The United Nations agency tasked with reducing rural poverty is lending $17 million to Guatemala to help authorities boost development in the Central American country’s central and eastern regions.

About 30,000 smallholders, micro-entrepreneurs, artisans and landless peasants will receive upgraded infrastructure and other assistance under the project, which has a particular focus on young people, women and people of mixed Mayan and Ladino origin.

Some of the participants will be able to take part in courses in business management and marketing, and access will be increased to such resources as land, water, technology and farm credit.

The project was signed last week at a ceremony in Rome, the headquarters of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), by representatives of the agency and Guatemala.

IFAD said the scheme will now be implemented over the next six years in El Progreso, Zacapa, Jalapa, Jutiapa and Santa Rosa departments.