USADF Signs Three Grants In Cape Verde to Support Higher Incomes for Marginalized Populations:

WASHINGTON - April 9, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 9, 2010  – The United States African Development Foundation continued its assistance to marginalized, under-served populations in Africa by signing three grant agreements to benefit community groups in Cape Verde.  The grants will benefit Associacao dos Agricultores para o Desenvolvimento Agricola e Comunitáia da Zona de Hortelao (AGRO-Hortelao), Associacao Juvenil Comunitaria Para O Apoio E Agricultura Pecuraria De Relvas (ACD-Relvas), and Associacao Unidas da Maos Dadas para Desenvolvimento de Capela e Portal (ACD-Capela and Portal).

After signing the grants, USADF President Lloyd Pierson stated, “These grants are designed to address the needs identified by some of the most under-served populations in Cape Verde and to raise the quality of life for the people receiving USADF funding.”

A community-based organization in Sao Miguel, AGRO-Hortelao promotes community development in several ways, such as providing financial support to the local schools and managing local reservoirs. They currently have 82 members living in Hortelao, Principal, and Gongon.  The residents of Hortelao primarily earn their incomes through agriculture and livestock production.  These activities require extensive use of water, but the current reservoir system is inadequate to meet the community’s needs.  The community lacks the infrastructure to store water from the rainy season and to access sufficient ground water during the dry season.  The proposed project will increase access to water by improving physical infrastructure and training the community in water management techniques.  The three year grant will fund two water reservoirs, water pumps, and training.

ACD-Relvas is located in Sana Catarina and has 85 active members.  About 1,150 people live in Relvas, but many young people are moving to urban areas.  This trend has exacerbated poverty levels, and resulted in over 25 percent of households being headed by single women with an average of five children.  The land near Relvas is good for animal husbandry, but community members lack the infrastructure, equipment, and veterinary support to raise animals on a viable scale.  The proposed project will combat poverty in Relvas and the surrounding areas by improving the capacity of its poorest households to engage in animal husbandry.  The proposed project will distribute chickens and goats to the 100 poorest households, and fund the construction of chicken coops and goat pens.  Residents will see a rise in income through selling eggs, milk, cheese, and meat, and will have access to these products for their own consumption and nutrition.  The two year grant will provide funds to purchase of smallstock, construction of chicken coops and goat pens, training, and feed and vaccines for animals.

With 49 members, ACD-Capela and Portal is located in Santa Domingos and seeks to improve the quality of life for community members by promoting development and employment opportunities.  Most residents of Capela and Portal earn their living by harvesting sand, which is extremely dangerous. Risks are growing because the beaches have already been denuded of their top sand, forcing residents to dive into the ocean for sand.  The economic and environmental dangers of sand harvesting cannot be sustained, but with their current resources, the communities have no alternative source of income since the land does not support agriculture.  The proposed project will enable local residents to successfully run their own small animal husbandry programs, generating income and increasing the economic self-sufficiency of the community.  To alleviate water shortages, the project will construct a reservoir and connect it to a borehole near the community.  Further, the project will distribute chickens and goats to the 60 poorest households, and fund the construction of chicken coops and pig pens.  The three year grant provide for procurement of smallstock, construction of chicken coops and goat pens, training, and feed and vaccines for animals.

USADF began programming in Cape Verde in 2003. Cape Verde’s current portfolio stands at twenty-two investment projects totaling more than $3.5 million. For more information about the portfolio, please visit the country’s quick source page at http://www.adf.gov/USADF-QuickSourceCountryPortfolioPage-CapeVerde.htm.

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is a United States Government agency dedicated to expanding access to economic opportunities to the most marginalized populations in Africa. Currently USADF operates in 20 African countries. Over the past 25 years, USADF has funded in excess of $200 million in African initiated and led development projects.  For more information on USADF, its programs and application guidelines, visit www.usadf.gov.

###

• Contact Us
• Site Index
• Privacy Statement
• Fair Act
• No Fear Act
• Inspector General Hotline
• Disclaimers