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Le Défi

Since the early 2000’s, Côte d’Ivoire has been facing several socio-political and military crisis with a negative impact on its economic performance. Between 2000 and 2009, GDP per capita fell by 1.2% annually. The country recorded significant declines on the poverty reduction side and the achievement of some MDGs. The poverty rate increased from 38,4% in 2002 to 48,9% in 2008. Poverty in Côte d’Ivoire remains fundamentally a rural challenge, with almost 62,4% of the rural population living under the poverty line, against 29,45% living in urban areas in 2008. The political crisis seriously aggravated an already precarious humanitarian situation.

The social cohesion, the state authority, and the poor governance, seriously affected by socio-political crisis, are provided in recovery . The DSRP 2009-2013 has been revised and adopted in September 2011.

Que fait l'UNCDF pour aider ?

UNCDF, through its former Special Unit for Microfinance (SUM), begun to promote this new development paradigm in the country mainly through the MicroStart Côte d’Ivoire project, which is part of the global MicroStart programme. In consultation with practitioners and donors, MicroStart was devised as a pilot programme to build the capacity of local organizations to initiate or expand existing microfinance activities.

As the lead technical unit serving the UNDP Group, UNCDF was approached for its assistance in setting up a MicroStart Programme in Cote d’Ivoire to enhance the access of low-income entrepreneurs, particularly women, to financial services in order to expand their business, increase their income, and augment employment.

Côte d’Ivoire is in urgent need of a microfinance sector support programme, given the huge demand for financial services expressed by the population during this economic recovery phase. To that effect, UNDP has requested UNCDF’s technical assistance in order to assess the microfinance sector and come up with the formulation of a new support programme aligned with the revised national strategy. We believe that UNDP/UNCDF’s investment could add tremendous value in rebuilding the microfinance sector, especially in the context where the Government has expressed its political willingness and financial contribution.

Côte d’Ivoire will also be one of the 4 pilot countries (with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) for the new programme of UNCDF and the Government of Luxembourg called Local Cross-Border Initiative (LOBI).

The new programme will support the definition of cross-border strategies and the piloting of cross-border local development processes to improve the economic stability and human security in the regions. The initiative will be implemented over a 5 year period beginning in 2012, in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

Le Défi

Niger endured austere military rule for much of its post-independence history and remains today one of the world's least-developed nations. Prone to drought, the country sometimes struggles to feed its population. Niger’s main export, uranium, is vulnerable to price fluctuations and agriculture is threatened by the encroaching desert. While on oil exploration and gold mining have the potential to boost Niger’s fortunes, food insecurity is the recurrent bottleneck and the country ranks last out of 187 countries in in the 2012 Human Development Index.

Que fait l'UNCDF pour aider ?

UNCDF is helping Niger to address Niger’s development challenges through the Projet Appui au Développement Economique Local (PADEL II) programme. The programme aims, by 2014, at ensuring that people of the Maradi region have access to public and financial services to promote local economic development and to improve food security, lowering the incidence of weld and reducing malnutrition. The $10m project is jointly supported by UNCDF, UNDP, the Government of Niger and the Belgian Fund for Food Security (BFFS).

PADEL consists of two sub-programmes which aim at promoting local economic development in the Maradi region reducing food insecurity and the vulnerability of target groups. Moreover, the sub-programme Développement local et Sécurlté Állmentaire (DELSA) and the sub-programme Programme d’Appui au Développement de la Microfinance (PADMIF) contribute to the promotion of a sustainable supply of financial services in a cleaner and more secure environment.

LOBI, over a 5 year period beginning in early 2013, will support the definition of cross-border strategies and the piloting of cross-border local development processes to improve the economic stability and human security in the regions.

Moreover, the Local Government Financial And Institutional Diagnostic For Development (LOGFIDD), is be both a process and a tool to assess the functioning of the local authorities in Niger and to assist them in finding appropriate solutions regarding their management and governance.

 

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Le Défi

Although poverty is widespread and unemployment high in this largely agrarian economy, Senegal is one the more stable countries in West Africa. Senegal's 2012 Human Development Index gives the country a rank of 154 out of 187 countries. National politics have been dominated by tensions between the government and the opposition, due in part to stagnant growth and the global economic slowdown, with a projected sharp downturn in foreign investments for local infrastructure development.

