5 October 2007
A development project in Guinea has received a $10 million grant from the UN International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) as part of efforts to provide poor rural families in the West African nation with better access to schools, healthcare and drinking water.
The initiative, known as the Village Communities Support Project - Phase II, will also bolster rural producers' access to markets and increase local governments' abilities to allow communities to plan and manage their own services in Guinea, which is classified as a highly vulnerable and indebted country.
In addition to the $10 million provided by IFAD, the Guinean Government and other organizations will contribute towards the programme, which has a $56 million price tag.
"The project's long-term goal is for communities and their local governments to be able to identify, plan, prioritize, build and manage their own infrastructure and service needs," said Luyaku Nsimpasi, IFAD's country programme manager for Guinea.
"With better access to school and health facilities and the increased capacity of local government leaders, Guinea's rural people will be able to increase their incomes and to support development in their communities."
To date, IFAD loans and grants totaling $141 million have gone towards financing one dozen programmes and projects in Guinea.
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