The 2030 Agenda is a global commitment to “leave no one behind” in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nowhere is the challenge of leaving no one behind more salient than in rural areas.

Adopted by United Nations (UN) Member States in 2015, Agenda 2030 is the global agenda for sustainable development. It features 17 Global Goals and 169 targets, indicators and means of implementation.

Agenda 2030 is universal: it applies to countries at all levels of development. It is ambitious in its goal to eradicate poverty and hunger, and to put all economies and societies on a sustainable path. It is also comprehensive, spanning social, environmental and economic issues.

IFAD’s vision of inclusive and sustainable rural transformation is one in which extreme poverty is eliminated and every rural family lives in dignity.

To achieve this vision, IFAD works with its Member States and other stakeholders to generate improved and more resilient livelihoods for all poor rural people, including smallholder farmers, land-poor and landless workers, women and youth, marginalized ethnic groups, and victims of disaster and conflict, while not undermining the natural resource base.

IFAD and the SDGs

Given our mandate to eradicate rural poverty and food insecurity, and by investing to raise smallholder productivity and incomes IFAD plays a central role in achieving:

SDG 1 - No poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

SDG 2 - Zero hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

SDG 10 - Reduced inequalities: Reduce inequalities within and among countries.

By supporting the empowerment of rural women, IFAD also brings a major contribution to:

SDG 5 - Gender equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

By fostering inclusive, diversified, and productive rural economies, IFAD contributes to:

SDG 8 - Decent work and economic growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

SDG 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

SDG 11 - Sustainable cities and communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

By investing in sustainable agriculture and smallholder adaptation capacity to climate change, IFAD supports:

SDG 6 - Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

SDG 12 - Responsible consumption and production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

SDG 13 - Climate action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

SDG 14 - Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

SDG 15 - Life on land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

By strengthening local institutions and natural resource governance, IFAD supports:

SDG 16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.