USADF Funds Historic Level of Grants in Fiscal Year 2009:

WASHINGTON - September 30, 2009  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 1, 2009 – The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) announced today that Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 funding to grassroots and community groups across Africa reached record levels.  During the fiscal year, a total of $25.5 million in project grants and partner development financial assistance was provided.  A total of 158 grants were provided totaling $20.8 million, plus $4.7 million was spent on increasing the capacity of Africans to provide technical assistance to underprivileged and under-served individuals and communities.  The primary purpose of USADF grants is to focus on the most marginalized populations in Africa and help create jobs and social benefits.

Over the next five years these grants will help generate over $62 million of additional economic income for the groups funded and support more than 100,000 new and existing jobs. 

USADF Chairman Jack Leslie stated,  “This is the highest level of grant funding in the 25 plus year history of USADF and marks our commitment to reaching those in the ‘bottom billion’ in a way that creates jobs and a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities.”

USADF’s unique mission of providing development grants directly to the most marginalized and under-served populations in Africa is achieving results. The majority of USADF funds will be used to develop or expand agricultural cooperatives, enterprises, and community group activities to create new jobs, increase incomes, and sustain a higher quality of life.  While every country program deserves recognition for the advances it made this year, below is a sample of projects funded by USADF to support marginalized and community groups in FY 2009.  

Supporting the San in Botswana
USADF funded nine grants to support the San, a historically marginalized population that suffers from high levels of unemployment, illiteracy, and poverty.   Four participatory development grants were made to community groups who identify their community’s problems and design projects they will carry out to solve them.  Five enterprise development grants will provide funding to small enterprises that need skills to expand.  By building the internal capacity of the participants, these community enterprises will be able to become self-sustaining and profitable. 

Signing of New Grants in Burkina Faso
After signing a bilateral agreement with the Government of Burkina Faso in 2008, USADF quickly began seeking out applicants and funding projects in the West African country.  Eleven projects totaling more than $1.45 million were funded, providing support to over 30,000 people to create jobs and increase incomes.  The portfolio focuses mainly on women groups who produce Shea butter, cashews, onions, mangos, and sesame seeds and provide micro-financing for other women’s groups.  

Developing Water Well Projects for Nomadic Pastoralists in Niger
Building on the fourteen water well projects funded in 2008 by USADF in the Agadez Region of Niger, USADF continued funding economic development projects for nomadic pastoralists in Abala, a pastoral area near the Mali border northeast of Niamey.  In an area known for violence, the water wells are a symbol of peace and prosperity, offering access to clean water for pastoralists and their animals.  Without potable water, residents have little to no hope of participating in income generating activities, threatening their traditional ways of life.

Funding Spice Farmers on Pemba Island, Tanzania
Pemba Island is one of the poorest and most under-developed areas in Tanzania.  To reach the marginalized people living in this region, USADF funded the Gando Farmers Association, which works with 3,000 members that produce spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, and black pepper for domestic and export markets.  The grant will work to enhance the quality life for people living on Pemba while expanding services to 2,000 more members.  By securing viable market outlets, broadening employment opportunities, and expanding into the production of value-added products such as essential and massage oils, organic herbal soaps, and lotions, Gando Farmers Association will create more economic opportunities for the residents on the island.

Investing in Community Development in Northern UgandaCollaborative Efforts to Alleviate Social Problems (CEASOP) will build its management capacity to deliver improved services to the communities it serves and provide them with critical livestock, veterinary assistance, agricultural inputs and extension services.  Each member who receives support will be required to make an in-kind payment and will ‘twin’ with another of CEASOP’s self-help group to pass on livestock offspring and seeds so they can begin to improve their situation as well.  The main goal is to reduce poverty at household level and assist the self-help groups in becoming commercially viable community groups.

In FY 2010, which begins today, USADF will stay committed to funding such groups across sub-Saharan Africa, continuing to develop and support African led and initiated cooperatives, community groups, and small enterprises.  For more information about USADF programming, please visit http://www.adf.gov/USADF-QuickSourceInformationDirectory.htm#pg.  

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is a United States Government agency dedicated to expanding access to economic opportunity in Africa. Currently USADF operates in 20 African nations.  Over the past 25 years, USADF has funded nearly 1,500 projects representing in excess of $150 million in support of African enterprises and local African communities.  For more information on USADF, its programs and application guidelines, visit www.usadf.gov. 

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