International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Louise C. McDonald

Country Programme Manager, June 2009

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

The Challenges

�Produce

�Prices

Louise C. McDonald

Country Programme Manager, June 2009

�Prices

�Information

�Markets

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

The Response to Challenges

Partnerships

� Government AMSDP)

Louise C. McDonald

Country Programme Manager, June 2009

� Swiss Agency for

Development and

Cooperation (SDC)

� Private Sector - Nokia,

Lightfoot Consulting

� IFAD

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Introducing

ICTs

�Mobile Phones

Louise C. McDonald

Country Programme Manager, June 2009

�Mobile Phones

�Internet - COP

�Email

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

What does

using ICTs do?

�Trust

�Information

Louise C. McDonald

Country Programme Manager, June 2009

�Information

�Links market

partners

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Results so far

�Communication

�Price Comparisons

Louise C. McDonald

Country Programme Manager, June 2009

�Time sensitive deals

� Increased Incomes

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Future Directions

�Using laptops in

rural areas

Louise C. McDonald

Country Programme Manager, June 2009

�Business

development

�Strengthening

market chains