AID grant no. AFR-0226-G-SS-1062-00 to Africare to assist SONADER (National Organization for Rural Development) to develop and strengthen its services in the Gouraye sector of Mauritania as part of the small irrigated perimeter development project

SONADER extensionists will introduce area farmers to irrigated farming; there will be one extensionist for every 2-3 villages. SONADER will also determine whether adequate local organization exists to undertake community responsibility for the project, and work to strengthen such organization. Only then will construction of irrigation ditches and canals commence. This construction, which will be carried out by farmers under SONADER"s supervision, will be performed during the dry season in order to permit planting during the rainy season. Each cooperative will receive a pump, and input costs will be recuperated to create a rotating credit fund. During the second dry season, the perimeters will be reworked by the construction teams to correct any improper work done during the initial construction. During the second rainy season, the area will be given over definitively to the villagers, who will then be required to pay for the factors of production and to put money aside for pump repair. Africare will provide an advisor for 18 months to provide TA and on-the-job training to SONADER as well as assistance in accounting and other areas to farmer cooperatives. The project will benefit about 1,800 farmers and their families, primarily Soninke.