1.0 BACKGROUND

In September 2022, the Government of Ghana (GoG) signed a 5-year (2022-2027) agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) to implement Integrated Rural Development Project Phase Two (IRDP II). Subsequently, the IRDP II became effective in November 2022.

1.1 Total Cost of the Project
The IRDP II is being funded from a loan facility of US$ 24 million comprising:

1. US$ 20 million from OFID.
2. US$ 0.80 million from the Government of Ghana (GoG).
3. US$ 3.2 million from Project Beneficiaries.

1.2 Goal and Objectives of the Project

1.2.1 Goal
The goal of the IRDP II, OFID Component, is to facilitate job creation, enhance access to socio-economic infrastructure, and improve livelihoods for sustainable poverty reduction. The project will also increase the resilience of rural communities to the impact of climate change and enhance the provision of input credit to farmers/farmer groups.

1.2.2 Objectives
The objectives are to enhance:

• access to social and economic infrastructure; and
• access to credit to small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) involved in food crops marketing, agro-processing, and other activities along the agriculture value chain, negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

1.3 Components of the Project

The project has 4 components.

1.3.1 Component 1: Provision of Socio-Economic Infrastructure

Component one (1) involves the construction and equipping of 215 basic socio-economic infrastructure units across the beneficiary districts. Four (4) local multi-disciplinary technical consultancy firms will be engaged to provide services in design review and supervise civil works in the 4 operating zones of the SIF.

1.3.2 Component 2: Provision of Credit to SMEs
Component two (2) will support the provision of US$ 3 million credit facility to SMEs involved in food crops marketing, agro-processing, and other activities along the agriculture value chain who were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Social Investment Fund (SIF) will manage the administration of the line of credit under this component through local branches of community banks which are partners of the ongoing SIF micro credit program.'

1.3.3 Component 3: Outreach, Sensitization and Capacity Building

This component involves orientation of about 3,000 people in 130 communities across the 23 beneficiary MMDAs on the project objectives, including information on how to access support from the project.

The component will also include sensitization of about 160 staff of the beneficiary MMDAs as well as capacity building for at least 17 staff of SIF on project design, planning and management. Also, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities will be undertaken by the SIF Zonal offices and the District Planning Committees to track progress of project implementation through the preparation of M&E plans, establishment of baseline data and reporting as well as monitoring of project interventions.

1.3.4 Component 4: Management and Coordination
The component involves management and coordination of all project activities at the National, Zonal, MMDAs and Community levels. It comprises:

1. Upgrading of the PIU Management Information System and procurement of accounting software
2. Provision of equipment, logistics and stationery for the PIU
3. Procurement of 5 pick-up vehicles for Monitoring and Evaluation
4. PIU operating expenses
5. Project Auditing

1.4 Project Areas and Number of Sub-projects

The project will be implemented in twenty-three (23) Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) within the 16 regions of Ghana.
Project beneficiary MMDAs are shown in the table below:

IRDP II Beneficiary MMDAs

1.5 Project District Selection Criteria
The Project districts were selected through:

• a demand-driven approach, based on the existence of major poverty enclaves as identified in poverty maps;
• commitment of a District Assembly towards project implementation and sustainability;
• vulnerability to climate change;
• on-going and /or existing initiatives addressing poverty; and
• intervention level of development partners.

1.6 The Project Implementing Institutions
The key institutions involved in the implementation of the Project are:

• The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development.
• The Social Investment Fund.
• Municipal and District Assemblies.
• ARB Apex Bank and subsidiaries.
• Other relevant Stakeholders.

2.0ACTIVITIES, VENUES, DATES AND DURATION

2.1 Activities and Venues
The Project will be launched at the Institute of Local Government Studies, Accra. A Photo/Video Exhibition on the achievements of SIF would be displayed after the project launch.

2.2 Dates and Duration
The Project will be launched on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm.