The main project development objective of the Small Farmer Development Project is to increase the productive and organizational capacity in participating poor, rural communities. The three project components comprise: 1) a rural investment fund to finance small grants for demand-based sub-projects; support services, including training, a marketing information system, and implementing a Participation Action Plan and Indigenous Peoples Strategy; and technical assistance and equipment for managing rural investment activities at the national, provincial, and local levels; 2) strengthening rural development policy by providing technical assistance, demand-driven studies, equipment, and competitive research grants to help develop strategies, and institutionally strengthening the Directorate of Planning and Agricultural Development to manage component activities; and 3) a coordination unit to administer, monitor and evaluate the project.
