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FCND Research Theme
Rural Finance Policies for Food Security of the Poor |
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This multicountry research program was initiated in 1993, building on earlier work at IFPRI on rural credit. Its point of departure is the premise that improved access to credit and savings options by the poor increases their income levels, enables them to preserve their assets during times of hardship, and permits them to buy food during lean periods. Most formal rural credit programs have failed to reach the poor. New experiences featuring bottom-up rather than top-down approaches have emerged and suggest a potential for sustainable rural financial systems. This research team conducts research on these innovative systems, and is particularly interested in changes in household-level income generation, agricultural production, consumption, and nutrition that result from an increased access to and participation in member-based financial institutions, such as groups, village banks, and cooperatives.
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RESEARCH COUNTRIES
Research has been conducted in several countries:
- Bangladesh
- Cameroon
- China
- Ghana
- India
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Pakistan
In addition, a short-term study on the structure and performance of the rural financial sector in Egypt was completed in 1994, and a follow-up study was in 1998.
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RESEARCH STAFF
- Manohar Sharma (Team Leader)
- Suresh Babu
- Aliou Diagne
- Francesco Goletti
- Cécile Lapenu
- Ginette Mignot (Administrative Coordinator)
- Ellen Payongayong
In 1997, significant contributions to research activities were made by individuals, in addition to IFPRI staff, including:
- Joachim von Braun (University of Kiel/Bonn)
- Franz Heidhues (University of Hohenheim)
- Gertrud Schrieder (University of Hohenheim)
- Charles Mataya (Bunda College of Agriculture, Malawi)
- Alexander Phiri (Bunda College of Agriculture, Malawi)
- Jiang Zhongyi (Chinese Ministry of Agriculture)
- Anjini Kochar (Stanford University)
- Zhu Ling (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
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COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS
Collaborating institutions include:
- Bangladesh
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- Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC)
- Association for Social Advancement (ASA) (Bangladesh)
- Cameroon
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- Cameroon Cooperative Credit Union League
- China
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- Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
- Chinese Ministry of Agriculture
- Egypt
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- Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (Egypt)
- Ghana
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- Ministry of Health, Nutrition Division
- Ministry of Agriculture, Women in Development
- Madagascar
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- Ministry of Research and Development (Madagascar)
- Malawi
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- Bunda College of Agriculture (Malawi)
- Ministry of Women, Children, Community Development, and Social Welfare (Malawi)
- Malawi Rural Finance Company
- Mali
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- Centre d'Appui Nutrionnel et Economique aux Femmes (CANEF)
- Nepal
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- Gorkha Development Project (Nepal)
- Pakistan
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- Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE)
- Ministry of Food (Pakistan)
- Universities
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- Cornell University (U.S.A.)
- University of Hohenheim (Germany)
- University of Kiel (Germany)
- University of Bonn (Germany)
- Foundation for International Development (DSE) (Germany)
- Ohio State University (U.S.A.)
- Stanford University (U.S.A.)
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DONORS
External support for this research program is provided by the following organizations:
- Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Government of France
- Irish Aid
- Rockefeller Foundation
- Consultative Group on Assisting the Poorest
Institutions supporting this research program between 1993 and 1996 also included
- German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in Malawi
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Malawi
- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Winrock International
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