IBRD Trust Funds - World Bank

Published purpose

The Rural Capacity Building Project is a joint CIDA-World Bank-Government of Ethiopia initiative aiming to strengthen agricultural services and systems in order to improve productivity. The project, implemented by the World Bank, works to improve food security for farmers, a critical sector of the population in a country where 90% of the population relies on agriculture for income. Activities under the initiative include training officials at regional and district levels in specified services, such as resource management or livestock; equipping Farmer Training Centres; expanding and applying research; and introducing new market systems and services. There are five technical components to the project, the first of which is building agricultural capacity through technical vocational education and training. The second component, the provision of agricultural extension services, particularly targets both market-oriented farmers and women. Enhancing women’s participation and promoting gender equality concerns in all aspects of this component are important concerns. The third component, agricultural research, specifically involves institutional strengthening of the National Agricultural Research System; component four, meanwhile, focuses on improving information and communication systems within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The final component consists of developing agricultural market institutions, including support for the new Ethiopia Commodity Exchange developed in 2008, as well as strengthening and developing sanitary and phytosanitary standards and the institutions necessary to utilize and promote them. All CIDA disbursements for this project have been completed.