New UN-backed network to link development partners in sub-Saharan Africa
30 April 2008 - The United Nations agency tasked with tackling rural poverty announced today that it will help finance a new
knowledge network connecting development partners in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Executive Board of the UN International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD) approved a grant to create
FIDAfrique-IFADAfrica, which will link existing networks in Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa.
The initiative will allow those working to reduce rural poverty throughout sub-Saharan Africa to share their
experiences, possibly sparking innovative ideas, and will also connect IFAD-funded programmes and projects to each
other.
The agency is contributing $2 million of the nearly $4 million needed for the three-year scheme.
FIDAfrique was set up in 1999 to enhance project management in Western and Central Africa by bolstering the capacity to
spread knowledge, information and lessons learned across all IFAD projects in the region.
After it received positive evaluations in 2007, it was recommended that the network be enlarged to span all of
sub-Saharan Africa.
ENDS