CAF and Education Ministry promote second stage of Integrated Community School Farms

(Quito, November 7, 2001). - The executive president of the Andean Development Corporation, CAF, Enrique García and the Ecuadorian education minister, Juan Cordero, signed an agreement for execution of the second stage of the "Improvement of rural basic education, through the Integrated Community School Farms" project, aimed at improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups in the country’s rural areas

The "Integrated Community School Farms" project makes education the centerpiece of sustainable human development and integrates health, food security, production, marketing, environmental clean-up, housing improvement, basic services and legalization of land ownership. The project generates a new educational model linked to productive work in line with the socio-economic, cultural and ecological conditions of each area.

Following up on the highly positive results of the first stage in five Ecuadorian provinces, the project is to be expanded to 16 more provinces around the country, for which the CAF will provide $250,000. A total population of 48,000 in 8,000 families will benefit from the scheme. Training will be provided for 20,800 small farmers through workshops to promote technological transfer in the area of agricultural and livestock. The products grown on the farms will provide 7,900 children with school breakfast and lunch.

The "Integrated Community School Farms" project is based on the principles of decentralization, optimization of public spending and social accountability, as well as joint participation and concerted action by key social actors: provincial governments, international development organizations, governments of friendly countries, the armed forces, the church and private enterprise.