On 7 March 2008, the Global MDG3 Champion Torch campaign was launched in Copenhagen. On 4 October 2009, Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of IFAD, received the Torch from Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Ulla Tornaes, committing IFAD “to do something extra” to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. By that date more than 100 representatives of government, the private sector, civil society, media and international organizations had taken up the Torch.
MDG3 Torch Initiative – IFAD commitments
To strengthen IFAD’s contribution to equality, increased prosperity, and the enhanced well-being of rural women, we commit to:
- Improve our results on the ground by continuing to better integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment into our strategic framework, country programmes, and monitoring and evaluation systems
- Strengthen women's leadership and decision-making influence in agriculture and natural resource management at all levels
- Lend our voice through our strategic communications and advocacy in favour of increased investment in rural women, for sustainable agricultural development and food security
- Increase our own investment in technology development and capacity strengthening for gender equality and rural women’s empowerment through our grants programme.
