REPORT
2022








WHERE IFAD WORKS
-
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
49
ongoing projects
in 20 countries
US$2,597.9 million
ongoing IFAD
financing -
EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
44
ongoing projects
in 17 countries
US$1,947.8 million
ongoing IFAD
financing -
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
25
ongoing projects in 16 countries
US$454.1 million
ongoing IFAD
financing -
NEAR EAST, NORTH AFRICA AND EUROPE
28
ongoing projects
in 16 countries
and Gaza and
the West Bank
US$845.6 million
ongoing IFAD
financing -
WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
52
ongoing projects
in 23 countries
US$2,139.4 million
ongoing IFAD
financing


2022 WAS A PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING YEAR FOR RURAL PEOPLE THE WORLD OVER.
Conflict, the impacts of climate change and the continued stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic threatened lives and livelihoods. In rural areas, communities acutely felt the effects of this triple crisis on their food systems, which are a critical source of livelihoods – as well as essential nourishment – for them, and for the millions of people who depend on them.
During 2022, IFAD’s mandate became even more important – and IFAD rose to the challenge.
I was honoured to begin my term as IFAD President on 1 October 2022. At the same time, I was acutely aware of the challenges we are facing in this difficult global context.
But I know that crisis can be the impetus for positive change. At IFAD, with our unique mandate and our role as an assembler of development finance, we are always striving to do more and to bring others on board, as with the launch of the Crisis Response Initiative in May 2022. A major milestone during the year was issuing two inaugural private placement transactions for an aggregate amount of US$150 million – the first time that IFAD has approached financial markets as an issuer.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP DRIVE THE POSITIVE CHANGE THE WORLD NEEDS AND TO BE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO FOOD SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION.
Specifically, this means we need to support rural people to cope with present crises. But we also need to invest in building food systems that can support and nourish their families and communities, and help feed the world into the future.
A key aspect of this must be withstanding the increasing impacts of climate change. That’s why more than 90 per cent of IFAD’s climate finance is focused on building adaptation and resilience. And that’s why we have committed to focusing on nature-based solutions, which are crucial not only for climate adaptation but also for reducing the carbon emissions that cause climate change.
We also continued to move ahead with our Private Sector Financing Programme with new non-sovereign operations projects. In the past two years, we have designed NSOs in Bolivia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda, with more planned for 2023.
Throughout the year, we highlighted to global audiences the importance of the work we are doing as a strategic response to multiple crises, and the need for long-term investment to build resilience to future crises.`



WE PARTICIPATED IN WIDE-RANGING DISCUSSIONS AT KEY GLOBAL EVENTS TO INFLUENCE THE AGENDA AND ADVOCATE FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN RURAL PEOPLE.
Personal highlights included giving a keynote address at the first-ever joint meeting of G20 Finance and Agriculture Ministers in Washington D.C. and delivering a high-level opening address at the 50th Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security – both shortly after I took office in October 2022. Another example of IFAD’s global engagement in 2022 was our visibility at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt.
In addition to convening many events to call for more investment in climate adaptation for small-scale farmers and other rural people, we signed a multi-billion dollar climate agreement with the host Government of Egypt to lead the food and agriculture pillar of its first-ever national climate change strategy.
In 2022, we also started preliminary discussions with our Member States on priorities for the IFAD13 cycle (2025-2027).
WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR IFAD’S CRUCIAL ROLE IN STRENGTHENING THE LONG-TERM RESILIENCE OF SMALL-SCALE FARMERS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, FRAGILITY AND FOOD INSECURITY.


Doing more to get more finance is critical; but we also have to continue to ensure that the people who need it most are the ones who benefit. This is another part of what makes IFAD unique, and we are maintaining our commitment to devote 100 per cent of our core funding to the poorest countries. More than half of the people we serve are women and girls. And in 2022 we began implementing our new Disability Inclusion Policy to ensure that rural people with disabilities are also part of IFAD-supported projects.
IFAD has achieved much and we have exceeded our past commitments, as our impact assessment reports show.
FOR EXAMPLE, 77 MILLION RURAL PEOPLE IMPROVED THEIR INCOMES AS A RESULT OF OUR PROJECTS BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021, AGAINST A TARGET OF 44 MILLION. BUT WE WILL NEED TO DO EVEN MORE, TO REACH MORE PEOPLE, RAISE MORE FINANCE, AND ACHIEVE GREATER IMPACTS, IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
But we will need to do even more, to reach more people, raise more finance, and achieve greater impacts, in the years ahead.
With the continued support of our Member States, international and national development partners, and the rural communities we work with, we can find solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges – hunger, poverty, conflict, climate change, inequality. We can give opportunities and hope to the world’s underserved rural people. And we can help bring about the change we need for a more prosperous and sustainable world, with thriving rural communities at its heart.

