1 December is World AIDS Day, dedicated to the fight against the global epidemic. An estimated 33.4 million people around the world are living with AIDS; 95 per cent are from developing nations.

HIV/AIDS is one of the many challenges faced by hundreds of millions of poor people living in rural areas of developing countries. It has a serious impact on agriculture and rural development and on poor farmers’ ability to produce enough food for themselves and their families. IFAD’s work with poor rural people helps strengthen their capacity to overcome poverty and hunger. In doing so, it also helps them cope better with the impact of HIV/AIDS.