To drive transformative change in the Grenadian agricultural system by creating a diversified, competitive, and climate-resilient cocoa value chain, that fosters sustainable and inclusive growth and poverty reduction in the country.
| Title | Advancing Transformative Agricultural Systems in Grenada through the Promotion of Integrated and Resilient Ecosystem approaches throughout the cocoa value chain (ASPIRE) |
|---|---|
| Start date | |
| Recipient / Target Areas | Grenada |
| Budget | USD 15.2 million (GEF grant) |
| Project Code | GEF ID 11374 |
| GEF Implementing Agency | IFAD |
|---|---|
| Project Executing Entity(s) | Ministry of economic development, planning tourism, creative economy, culture, agriculture, lands, forestry, marine resources fisheries and cooperatives of Grenada. |
The IFAD-implemented project will strengthen the sustainability and resilience of Grenada’s cocoa-based agroforestry systems and value chain through capacity building, targeted grants, and improved data, governance, and decision-making. It will deliver environmental benefits, including restoration of 360 ha, climate-smart practices on 1,000 ha, increased carbon sequestration, and support to 3,000 direct and 15,000 indirect beneficiaries.
The project will combine GEF and Adaptation Fund resources to leverage additional investment and maximize impact. While GEF financing supports ecosystem restoration and sustainable practices, Adaptation Fund co-financing will focus on resilient infrastructure, innovative financing, and climate risk mitigation, ensuring an integrated and scalable approach to resilience and environmental sustainability.
The project aims to address Grenada’s interconnected environmental and climate challenges by advancing biodiversity conservation, land degradation neutrality and restoration, sustainable food systems, and climate change mitigation. Through integrated landscape approaches, it will enhance biodiversity, mitigate land degradation and climate change, and strengthen socioeconomic and environmental resilience.
The project leverages key lessons learned from IFAD’s previous engagements in Grenada, including the Climate Smart Agriculture and Rural Enterprise Programme (SAEP), to address the interconnected challenges of rural poverty, climate change, and environmental degradation. Past experiences have shown that rural development requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond agriculture, incorporating support for non-agricultural activities such as agro-processing, entrepreneurship, and vocational training. These diverse economic activities form the backbone of rural livelihoods, and integrating them enhances resilience and creates sustainable economic opportunities.
The most vulnerable parishes are St. Mark, St. Patrick, St. Andrew, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and St. Johns will be prioritized for all project interventions, as their food systems are especially vulnerable. Cocoa agroforestry systems in St. Andrew, St. Patrick, and St. Mark have been shown to be particularly vulnerable.
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