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A boy giving a tour of
family farm, funded through an IRD micro-grant |
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IRD’s Economic Development sector addresses
some of the most difficult issues facing small- and medium-scale
farmers and entrepreneurs in vulnerable communities throughout the
world. Since 1999, IRD’s economic development programs have
strengthened the capacity and resiliency of individuals and communities
to protect lives, respond to recurring disasters and strengthen
human capital investment.
The Economic Development sector focuses on four
core areas:
- Sustainable Agriculture, including support
to agribusiness competitiveness, market linkage and value chain
development in an environmentally friendly production and processing
systems environment;
- Livelihood Security;
- Micro-Enterprise Development; and
- Local Economic Planning and Development, supporting
economic development and public/private sector partnerships.
Sustainable Agriculture
IRD has assisted tens of thousands of rural farmers and their communities
by implementing agricultural practices with a cross-sectoral approach,
integrating environmental health, economic profitability and social
equity. In Serbia, Iraq and Azerbaijan, for example, IRD has provided
technical assistance to prepare farmers for certification and established
cooperatives to provide them with the collective bargaining power,
economies of scale of production and access to competitive markets
necessary for a sustainable source of income.
Livelihood Security
IRD provides micro-grants and technical assistance to vulnerable
individuals, marginal groups and resource-poor farmers to provide
them with both the financial resources and skills they need to develop
a sustainable livelihood. In 2006, IRD assisted
nearly 1,000 farmers and small businesses in southern Lebanon
to replace tools and inventory stocks lost during the conflict with
Israel. Through similar emergency livelihood security programs,
IRD has assisted over 5,000 vulnerable families in Serbia, Montenegro,
Azerbaijan and Iraq.
Micro and Small-Medium
Enterprise Development
Micro and small enterprises provide sustainable jobs but need assistance
to enhance their competitiveness, productivity and market access.
This requires business and market linkage services, access to improved
production technologies and organizational assistance to improve
their efficiency and bargaining power. It also requires integration
into existing value chains to ensure growth and sustainability.
In 2006, IRD assisted apple growers in Serbia
with expanding their local and export markets through improvements
in packaging and advertising, and worked with fishing and livestock
enterprises in Indonesia to revitalize business supply chains. Economic
development is dependent on the ability to access both business
and financial services, so IRD recognizes the importance of supporting
the development of these service providers in rural areas.
Local Economic Planning
and Development
IRD provides technical support to municipalities and community groups
to assist them in undertaking municipal and regional economic development
assessments, planning strategy development and project implementation.
In Serbia, using a World Bank Local Economic Development methodology,
nine municipalities have developed and adopted strategies resulting
in improved economic infrastructure, increased investment and greater
citizen participation in municipal-level planning. The support of
IRD in creating public-private sector partnerships is one part of
the process that contributes to local area and regional development.
Current Projects
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