November 1995 - In coalition with civil society, the Conference on Hunger and Poverty

In recognition of the important role of civil society, IFAD – together with the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme, the European Commission, the European Parliament and approximately 12 NGOs and research establishments – organizes the Conference on Hunger and Poverty in Brussels. The objective is to develop a joint agenda for action aimed at the eradication of hunger and poverty through harnessing the potential and dynamism of civil societies. Close to 1000 persons from 300 organizations participate in the conference – more than 70% of them representing NGOs, producers’ and peasants’ associations, trade unions, municipalities and academic centres. In the NGOs’ view, the conference is the most participatory event ever held; it is also seen as linking the objectives of a number of recent international summits.