RURAL SMALL AND MICROENTERPRISE
PROMOTION PROJECT

THE PROJECT

Innovative Features

In line with IFAD’s strategy, the project will adopt an innovative, participatory and demanddriven approach, firmly linking project implementation to beneficiary priorities rather than to the meeting of physical and predetermined objectives. This approach builds on experience gained in Africa through the implementation of land management, local development and rural financial service programmes. It is based on: (i) a strong component promoting functional adult literacy (as the entry point to reaching poor potential entrepreneurs) and training; (ii) beneficiary participation in all phases of the project, awareness-raising of the need for sustainable self-reliant development, project responsiveness to the demands of local groups and effective support in developing their grass-roots and professional organizations; (iii) support to local financial institutions, established and managed by rural people; (iv) contract-based support to PSOs and other local service providers; (v) a legally autonomous rural financing mechanism, independent of technical ministries, which strengthens consultation and partnerships among the major donors; (vi) emphasis from the start on transferring responsibility for service provision from temporary project mechanisms to POs; and (vii) the strengthening of decentralization and coordination among development partners in Rwanda’s rural areas, and promoting a legislative, policy and strategic framework for SMEs.