Grant agreement no. AID/AFR-G-1079 between the United States of America and Credit Union National Association, Inc.

SPECIAL EMPHASIS WILL BE GIVEN TO DEVELOPING PILOT DIRECTED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION CREDIT (DAPC) PROGRAMS. GRANT IS CHANNELED THROUGH THE CREDIT UNION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (CUNA). TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED AT ACOSCA"S 5 REGIONAL TRAINING CENTERS IN PLANNING, LOAN PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, LOAN COLLECTION, SAVING, AND, IN PARTICULAR, PROMOTION TECHNIQUES FOR INCREASING MEMBERSHIP IN ACOSCA. A REGIONAL DAPC SPECIALIST WILL PROVIDE SHORT-TERM TRAINING IN PRODUCTION CREDIT AND CENTRALIZED FINANCE SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS IN LEAGUE SERVICES, FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT, AND INSURANCE. IN THE LATTER AREA, ACOSCA WILL ALSO RECEIVE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM CUNA. LONG-TERM TRAINING FOR HIGHER MANAGEMENT LEVELS WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING WILL BE GIVEN TO EXTENSION WORKERS IN ASSISTING SMALL FARMERS DEVELOP PRODUCTION PLANS. TWO REVOLVING FUNDS WILL BE ESTABLISHED, ONE FOR PAYMENT OF MANAGERS" SALARIES AT THE CREDIT UNION LEVEL, THE OTHER FOR INTER-LENDING PROGRAMS IN PRODUCTION CREDIT BETWEEN NATIONAL AND LOCAL CREDIT ORGANIZATIONS. MULTI-DONOR FUNDS WILL BE PROGRAMMED TOWARD COMPLEMENTARY GOALS TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATION. PILOT DAPC PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN NATIONAL CREDIT UNIONS IN CAMEROON, LESOTHO, AND ZAMBIA; 12 NEW CREDIT UNIONS WILL BE ESTABLISHED. THE DAPC SPECIALIST WILL ORGANIZE AND DEVELOP THE 3 CENTRAL NATIONAL FINANCE SYSTEMS, STUDY THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPANDING DAPC PROGRAMS TO OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AND MAINTAIN STATISTICAL DATA ON DAPC LOANS. THREE COUNTRY SPECIALISTS WILL WORK WITH 3 FIELD TECHNICIANS, ONE FROM EACH COUNTRY, TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE IN IMPLEMENTING THE PILOT PROJECTS. THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE IN EACH COUNTRY WILL PROVIDE EXTENSION WORKERS AND HELP IN OBTAINING THE SERVICES OF COOPERATIVES AND/OR MARKETING AND SUPPLY ORGANIZATIONS.