Alvaro Lario
PRESIDENT OF IFAD


The Agricultural Services Programme for Innovation, Resilience and Extension (ASPIRE) in Cambodia aims to support small-scale farmers to establish profitable and resilient farm businesses. Through a combination of interventions, ASPIRE has built a farmer-centred, market-oriented training system in Cambodia that is now fully mainstreamed into national policy.
NEARLY 150,000 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE RESILIENT AND IMPROVED FARM BUSINESSES
THE VALUE OF HOUSEHOLD ASSETS HAS RISEN BY OVER 40 PER CENT
HOUSEHOLD NET INCOME FROM AGRICULTURE IS UP BY 18 PER CENT
OVER 88,000 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE ADOPTED ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT PRACTICES
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, CLICK HERE
Megnath, young farmer and participant in the Adaptation for Smallholders in Hilly Areas project
Clarita, participant in the FishCORAL project


The Vocational Training and Agricultural Productivity Improvement Programme aims to improve agricultural productivity, and therefore rural livelihoods and resilience, through training. The project has a particular focus on youth with little education and on young women. Complementary support to further boost productivity and marketing is being provided through investments in agricultural, storage and marketing infrastructure, plus support for accessing rural finance.
TOTAL OUTREACH IS EXPECTED TO BE CLOSE TO 500,000 PEOPLE
96 PER CENT OF THOSE REACHED SO FAR ARE YOUTH
MORE THAN 1,500 HECTARES OF LAND HAS IMPROVED WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK IN EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA, CLICK HERE
Mwagaro, a farmer benefiting from crop insurance under the Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme Climate Resilient Livelihoods Window


The Semi-arid Sustainable Development Project in the State of Piauí has helped rural communities overcome their environmental vulnerability by enhancing their productive capacities in key value chains, such as honey, cashew, goat and
handicrafts. An increase in productive capacities was coupled with skill development for small farmers to support them in accessing markets and financial services, and strengthening their rural organizations.
THE LEVEL OF EXTREME POVERTY WAS HALVED
PARTICIPATING FAMILIES’ INCOMES INCREASED BY 45 PER CENT
THE PROJECT BENEFITED 36,111 RURAL FAMILIES, OVER 40 PER CENT OF WHICH WERE HEADED BY WOMEN
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, CLICK HERE.
Juana Morales, a 27-year-old participant in the AGRIdigitalización project
Iris Maribel Alberto, participant in the Rural Adelante project


In Tajikistan, the second phase of the Livestock and Pasture Development Project focused on enhancing the food and nutrition security of livestock farmers by boosting livestock productivity and improving the productive capacity of pastures. The project succeeded in expanding the pasture user unions, improving animal productivity and animal health services, and providing income-generating activities for community members, particularly women.
INCOME FROM LIVESTOCK MORE THAN DOUBLED
ALMOST 100,000 HECTARES OF LAND IS BENEFITING FROM CLIMATE-RESILIENT PRACTICES
197 PASTURE USER UNIONS HAVE BEEN FORMED AND STRENGTHENED
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK IN THE NEAR EAST, NORTH AFRICA AND EUROPE, CLICK HERE.
Dalia Mohamed Ismail, participant in the Livestock Marketing and Resilience Programme


The second phase of the Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme aims to strengthen and broaden small-scale farmers’ access to rural finance. Through a network of 76 rural financial institutions, the programme is supporting farmers to expand their business activities.
OVER 200,000 RURAL HOUSEHOLDS CAN NOW ACCESS FINANCIAL SERVICES
HALF OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES’ CLIENTS ARE WOMEN
FARMERS’ AVERAGE INCOMES HAVE INCREASED BY MORE THAN ONE QUARTER
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA, CLICK HERE.
Emerson Dahn, beneficiary of the Tree Crops Extension Project

Poor rural people live and work amid some of the world’s most fragile landscapes – ranging from arid and desert zones to tropical grasslands and forests, from low-lying coastal belts to high mountains.
Their small-scale farms are reliant upon local climates and weather, and can be dramatically affected by changing climatic conditions. That’s why investing to help rural people adapt to climate change and strengthen their resilience is a priority for IFAD. We also work to mitigate the build-up of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that are causing climate change.
Our climate adaptation programmes draw upon the local and traditional knowledge of rural and indigenous people, and 30 per cent of IFAD’s climate finance is committed to nature-based solutions.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW IFAD PROGRAMMES ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, CLICK HERE.


During more than 40 years of operations, IFAD has focused on helping the poorest rural communities. We have been continuously re-evaluating the kind of support they need, and how best to provide it. Our technical knowledge in areas such as rural finance, markets and biodiversity helps us provide real, value-for-money benefits to those we assist.
We are constantly alert for new ways to channel funds to rural people and for ways that new technologies can help them achieve the development they desire.
Our Financing Facility for Remittances, for example, helps migrants and their families channel remittances into economic development that benefits their families and communities of origin.
And the Insurance for Rural Resilience and Economic Development (INSURED) programme is helping to pioneer agricultural insurance against climate risk for small-scale farmers.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE AND OTHER GROUND-BREAKING INITIATIVES, CLICK HERE.


