IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development

Purpose

This project aims to improve the financial inclusion of the rural poor and of organizations and enterprises (especially female) excluded from the mainstream financial system in order to increase their resilience to climatic, social and economic shocks. The project also aims to promote a sustainable transformation of agricultural value chains and economic partnership between actors in the agricultural sector, including women and youth, producers’ organizations, and small and medium agricultural enterprises. Project activities include 1) promotion of adapted agricultural financial services to small producers, including products that specifically meet women's needs; 2) digitalization of financial services; 3) provision of financial education and support to various target groups to facilitate access to loans; 4) promotion of gender equality and inclusion among organizations and poor populations; 5) provision of technical assistance to the Cellule de contrôle, the Centre de promotion et d’appui and to the Association professionnelle des systèmes financiers décentralisés; 6) strengthening the organizational capacities of producer organizations through training on organization, governance and the animation of a collective structure. The project aims to reach 400,000 direct beneficiaries (50% of whom are women and 50% of whom are young people aged 18 to 40) in the regions of Kayes, Koulikoro, Mopti, Ségou and Sikasso.