rural communities through increased investment in productive infrastructure and equipment, better management of the resource base, increased viability of agricultural production, and improved animal health and productivity.
