Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin by thanking all of you for joining us in Rome for this important workshop. I know that I speak for all IFAD staff in welcoming you to Rome and to this workshop.

IFAD is a specialised agency of the United Nations charged with a very specific mandate — to combat rural hunger and poverty in developing countries. In fulfilling its mandate, IFAD’s main objective is to provide direct funding and mobilize additional resources for programmes specifically designed to promote the economic advancement of the rural poor, mainly by improving the productivity of on and off-farm activities. The Fund’s target groups are the poorest of the world’s people: small farmers, the rural land less, nomadic pastoralists, artisanal fisherfolk, indigenous people and across all groups, poor rural women.

In line with the Fund’s special focus on the alleviation of rural poverty in developing countries, the bulk of its resources are made available to low-income countries on highly concessional terms.

IFAD’s focus on the poorest in the poorest developing countries presents both a challenge and an imperative. Yes, it can raise complex issues working with the poorest people in marginalised areas. But if we are to make a difference, if we hope to achieve the DAC targets for poverty reduction, we must rise to this challenge. We must find new ways of reaching the poor, and find sustainable solutions to their problems. Most importantly, we need to provide the means and opportunity to our clients to allow them to play the pivotal role in the development process.