The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialised agency of the United Nations having its headquarters at Rome, Italy. IFAD has an overall mission for “Enabling rural poor to overcome poverty”. IFAD’s Country Strategic Opportunities Paper (COSOP) for India, was approved in December 2001 and directed significant interventions in the areas of growth-oriented farm and off-farm activities and natural resource management. In the above context, IFAD’s lending strategy for India envisages

A focus on ‘niche investments’ that – if proven successful – are likely to be taken up on a larger scale by the Government and/or other donors;

(ii)    Empowerment of the poor by taking advantage of the opportunities created by the on-going efforts to empower local bodies throughout the country notably through the devolution of authority to the Gram Sabha (i.e. village assemblies which comprise all resident adults with voting rights) in the scheduled areas;

(iii)    Integration of self-help groups (SHGs) with local self government institutions as a means of generating positive synergies between economic advancement, social and institutional development, and empowerment;

(iv)    Priority to the development of areas where rainfed agriculture is practiced, in recognition of the preponderance of poverty in these areas, activities to include micro-watershed development, water-harvesting and overall natural resource management;

(v)    Targeting of rural populations, with a special focus on the scheduled tribes and scheduled castes, as well as on women, in recognition of the higher incidences of poverty and vulnerability as well as generally lower social status of these categories.

In line with this, an inception paper for ULIPH was approved by the IFAD management in July, 2002. An IFAD Formulation Mission visited India and Meghalaya and Uttarakhand from 22 October to 16 December, 2002 to draw up a detailed design of the proposed project. The Formulation Report was reviewed by IFAD, the Government of India and the Governments of Meghalaya and Uttarakhand.

The Appraisal Mission visited India from 6 May to 12 June 2003. The Appraisal process involved initial briefings with the Government of India and the State governments. Extensive fieldwork in target districts was undertaken by technical experts and close interaction was maintained with both state governments. Final briefings were held in Meghalaya and Uttarakhand and wrap up meeting with the Government of India where detailed discussions were undertaken.

Negotiations and signing of a Tripartite MoU between the State Governments of Meghalaya and Uttarakhand, Government of India and IFAD took place on the 15th of November, 2003 at Rome.

The Uttaranchal Gramya Vikas Samiti (UGVS) was registered as a Society on 5th December, 2003 to implement the Aajeevika Project. The Project Loan Agreement was signed between IFAD and GoI on 20th February, 2004. Subsequently, the Subsidiary Loan Agreement was signed between GoUA and IFAD.

The Project Director of the project, Ms. Jyotsna Sitling, was appointed on the 25th May, 2004. The Loan became effective from the 1st October, 2004. Staff at district and state levels were recruited and deployed by December, 2004.