Report of the 2008 global meeting - IFAD

2.1 Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes (COSOPs 3 )
In 2006 and 2007 IFAD designed and approved 24 COSOPs. FOs’ involvement in the
design of these country programmes saw a notable increase during the biennium. For
example in 2007, FOs actively participated 4 in the design process of 60 per cent of the
COSOPs approved, showing a significant improvement compared to the 33 per cent
registered in 2006. Current efforts must be pursued, but the modalities and effectiveness
of this dialogue and consultation in country strategies should be discussed. What are the
respective expectations from IFAD and FOs? Are the modalities of these consultations
satisfactory? What is the assessment by FOs and by IFAD staff of their interaction in
COSOP processes in 2006-2007?
IFAD’s efforts and achievement in involving FOs in the design and implementation
of its country strategies were widely acknowledged. Still, further efforts are needed:
participants agreed with IFAD that FOs’ involvement in IFAD country programmes is
still highly variable across countries and still dependent upon the personal engagement
of country programme managers.
2.2 Project design and implementation
Loan-funded projects 5 represent the bulk of IFAD operations and its main instrument for
achieving its strategic objectives. In 2006 and 2007, the Executive Board of IFAD
approved 62 loan-funded projects for a total volume of USD 1,055 million. FOs were
consulted during the design process of 77 per cent of these projects, although the
degree of involvement is highly variable across projects. FOs also actively participated in
the design of over one-third of all projects approved in 2006 and 2007. As regards the
implementation of projects approved in 2006-2007, in 39 per cent of cases at least one
FO is a member of the project’s Steering Committee. As for design, the actual
involvement of FOs in project implementation is highly variable. In the box below, cases
of the partnership between IFAD and FOs on COSOPs and projects are presented. These
cases were jointly presented by IFAD and FO partners during the meeting. 6
FOs’ participation in project design and implementation could increase further,
both in frequency and scope. FO involvement in IFAD projects can contribute to the
quality, relevance, efficiency and sustainability of services and support. What lessons can
be drawn from the various experiences and modalities of operational partnership in
development projects?
Here as well, participants acknowledged IFAD’s efforts and achievement in involving
FOs in the design and implementation of its projects. However, it was also stated that
the involvement is often not planned well in advance, thus limiting FOs’ capacity in
providing quality inputs. Some FO representatives requested IFAD to involve FOs in the
negotiation process between IFAD and governments before signing the agreement for
an IFAD project.
3 IFAD supported operations take place at country level in the framework of its country programmes. Country
programmes are defined by the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme document (COSOP). The COSOP
process involves a cycle of formulation, review and evaluation. Once reviewed by the Executive Board of IFAD,
COSOPs define all IFAD’s activities in the country: loan funded investment projects, country grants and policy
dialogue initiatives, all of which are intended to reinforce each other.
4 “Active participation” refers to FOs’ representatives formally included in the team responsible for the development
of the COSOP or to FOs providing substantial contributions throughout the COSOP design process.
5 These are public development projects and governments are the direct recipients and owners of IFAD loan funding.
6 Mr Paolo Silveri, Country Programme Manager for Uruguay, and Mr Fernando Ariel Lopez Rodriguez,
President of the Uruguayan Comisión Nacional de Fomento Rural (CNFR) presented the Uruguay COSOP case.
Mr Benoit Thierry, Country Programme Manager for Madagascar, and Mr Jean Berthin Rabefeno, Secretary General,
Firaisankinan’ny Tantsaha eto Madagasikara ou Coalition Paysanne de Madagascar (FTM/CPM), presented the
design process of the Support Project to the Farmers’ Organisation in Madagascar.
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