Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA)

Type of Organization

NGO

Type of cooperation

Joint venture, Technology transfer, Capacity building, Policy dialogue, Direct investment or financing

Region

Asia and the Pacific

FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA) is the organization on rural and agricultural finance that helps promote productivity, inclusive growth, self-reliance, and welfare of the rural poor in the Asia-Pacific region. It aims to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of rural finance and improve access to financial services through a network of knowledge sharing and learning, capacity building, research and exchange of expertise. Its main activities include:

Policy Engagement and Dissemination Platform in rural and agriculture finance;
Capacity & Institution Building Activities for rural financial institutions;
Project Implementation Services;
Advisory Services & Policy Researches;
Knowledge Management Services

COOPERATION

Type of cooperation

Joint venture, Technology transfer, Capacity building, Policy dialogue, Direct investment or financing

Current Cooperating countries

24 countries in Asia-Pacific Region

Potential Cooperating Countries

All members from 24 countries in the region

South-South and Triangular Cooperation

Summary of Projects and Achievements

1. Organized 40 regional training of trainers (ToT) in last 5 years;

2. Organized the 6th World Congress on Rural and Agriculture finance in 2019 which was attended by 57 countries across the globe;

3. Implemented 4 multi-country projects in 15 countries of the region funded by international agencies;

4. Provided hand-holding support to 6 financial institutions in 4 countries to develop financial products and services capable to support sustainable development goals.

5. Established National level Network for the small-scale fishers in Philippines and Thailand.

Major SSTC Projects

APRACA-IKI Project on Developing Inclusive Green Finance ecosystem

Duration: 2021-2026 (2 phases 2021-2022 and 2022 - 2026)

Locations: Bhutan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, Laos, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga

Activities: The project aims to address climate change adaptation and mitigation by vulnerable communities in 10 countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

Results: Project is in its initial phase and could establish national and regional project monitoring groups.

Highlights: The project will support in preparing an inclusive green finance ecosystem, to scale-up international private sector climate finance for adaptation and mitigation, for vulnerable communities in Asia-Pacific.

APRACA-FAO Project on Investment in Agribusiness

Duration: 2020-2021
Locations: All countries in Asia-Pacific region
Activities: The project is aimed to build capacity of Public Development Banks (PDBs) in agribusiness investments.
Results: Developed 4 training toolkits on agribusiness finance, value chain development, risk management and digital financial services.
Highlights: Once the project is completed, it will be helpful for all financial institutions in Asia to build their capacity in agribusiness finance.

APRACA-FAO Project on Small Scale Fisheries

Duration: 2019-2022

Locations: Philippines and Thailand

Activities: The project is aimed to establish a credit and insurance programme for small scale fishers.

Results: National level network (Philippines National Network) for the small-scale fishers was established. The report of the sample survey with the small-scale fishers was shared with the National Government and other policy makers.

Highlights: High impact project being implemented with the support of the relevant departments of the national governments.

APRACA-IFAD ‘RuFBeP Project’

Duration: 2014-2019

Locations: China, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand

Activities: The project was aimed to document and pilot the best practices on sustainable models of pro-poor rural financial services in selected countries in Asia.

Results: 25 best practices were identified, studied, critically reviewed, and selectively piloted for adaptation and replication and successfully scaled up by IFAD and other stakeholders involved in rural and agricultural finance.

Highlights: The overall goal of the project was to sustainably reduce rural poverty and improve food security for rural communities in the Asia-Pacific region. Its purpose was to assist rural finance providers and governments extend financial services on a sustainable basis, through the application of best practices suitable to their unique operating environments.

APRACA-IFAD FinServAccess Project

Duration: 2013-2016

Locations: Bangladesh, Nepal, Cambodia and Myanmar

Activities: The project was aimed to enhance the access of poor rural people to sustainable financial services through policy dialogue, capacity building and knowledge sharing in rural finance.

Results: The project was able to influence the policies in the countries while working with the central banks to provide incentives to the financial institutions extending financial services to agricultural and rural enterprises. Organized 8 Training of Trainers (ToT) and 6 regional policy forums in 4 countries,

Highlights: The project aimed to enhance the access of the rural poor – particularly smallholder farm households and agriculture related rural entrepreneurs, including women and rural youth to sustainable financial services through policy dialogues, replication of best practices, capacity building of different stakeholders and knowledge sharing in rural finance.