The Eritrea Community Development Fund Project

Abstract

The Eritrea Community Development project was established to provide for poor communities especially in the rural and war-devastated areas. The project provided an important platform for harnessing local input in local development efforts, strengthened the capacity of communities to manage, and implement their own development priorities. The project supported better access to school facilities, health facilities, and health care services; increased access to safe water; and feeder roads increased access to rural communities, markets, and social services. The project supported community-based initiatives to protect and improve the environment. The project used loan funds to improve community livelihood, increase their self-confidence, and economic independence. The construction of market places provided access to the rural population, including urban dwellers, and veterinary clinics increased the access of households. The project developed human resources, expanded private sector employment and growth, and improved basic social and economic infrastructure. The project promoted local governance, transparency, accountability, local capacity building, and sustainability of local services.