FINCLUDE

FINCLUDE PROJECT

  1. The Financial Inclusion and Cluster Development (FINCLUDE) Project is a collaboration following an agreement between the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini (GOE) through the Ministry of Finance (MoF). Implementation of this project will enhance the sustainable livelihoods and incomes, particularly for the aspiring and existing women and youth entrepreneurs in the country.

The project which commenced in September 2019 will have a duration for six years during which it will aim to increase the profitability and sustainability of rural economic activities through a comprehensive and multi-layered set of interventions. FINCLUDE will provide support to stakeholders in the development of the rural economy to develop profitable value chains and support entrepreneurship in commodity-based clusters established in locations that offer competitive advantage for success.

The aim of the FINCLUDE Project is to revive and transform the contribution of rural economy to inclusive economic growth through improving the competitiveness and profitability of the farm and non-farm economic activities (kulima nabozenzele) that are done by the local community members. The objective is to increase the average net income that the entrepreneurs are deriving; improve the competitiveness and profitability of the rural economic activities to address the income inequality between the rural and the urban economy and support the development of the export market to increase economic growth. Ultimately there is an expected increase in employment opportunities for the local population, particularly the youth and the women.

The FINCLUDE Project seeks to increase returns from sustainable farm and non-farm enterprise for rural people, including poor and youth, through efficient public-sector investment at the same time leveraging on the private sector participation. The farm enterprises will mainly focus on the projects’ key commodities which are red meat (beef/goats), piggery, indigenous chicken, vegetables and legume seeds. Non-farm enterprises will initially focus on those enterprises which promote or enhance operations of the agricultural value chain such as transport to markets, cold-room storage and tractor hire among others.

"Together We Can Build Our Economy"