المعرفة

In 2004, together with its partners across the globe, IFAD continued to step up its commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As the United Nations agency dedicated solely to the eradication of rural poverty, IFAD has sought during the year to bring attention to the crucial importance of agriculture and rural development to achieving the MDGs. Three-quarters of the world’s extremely poor people, about 800 million men, women and children, live in rural areas of developing countries, where they depend on agriculture and related activities for survival. While some countries are making good progress towards achieving the MDGs, most of the poorest countries are not on track to meeting the targets by 2015. Rural people make up the largest proportion of the population in most of these countries. Simply put, the MDGs will not be met unless we put agriculture and rural development at the very top of our development agenda.

Learn more about IFAD’s work to promote rural transformation in our 2004 Annual Report. Discover how our investments are empowering rural women and men, and review the facts and figures we share with our Member States and partners. You can also find out more about our advocacy work on behalf of rural communities worldwide.

The Oversight Committee (OVC) was established by the President of IFAD in May 2000, pursuant to President’s Bulletin 2000/04, to coordinate investigations into alleged irregular practices as a means of ensuring consistent, prompt and appropriate responses to allegations. The OVC membership comprises the Vice-President of IFAD as Chair, the General Counsel and the Chief, Internal Audit.1 The Special Advisor to the Vice-President and other IFAD officers (on invitation) have also participated in OVC meetings. The mandate of the OVC was reinforced in July 2003 through the adoption of the UN/IFI Uniform Guidelines for Investigation (see President’s Bulletin 2003/06, copy attached).

 

Land degradation – often caused by human activities such as overcultivation of soil, deforestation, overgrazing and population growth – affects more than one billion people and 40 per cent of the Earth’s
surface.When this degradation occurs in the drylands where the earth is particularly fragile, rainfall is minimal and weather is harsh, desertification results.

Desertification directly affects the lives of more than 650 million people in 110 countries. Contrary to popular belief, desertification is a process that can often be reversed.There are many ways of combating desertification, including applying appropriate land-use technologies and water-use strategies. However, one of the most effective methods of combating desertification is by eradicating poverty.

Learn more about IFAD’s work to promote rural transformation in our 2003 Annual Report. Discover how our investments are empowering rural women and men, and review the facts and figures we share with our Member States and partners. You can also find out more about our advocacy work on behalf of rural communities worldwide.

 

A pesar de que las personas pobres que viven en las zonas rurales son los principales productores agrícolas del mundo, en muchos casos no tienen acceso a sus tierras y no ejercen control sobre los recursos naturales de los que depende su subsistencia.