Latest update August 20th, 2026 12:07 AM
Guyana, Chile MDG get US$200,000 grant to fight poverty
Under the theme ‘Enhancing the Economic Livelihood of the Poor in Guyana’ a grant was signed between Guyana and Chile to further achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) one which entails eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.
The US$200,000 grant will be used over a one-year period which commenced from the signing of the document yesterday.
This was signed between Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali, and UNDP resident representative/ UN coordinator Khadija Musa at the Boardroom of the Ministry of Tourism, South Road, Lacytown.
UNDP resident representative Khadija Musa and Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali signs the US$200,000 grant for funding poverty alleviation between Chile and Guyana.
UN Resident Coordinator Khadija Musa said that Chile has a fund that it devotes to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) one, which is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and a proposal was requested by the Government of Chile.
She explained that based on the structured proposal reviewed by the Chilean Government in collaboration with the UNDP office in Chile, US$200,000 was allocated to fund poverty alleviation expertise between Chile and Guyana.
“The project also funds entrepreneurial interventions from the Community of individuals who present a proposal which can be funded…The idea of the whole fund from Chile was generated from the MDG programme. It focuses on MDG 1 which is about alleviation of extreme poverty which exists in the world which is about 700,000,000 people in poverty,” the UN rep noted.
Guyana has moved on in terms of nutrition and hunger which was recognised last year with an award for meeting nutritional needs, Ms Musa said. There is still poverty and Governments are looking at what can be done with the MDGs that are lacking beyond 2015, she added.
Underscoring the engagements between Guyana and Chile through “South South Policy Dialogue,” the UN rep said the funds will focus on rural areas and also identifies poverty reduction strategies and exchange ideas and expertise with Chile in terms of strengthening its own policy so it can implement further enhancements in identified areas of poverty reduction.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Irfaan Ali said that the grant seeks to improve livelihood and living condition for the poor and vulnerable.
“The project has three outputs addressing critical areas in terms of national development and in terms of complementing what we are already doing in strategizing development path into the future.
Option one has an investment of US$80,000 and this speaks directly to the issue of eco tourism and developing an eco tourism marketing strategy which is community based. The second output is valued at US$100,000 and this would focus on capacity building for 10 rural poor enterprises. The third is for US$20,000 and will be used for training persons for staring a small business and its sustainability.” Minister Ali explained.
He said in the 2014 budget $1B was set aside for the rural development fund. The grant will aid rural entrepreneurs in developing capacity and skills in order to create more efficient businesses and making business more competitive while training and creating an enabling environment.
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