Rural Finance Programme

Belize_PPE_final for web.pdf Belize_PPE_final for web.pdf https://www.ifad.org/en/web/ioe/evaluation/asset/41219049

Overview

The Independent Office of Evaluation of IFAD has prepared a performance evaluation report on the Belize Rural Finance Programme, co-financed by IFAD and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). The evaluation was conducted in close collaboration with the Evaluation Office of CABEI. The report highlights that the programme's support to the credit union movement in Belize was both timely and relevant. It focused on capacity building at micro level (through credit unions) and at meso level (through the Belize Credit Union League), providing appropriate technical assistance and introducing an innovative member share account incentive scheme to attract new rural members. The rural poor who joined credit unions enjoyed modest improvements in incomes, assets, quality of life, economic activities, education and health, but it is unlikely that access to credit union financing significantly improved agricultural productivity or rural enterprise performance. Although the business case for serving the rural poor remains to be made for most credit unions, the Government, IFAD and other partners, intend to continue supporting credit union activities in rural areas in Belize.

Report Details

Agency

  • International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Report Type

  • Project/Programme

Countries

  • Belize

Completed Date

  • Jul 2019

Consultant Name

  • Marc de Sousa-Shields

Agency Focal Person

  • Michael Carbon

Agency Focal Person Email

  • evaluation@ifad.org

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Joint Evaluation

  • No

Pooled Funding Evaluation

  • N/A

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