Rural Finance Project Loan Negotiation in Rome, Italy
During its Executive Board Meeting held in September this year, IFAD approved a follow up project to RFCIP, the Rural Finance Project (RFP) whose coverage will be nationwide.
In July 2006, a Gambian delegation has signed in IFAD, Rome the loan negotiation document for the Rural Finance Project (RFP), the RFCIP follow up project.
The team comprised of:
- Mr. Omar Baldeh, Rural Finance Officer, RFCIP,
- Mr. Badara Loum, Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Agriculture (DOSA),
- Ms. Ada Gaye, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Finance & Economic Affairs,
- Mrs. Na-ceesay Sallah representing Solicitor General & Legal Secretary, Department of State for Justice and
- A senior personnel from the Office of The President.
RFP is scheduled to be effective in January 2007 and as a stand alone Micro Finance Project focusing on Non-Bank Financial Intermediaries (NBFIs) and Village Savings. IFAD will finance 75.6%, GOTG 15.4% and beneficiaries 9%
However, the effectiveness of the new project is dependent on several conditions as mentioned below:
- The preparation of a Project Implementation Manual,
- Financial and Administrative Manual, the Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWPB) and the Legal Note and;
- The establishment of a Project Support Unit(PSU) and a Project Steering Committee (PSC).
Work on these activities is awaiting the official signing of the RFP in Rome by 21st November 2006.