IFAD is the only international financial institution that systematically reviews a substantial proportion of its completed projects to measure their impacts and effectiveness.
In 2022, IFAD released the IFAD11 Impact Assessment Report, showing the impact of our work between 2019 and 2021. Despite assessment challenges created by COVID-19, the study found that by most measures IFAD amply exceeded its targets.
The report highlighted lessons that can help IFAD enhance its future effectiveness. It recommended that we invest more in food processing, transformation and marketing, and pinpointed the value of targeted strategies to enhance nutrition and women’s empowerment.
IFAD’s Independent Office of Evaluation has developed a new manual and strategy for even better evaluations during 2022-2027.
We have also been working to promote South-South and Triangular Cooperation and sharing of development knowledge and experiences between countries and regions with similar problems, even when they are far apart.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT – AND FROM – OUR EVALUATION AND KNOWLEDGE-SHARING INITIATIVES, CLICK HERE.


Uniquely among United Nations agencies, IFAD’s mandate is to focus on helping the world’s most vulnerable people, those whose needs are greatest. Our projects seek to help rural people overcome the causes of their poverty and vulnerability.
Our approach is to listen to poor rural people and to their suggestions for changes needed to improve their lives. Then we work with them to make these changes reality, providing expertise and funding where appropriate.
Our Rural Poor Stimulus Facility, launched to help communities recover economically from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a perfect example.
We pay careful attention to the most vulnerable in communities, such as indigenous people, women, youth and people with disabilities. We overhauled our policies on indigenous people and people with disabilities in 2022 and seek to ensure, across our programmes, that no group is left behind.
FOR MORE DETAILS OF HOW WE WORK WITH OUR BENEFICIARIES, CLICK HERE.


The world has fallen off track in its ambition to end poverty and hunger by 2030, as set out in the Sustainable Development Goals framed in 2015. The challenge of getting back on track is compounded by disruptive events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
In response, IFAD is seeking to raise more money and leverage its own funds in new ways so that more resources are available to us to help poor rural communities.
IFAD’s 12th funding replenishment cycle, to fund its work during the three years 2022-2024, has secured pledges from 107 Member States totalling US$1.28 billion.
By the end of 2022, IFAD had secured US$675 million, 56 per cent of the borrowing required. Of this, a total of US$150 million was raised through two first-ever private placings of bonds with capital market investors, underpinned by an AA+/stable outlook rating from agencies Fitch and S&P Global.
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE FINANCE OUR WORK, CLICK HERE.


The world’s poorest rural people depend upon IFAD to help them develop their businesses, communities and lives. We need to make sure we don’t let them down.
This means we must manage every aspect of our operations to the best of our ability, and ensure that we can adapt to unforeseen events, ranging from pandemics to conflict and market upsets, and continue delivering our programmes in the field. We call this risk management.
Our approach is to seek to identify what could go wrong, and then put in place policies and processes to minimize the danger. For example, we are decentralizing our operations, and realize that this makes us more vulnerable to online hackers, and fraudsters both on and offline. So we have put in place rigorous checks and processes to verify payments and minimize the risk of financial crime.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW WE MITIGATE RISKS TO OUR OPERATIONS AND PEOPLE, CLICK HERE.


We are working hard to build an organization that is more efficient in every way, and that devolves more decision-making power and budgetary responsibility to our people in the field.
We have streamlined our IT systems and simplified the way we disburse funds – while enhancing auditing – to speed up payments, ensuring our projects have the funds they need, when they need them, and that we pay our suppliers without delays.
We are also achieving cost savings in the way we support our staff in the field, and are increasingly sharing support services in the countries where we operate with other United Nations agencies.
Meantime, we have overhauled our human resources and recruitment policies. Today, over 42 per cent of our senior staff are women, and more than half of our staff are drawn from developing and recipient countries.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW WE ARE IMPROVING OUR MANAGEMENT AND PROCESSES, CLICK HERE.


IFAD’s staff are as diverse as the countries and cultures from which they are drawn. Yet we are determined that everyone we employ directly, or who works for the partners that deliver our programmes, upholds the irreproachable ethical standards expected of a United Nations organization.
A training programme is now in place to make sure our people have a common understanding about conflicts of interest, and the vital importance of integrity in our work. That fits with our determination to ensure IFAD offers a working environment where people can thrive professionally and personally.
By the end of 2022, 39 per cent of our people were working in the field, up from 34 per cent at the start of the year, and on course to reach 45 per cent by 2024. As we disperse our staff more widely, we are determined to ensure they continue to receive the support and training they need to do our work effectively and ethically.
TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT OUR EFFORTS TO BE AN EXEMPLARY ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYER, CLICK HERE.