Que fait l'UNCDF pour aider ?

In Senegal, UNCDF has been helping to meet development challenges by promoting decentralization and increased access to financial services for low-income rural populations. The Projet d’Appui au Développement Économique Local en ancrage au Programme National de Développement Local (PADEL/PNDL) supports emerging decentralization processes, with a special focus on local economic development. The strategy provides targeted support to Senegal’s national programme of local development, which is intended to consolidate donor and development partner interventions in decentralization and deconcentration. The project is jointly supported by UNCDF, UNDP, the Government of Senegal, and Luxembourg Development Cooperation.

In Senegal, UNCDF is also implementing its Gender Equitable Development (GELD) programme, which advocates for gender-responsive planning, programming and budgeting at the local level, and helps ensure that development policy and public expenditures are gender-equitable.

In inclusive finance UNCDF is implementing the Programme d’appui à la lettre de politique sectorielle (PALPS), which aims to promote increased access for low-income, small and medium enterprises to quality local financial services. The programme helps create sustainable, well- integrated microfinance institutions. This project is jointly supported by UNCDF, UNDP, and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

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Le Défi

Since its emergence from a decade of civil war in 2002, Sierra Leone has experienced substantial economic growth. However, poverty and unemployment remain major challenges, and the country’s infrastructure continues to suffer the consequences of years of mismanagement and neglect. Sierra Leone’s Human Development Index value for 2012 positioned the country at 177 out of 187 countries.

Que fait l'UNCDF pour aider ?

UNCDF has been helping Sierra Leone to meet its development challenges by supporting local economic development initiatives and conditions for an inclusive financial sector. The Kenema District Economic Recovery Programme (KDERP) project seeks to strengthen the capacity of both the district and town councils to collect local revenue for better services and infrastructure. Within the local development structure, the project also supports the parent ministry responsible for local government, and enables relevant authorities to develop and implement the decentralization policy. This in turn supports the further development of a legal and regulatory framework that can link local economic development with national policy initiatives. The project is jointly supported by UNCDF, UNDP, the Government of Sierra Leone, the Belgian Government, and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

In Sierra Leone UNCDF is also implementing its Gender Equitable Development (GELD) programme, which aims at strengthening local government’s capacities in gender planning and budgeting.

In inclusive finance, the UNCDF Microfinance Sector Development Programme (MITAF II) supports the development of a competitive and sustainable inclusive microfinance sector that provides access to financial services for poor and low-income people and small businesses. Interventions here aim to strengthen the microfinance industry itself, and to create an environment that supports the microfinance industry over the long-term. This project is jointly supported by UNCDF, UNDP, Liechtenstein, KFW Bankengruppe and Cordaid.

With a total budget jointly funded by UNCDF, UNDP, KfW, and CORDAID; and in partnership with Financial Sector Development Program of the Government of Sierra Leone, MITAF II aims at its end at providing access to financial services to around 390,000 active clients, up from 123,000 during its first phase. Funding for the programme remains open to other donors interested in the microfinance sector in Sierra Leone.

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Le Défi

Togo has a very poor Human Development Index, ranking in 2012 159 out of 187 countries. The country has achieved considerable progress during the past three years, but significant institutional and economic challenges remain. The rise in oil and food prices, the severe flooding in 2008 and 2010, and the global recession in 2009 adversely impacted Togo’s economy. Togo’s income per capita is low compared to Sub-Saharan Africa and Low-Income Countries averages. With regard to the Millennium Development Goals, progress has been achieved toward reaching the goals of universal primary education and the combat of HIV/AIDS. However, Togo is unlikely to meet six of the eight goals by the 2015 deadline. The capacity of the administration to create an environment conducive to private sector development needs to be strengthened.

Que fait l'UNCDF pour aider ?

Togo’s financial sector strategy and planned privatization of ailing state-owned banks is expected to boost investors’ confidence and improve the banking sector’s capacity to finance the economy. UNCDF is helping Togo meet its development challenges through initiatives designed to strengthen the financial sector and increase access to sustainable microfinance services. 

The National Strategy for Microfinance Support Programme (PASNAM) targets microfinance institutions geared toward poor households or low-income micro-entrepreneurs. It seeks to improve the institutional environment in which they operate as well as the professionalism of their services, while helping to forge stronger links between commercial banks and microfinance institutions. 

