Brazil - Sao Paulo Sustainable Rural Development and Access to Markets Project (English)

Ratings for the Sao Paulo Sustainable Rural Development and Access to Markets were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, the risk to development outcome was low or negligible, the Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and the monitoring and ...  See More + Ratings for the Sao Paulo Sustainable Rural Development and Access to Markets were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, the risk to development outcome was low or negligible, the Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and the monitoring and evaluation quality was substantial. Some lessons learned included: projects of this type require a strong presence in the countryside. They are essentially a local level capacity‐builder and organizer, a clearing house for demand, and a catalyst to more effective and efficient rural public policy instruments, including environmental. It is recommended that their technical capacity to provide direct market liaison assistance to producer organizations be improved and that projects of this type ensure the permanent availability of marketing specialists. The foundational period needed to position PA operations for the investment phase is often protracted, and in this case, other macro factors intervened. It is recommended that certain steps be taken to accelerate this period. These might include: more intensive, wide‐ranging and ‘savvy’ preparation analysis to understand institutional capacity and mandates, potential legal, technical and operational challenges, and flow of funds mechanisms; design flexibility which avoids unrealistic, prescriptive approaches; and, planning creatively for more frequent Bank supervision at critical points along the trajectory. Environmental projects and SMA are increasingly required to include financial benefits. Conservation will not work without financial incentives. This applies particularly to poorer family farmers whose lands tend to be more degraded and with low returns to conventional agriculture. It is recommended that projects incorporate such incentives as a practical and strategic focus of conservation goals and activities.  See Less -