Why is targeting necessary

Overall economic growth is necessary for poverty reduction but is not enough to ensure that the lives of all poor people will improve. IFAD’s experience, like that of others, shows that social and economic inequalities will persist or increase without focused efforts to create opportunities for those who have less, or to modify the unequal power relations that contribute to generating poverty.

IFAD is committed to rural poverty reduction through equitable and inclusive development. Among rural poor people, there is much diversity in terms of their access to different kinds of assets – including voice and power, and thus in their livelihood systems and coping strategies.

What does IFAD mean by targeting
IFAD therefore defines targeting more broadly as the set of purposefully designed actions and measures which ensure, or at least significantly increase the likelihood, that specific groups of poor people - and women and men equally - will benefit from the development initiatives it supports; while at the same time diminishing the risk that the less poor will benefit disproportionately”(IFAD. Targeting Policy).

Who is IFAD's target group
IFAD’s mandate defines its “target group” as rural people living in poverty and experiencing food insecurity in developing countries. Within this broad group, IFAD proactively strives to reach extremely poor people (as defined by MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger ) who have the potential to take advantage of the activities and investments that IFAD typically supports.