Since IFAD began operations in Guinea in 1980, it has invested US$141.4 million in loans and grants to finance 12 programmes and projects costing a total of US$312.6 million. Since 2000 the country has undergone a series of political, social, institutional and governance crises that have resulted in a deteriorating socio-economic situation. This has had serious consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable people. Despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, IFAD’s operations have succeeded in increasing incomes and improving food security and living conditions for poor people participating in its programmes and projects.

Working in partnership with the Government of Guinea, through its operations IFAD has acquired experience in reaching the poorest and most vulnerable segments of rural society. It helps provide direct assistance to small-scale farmers and it introduces innovative approaches through pilot projects, with the objective of empowering poor people, their associations and their communities.

IFAD’s strategy

The overall objective of the organization’s new Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) for the period 2009-2014 is to contribute to building the economic foundations for sustainable agricultural development and to strengthening the capacity of poor rural people for local governance.

The strategic objectives of the COSOP are to:

• increase the participation of poor people and their associations in policy development and budget planning, at both local and national levels
• improve the access of small-scale producers to services supporting efficient production and transparent and competitive markets, both for agricultural products and for inputs, in selected value chains
• improve the access of marginalized people, particularly women, to microcredit, by consolidating financial services associations

To encourage participation in policy development and planning, IFAD will continue to support the process of decentralization through the second and third phase of the Village Community Support Programme.

The COSOP outlines a value chain development approach that will strengthen producers’ organizations, empowering them to improve the services they supply to their members. To develop value chains IFAD will support input supply, marketing systems and agricultural research.

To improve poor people’s access to rural financial services, IFAD will help consolidate existing financial service associations to respond to the specific needs of the most vulnerable people, especially women. The objective is to improve their access to basic social services and to short-cycle income-generating activities.

IFAD will work to develop selected value chains by helping agricultural producers, small businesspeople and craftworkers who are engaged in processing agricultural or food products to organize their own associations. 

Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (2008)

Source: IFAD