Decree-Law No. 12/2025 creating the Family Farming Support Fund.

This Decree-Law creates the Family Farming Support Fund (FAAF) 'Fundo de Apoio à Agricultura Familiar' as a dedicated financial mechanism to strengthen family farming, a sector recognized as essential for food security, social cohesion, poverty reduction, rural employment, and environmental sustainability in São Tomé e Príncipe. The initiative aims to address long‑standing structural challenges faced by small farmers, small livestock farmers, and artisanal fishers—such as limited access to financing, inputs, technical support, training, infrastructure, and markets—by creating a stable and transparent instrument capable of funding productive activities and enhancing rural livelihoods. The FAAF’s objectives focus on promoting sustainable growth of family‑based agriculture, increasing production and productivity, supporting the organization and empowerment of rural communities, and fostering value‑addition and market access. It also seeks to strengthen food and nutritional security, encourage environmentally sustainable practices, and expand technological innovation in the rural economy. Through various financial and technical support modalities, the fund is designed to boost inclusive development, improve resilience, and create the conditions for competitive and sustainable rural transformation.