Enabling poor rural people
to overcome poverty



"We look forward to celebrating our Twentieth Anniversary during 1998 with enthusiasm, conscious of the need to redouble our efforts in support of the poor but, at the same time, confident of our skills and capacity to do so. On the basis of the experience of these last twenty years we can look forward to the next twenty years in which I hope and believe that IFAD will contribute significantly to realizing the noble goal of a World Without Hunger."

Fawzi H. Al-Sultan, President of IFAD
Foreword to the 1997 Annual Report (PDF Format - 10975KB)

In 1998, IFAD completed twenty years of operations as a lead agency of the United Nations in the fight against poverty and hunger. The Twenty-First Session of the Governing Council,  held on 11 and 12 February 1998, launched one of the celebrations for this anniversary: a multi-media science and technology exhibition based on IFAD’s twenty years of field experience and project achievements.  The Expo, entitled "From Hope to Harvest",  focuses on technological and institutional innovations that have had an impact on poverty alleviation.  It demonstrated how with IFAD’s assistance, scientific research and the local know-how of the poor themselves  have contributed to the generation and widespread adoption of such innovations. The Expo has been seen in Rome, Uppsala and Washington DC.

Other events and initiatives to commemorate the 20th Anniversary are as follows:

  • The first Global Meeting and Formal Launching of the Knowledge Network on Civil-Society Initiatives in Land Reform and Tenurial Security was held in Rome, Italy, on 9 and 10 February 1998, in conjunction with the Twenty-First Session of the Governing Council and celebrations for IFAD’s Twentieth Anniversary. The Knowledge Network is one of the activities of the Popular Coalition to Eradicate Hunger and Poverty, with the objective of collecting, reviewing, assessing and disseminating information and data on civil-society initiatives to improve the rural poor’s access to land and water resources, including common property resources. The event was attended by approximately 40 regional, national and local people’s groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as senior officials of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Bank.

  • An International Seminar on Rural Poverty and Development was held in Caracas, Venezuela, on 17 and 18 February 1998, with participants from Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Peru. The Government of Venezuela has advised IFAD that the Fund’s logo will be stamped on all the country’s official mail.

  • The Government of Burkina Faso celebrated the Twentieth Anniversary of IFAD on 12 March 1998. A special IFAD Day was held in Sibalo, Passore Province, with the participation of approximately 1 500 producers and representatives of local authorities and the Department of Agriculture. The programme included: (a) the awarding of 60 "best producer prizes"; (b) field visits; (c) the planting of trees by local authorities and invitees; and (d) the projection of films highlighting the benefits of projects. The Government of Burkina Faso has issued stamps, brochures and tee-shirts bearing IFAD’s logo and Twentieth Anniversary emblem.

  • In cooperation with the Department of Rural Development Studies (DRDS) of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the Nordic Africa Institute, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a seminar on poverty eradication in rural Africa on 11 and 12 May 1998, in recognition of IFAD’s Twentieth Anniversary, the launching of Sweden’s new policy on partnerships with Africa, and the long-standing cooperation between the Nordic and African countries in the pursuit of poverty eradication. The seminar focused on politico-economic reforms in Africa and their impact on different groups of rural poor; and on the role that access to assets can play in addressing poverty issues. Specific aspects covered were IFAD’s twenty years of experience, new challenges and opportunities in smallholder development in East and southern Africa, and knowledge creation and dissemination in the context of strategic partnerships and alliances. The seminar also paid tribute to IFAD as a small but effective United Nations organization that has pioneered the development of new approaches to poverty reduction in the rural areas. The occasion provided a forum for linking IFAD’s experience to the strategies and approaches of other international institutions and to current knowledge in the international research community. In addition to officials of the Swedish International Development Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of World Bank, the seminar was attended by representatives of other Scandinavian governments (Denmark, Norway and Finland) and Swedish NGOs.

  • A series of events from 1-5 June 1998,  culminating in  a Workshop on Public and Private Partnerships in Combatting Rural Poverty was  held in Washington DC, United States. During that week, portions of IFAD’s Expo "From Hope to Harvest" were displayed in the Rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building under the sponsorship of Senator Byron Dorgan and with  financial contributions from several NGOs and business concerns.  A symbolic tree was planted in the grounds of the US Capitol Building by Congressman Sonny Callahan, Republican, a Chairman of the House of Representatives'  Foreign Operations Subcommittee, and by the President of IFAD.  The tree is to symbolize the vibrant and life-giving partnership between IFAD and its historically largest contributor, the United States of America.  Ambassador Princeton Lyman commended IFAD on its two decades of work, commented on the fine contribution that  former Vice-President Donald Brown had made to the institution's development following  his career with USAID, and read a congratulatory letter from President Clinton.  The workshop focused on three themes: (a) microfinance, (b) the Popular Coalition to Eradicate Hunger and Poverty, and (c) fighting desertification.  Members of Congress and Senators spoke about their support for these activities, and a number of  participants made specific recommendations for strengthening collaborative activities.

  • The Dominican Republic commemorated  IFAD’s Twentieth Anniversary on the occasion of the IFAD/Foundation for Training and Applied Research in Agrarian Reform (CIARA) Workshop on Gender Implementation in IFAD Projects in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Venezuela. The workshop was held in Santo Domingo from 8 to 13 June 1998.

  • The Government of Switzerland is planning to hold a workshop on the evaluation of the Special Programme for Africa, within the context of IFAD’s Twentieth Anniversary. The workshop will take place in the Swiss Capital of Bern.

  • The Government of Bangladesh has informed IFAD that it intends to issue a stamp bearing the Fund’s Twentieth Anniversary logo on 17 October 1998, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This is part of Bangladesh’s programme of activities highlighting IFAD’s role in the country’s poverty alleviation and rural development efforts, with particular focus on collaboration with civil society, the private sector, the Government and NGOs.

  •  During the course of 1998, the Government of Belgium will be organizing events relating to IFAD’s collaboration with the Belgian Survival Fund.

  • The Government of Gabon indicated its intention to organize an IFAD Day to commemorate the Fund’s Twentieth Anniversary.

  • Italy has issued a new ITL 500 coin bearing IFAD’s Twentieth Anniversary logo in addition to the 3 million telephone cards bearing IFAD’s logo issued by the Italian telephone company, TELECOM Italia Spa.

  • The Government of Japan has informed IFAD that it expects to hold a workshop within the context of the Fund’s Twentieth Anniversary.

  • A special IFAD Day is to be organized by the Government of Tunisia focusing on the Fund’s work in the country and presenting information on current projects.

  • The Government of Uganda has indicated that activities to commemorate IFAD’s Twentieth Anniversary are under preparation. The President of the Fund has been invited to participate in these celebrations.

  • The International Islamic Charitable Organization, based in Kuwait, has informed the Fund that it has published a number of articles in its journal in recognition of IFAD on the occasion of its Twentieth Anniversary.

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