This project was the first phase of the ongoing Rural Enterprises Project. It helped reduce poverty by promoting the development of small-scale, non-agricultural enterprises. It built upon government economic reforms to help private rural entrepreneurs access technical, financial and business services and take advantage of the recently liberalized economy.

Assisted by the project, new and existing businesses stimulated additional economic activity. This reduced local unemployment and poverty. The project's training programmes in technology and business skills were particularly successful in creating viable new businesses and in improving existing ones. This led to higher incomes for entrepreneurs and expanded opportunities for wage employment.

Source: IFAD