The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has announced the financing of a climate-smart project aimed at improving the resilience of more than 75,000 rural households in the Northeast region of Brazil.
Sertão Vivo, which is set to be implemented in Pernambuco, is expected to reach 1.8 million people, including women, youth, and traditional groups such as Indigenous and Quilombola (Afro-descendant) communities. The project is expected to promote sustainable management of the region’s semi-arid climate by introducing new technologies for water conservation and use.
The project is financed by a combination of state and federal funds, with a total amount of R$300 million (roughly US$60 million). The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) has co-financed the project, increasing the total financing amount to R$1.775 billion (US$386 million). The funding will help to implement a range of measures, including the construction of small-scale infrastructure for water security, such as production cisterns, and the promotion of agroforestry systems that incorporate or create crop structures for different purposes in the same zone.
The project is significant for its focus on climate change adaptation and sustainable agriculture practices. It is anticipated that the project will have a positive impact on the lives of rural communities in Pernambuco, strengthening their resilience to the effects of climate change and promoting poverty reduction. The project is also expected to promote gender equality and inclusion, as it focuses on the participation of women, youth, and traditional groups in climate resilience decision-making.