Programme priorities for Eastern and Southern Africa

Ides de Willebois Director of Eastern and Southern Africa Division, PMD

22-23 April 2008

8th Replenishment

Overview of the region

Strong but uneven growth- 2007 average GDP >6%; 1980s and 1990s average GDP <2%

- COMESA average GDP 9.1%; SADC average GDP 6.3%; SACU average GDP 3.9%

Poverty in 2015- 6 countries “on-track” or “slightly off” achieving MDG1;

7 countries are “slipping back” and 5 countries are “far behind” achieving MDG1

- Some 70% of the population are living in rural areas; and some 50% of these are defined as poor

- More than 100 million people live in poverty in rural areas

- Concentrated among women and disadvantaged

21 IFAD eligible borrowing member countries- Ongoing IFAD programmes in 16 countries

- 14 highly concessional term lending countries; 1 intermediate lending term country; 3 ordinary term lending countries

Major constraints

Physical conditionsAgro-ecological diversity, climate (change), soil fertility, water

InputsLand, seeds, fertilisers, (skilled) labour

InfrastructureRoads, markets, communications

ServicesMarketing, finance, extension, research

Institutional capacityLand reform, price and marketing reform

Thematic priorities

Agricultural productivity and competitivenessTechnology

Land and water

Input and output markets

Rural development and diversificationOff-farm employment and enterprise development

Rural financial services

Farmers’ organisations

Gender, women and youth

Thematic priorities

Policy and partnershipsParis Declaration 2005 and Accra Agenda for Action 2008

African Union and NEPAD/CAADP

One UN Initiative and Rome-based agencies

IFIs (especially AfDB and World Bank)

Private sector and private foundations (especially AGRA)

Expected results

More resourcesProgramme of work: $400m 2007-2009 → $600m 2010-2012

Better country programmes, design and implementationNew and revised COSOPs; support of COs and CTs; co-financing with IFIs and private foundations

Direct supervision

Enhanced design, QE/QA; better loan-grant portfolio linkages

Knowledge management and innovation

Sustainability

Greater outreachBeneficiaries: 8-10 million 2009 → 15 million 2012