According to bank documents, the project objective is to test a model of aggregation to improve competitiveness and accessibility to markets and climate resilience for small-scale rural producers in selected pilot areas for selected value chains (tomatoes, dates, poultry) by: (i) promoting strategic productive alliances between smallholders and private sector, (ii) empowering rural producers through the development of self-managed organizations, (iii) increasing access to productive assets and technology, and iv) promoting more effective and climate smart practices in Basra (tomatoes and dates), Babylon (dates and poultry), and Erbil (poultry) Governorates. The higher-level objective to which the project will contribute is to revitalize competitive agri-food value chains, create new employment and sustainable livelihoods opportunities.

The project has four components:

1. Component 1: Identifying demand and opportunities for aggregation (USD 0.3 million). Key investments under this sub-component include: (i) design and implementation of an information campaign to identify buyers/processors who have a demand for increased supply; (ii) a call for proposal to select groups of producers (20 to 40) who have the interest/commitment/potential to meet buyers/processor increased demands and standards; (iii) identification of the production standards required by the buyers/processors.

2. Component 2: Investing in supply chains (USD 3.8 million). Based on the identified needs in production systems required to meet standards demanded by buyers/producers, this component will (1) provide productive investments, technical assistance, and business development, (2) identify technical experts and other relevant service providers with the capacity/knowledge to help production systems and supply chains meet standards required. Where relevant these investments would include CSA attributes.

3. Component 3: Governance and monitoring (USD 0.5 million). Component 3 will (1) regularly monitor the producer-buyer relationship to reduce the risk of choosing an noncompetitive buyer or promoting elite capture in imperfect markets; (2) identify financing mechanisms and governance structures that facilitate trust between buyers/processors and producers; (3) detect governance structures that ensures investment in aggregation points are maintained to an appropriate standard; (4) identify the technical support to enable financing mechanism and governance structures to be sustainably maintained.

4. Component 4: Project Coordination, Management and Monitoring and Evaluation (USD 0.4 million). This component will ensure effective project administration and management and produce regular monitoring and evaluation (M&E) reports. Specifically, it will finance: (i) project administrative, technical, and financial management (FM); (ii) coordination among all partners to ensure an efficient flow of information and support to all actors; (iii) effective contractual arrangements with service/technology providers; (iv) M&E of project performance and project financial, environmental, and social impact management; (v) timely communication of results (e.g. publicize and disseminate project results, best practices and success stories and consistent citizen engagement). All Project Implementation Agency staff are expected to be fully qualified to undertake their assigned responsibilities.

World Bank:
Contact : Timothy D Robertson
Title : Senior Agriculture Specialist
Telephone No : 458-4396

Contact : Armine Juergenliemk
Title : Young Professional
Telephone No : 5220+37935

Borrower:
Borrower : Ministry of Agriculture

Implementing Agency:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Contact : Salah ElHajjHassan
Title : FAO Country Representative
Email : Salah.ElHajjHassan@fao.org 

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

To submit an information request for project information, you will have to create an account to access the Access to Information request form. You can learn more about this process at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/access-to-information/request-submission 

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint