Great Lakes Regional Integrated Agriculture Development Project

The development objectives of the Great Lakes Regional Integrated Agriculture Development Project for Burundi are: (i) to increase agricultural productivity and commercialization in targeted areas in the territory of the recipient and improve agricultural regional integration; and (ii) to provide immediate and effective response in the event of an eligible crisis or emergency. The project comprises of four components. The first component, smallholder productivity and production enhancement lays the foundation for sustainable intensification and diversification of rice, maize, and dairy production. This component will build capacity in maize, rice, and dairy producer organizations (POs) by training their members, and it will ensure that POs are legally registered to facilitate access to rural finance and linkages with suppliers or traders. The second component, support to investments in agro‐processing and market linkages seeks to enhance productivity and profitability for smallholder farmers and for small‐ and medium‐scale agro‐processors by strengthening their capacity to reduce post‐harvest losses, promoting increased value addition, and facilitating access to markets. The third component, institutional integration, knowledge acquisition, and dissemination of information at the regional level will support regional exchanges of information, knowledge, and technologies through (among other channels) the establishment of a web based exchange platform; specialized training and exchanges on priority themes for some 300 scientists, technicians, or extension workers, creating communities of practice; and degree training on priority research themes for the targeted value chains (with the completion of at least 3 PhD and 9 MSc degrees). The fourth component, project management and institutional support focuses on all aspects of project management, including fiduciary aspects.