A second phase of this programme started in 2009 with the support of UNCDF, UNDP and the World Bank, focuses on further strengthening the institutional framework of the microfinance sector and on developing self-sustaining financial services.

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Le Défi

Le Libéria est la plus ancienne république d’Afrique. Dans les années 1990, il a connu une guerre civile de longue durée qui l’a ruiné, et a été impliqué dans la rébellion qui a touché le Sierra Leone voisin. Quelque 250.000 personnes ont péri dans la guerre civile du Libéria, et plusieurs milliers de personnes supplémentaires ont fui les combats. Le conflit a laissé le pays dans la ruine économique et saturé d’armes. La capitale est demeurée sans réseaux, électricité ni eau courante. La corruption est répandue et le chômage et l’analphabétisme sont endémiques. Dans le Rapport sur le développement humain 2012, le Libéria est classé 174ème sur 187 pays.

Que fait l'UNCDF pour aider ?

L’UNCDF aide le Libéria a surmonter ses défis au niveau du développement par le biais du programme Décentralisation et développement local du Libéria (LDLD par ses sigles en anglais), qui vise à améliorer la fourniture des services locaux et à renforcer la réduction de la pauvreté, tout en promouvant la stratégie de décentralisation du gouvernement libérien. Le programme est appuyé conjointement par l’UNCDF, le PNUD, la Commission européenne et le gouvernement du Libéria.

L’UNCDF aide également le gouvernement du Libéria à développer un secteur financier qui fournira aux personnes pauvres et à faible revenu ainsi qu’aux petites et micro-entreprises un accès durable à une large gamme de services financiers. La première phase de cet appui, un programme appelé Lancement d’un secteur financier inclusif au Libéria (2005-2009), a permis de renforcer les capacités et d’apporter une aide en capital aux fournisseurs de services financiers, à la Banque centrale et aux autres parties prenantes en vue de faciliter le lancement d’un secteur financier inclusif concurrentiel et durable. Un des principaux résultats obtenus au cours de la première phase a été la formulation de la Stratégie nationale pour l’inclusion financière.

La seconde phase du programme (2009-2013) vise à appuyer l’application de la stratégie nationale grâce à une intervention stratégique à trois niveaux sectoriels : macro (politique), méso (infrastructures industrielles) et micro (niveaux de la vente au détail). Ce programme est appuyé conjointement par l’UNCF, le PNUD et DANIDA.

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Le Défi

Autrefois cité comme modèle pour le développement de l’Afrique, la Guinée-Bissau est aujourd’hui l’un des pays les plus pauvres du monde, se classant au 176ème rang sur 187 pays dans le Rapport sur le développement humain 2012. Ce pays affiche une importante dette extérieure et possède une économie qui dépend fortement de l’aide étrangère. Aggravant encore cette situation, le pays a connu une guerre civile âpre à la fin des années 1990, au cours de laquelle des milliers de personnes ont péri, été blessées ou déplacées. Suite à la crise, la Guinée-Bissau a connu une amélioration au niveau de certains de ses indicateurs économiques et sociaux, ainsi que sur le plan de la gouvernance locale, ainsi qu’une augmentation de la participation du grand public.

Que fait l'UNCDF pour aider ?

L’UNCDF aide la Guinée-Bissau à réaliser ses objectifs de développement en appuyant les efforts visant à renforcer les capacités de gouvernance et à améliorer l’administration publique. Le gouvernement a lancé une stratégie qui se focalise sur le renforcement de la gouvernance, la modernisation de l’administration publique, la stabilité macroéconomique, la promotion de la croissance économique ainsi que l’amélioration de l’accès aux services sociaux et à l’infrastructure de base. Un accent particulier est également mis sur la manière dont les autorités locales peuvent promouvoir le développement.

L’actuel Projet d'appui au développement régional et local de la région de Gabú (PADRL) vise à créer un environnement habilitant visant à faire émerger un système de fourniture des services de base au sein des communautés rurales, urbaines et régionales. Le projet appuie le développement socioéconomique aux niveaux régional et local, tout en améliorant les capacités des municipalités à fournir les services publics régionaux. Ce programme est appuyé conjointement par l’UNCDF, le PNUD, le gouvernement de la Guinée-Bissau et la municipalité de Gabú.

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