We envision vibrant, inclusive and sustainable rural economies, in which people live fulfilling lives free from poverty and hunger.

Why IFAD?

As the only specialized global development organization exclusively dedicated to transforming agriculture, rural economies and food systems, IFAD’s mission has become even more relevant at this time.

"It invests in the millions of rural people who are most at risk of being left behind: poor, small-scale food producers, women, young people, indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups living in rural areas.

It targets low income and lower middle income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, but also provides support to address stubborn pockets of poverty in upper-middle income countries. IFAD works in remote areas, and in difficult contexts of food insecurity, environmental stresses and fragility."

By helping create economic opportunities, it enables rural people to increase their productive capacity and their incomes.

With 40 years of experience working in remote rural areas, we know the last mile can be the hardest. But that’s where the development community now needs to concentrate its efforts in order to reach those who are most in need and most in danger of being left behind.

IFAD's unique mandate and expertise can enable it to play a special role in getting back on track to achieve SDGs 1 and 2

Our results

Since 1978, IFAD has been a leader in people-centred rural and agricultural development.

an estimated 513 million people empowered to grow more food, and improve their livelihoods

US$22.6 billion in loans and grants

US$31 billion mobilized in cofinancing

1,069 programmes and projects supported 

IFAD builds the resilience of rural people living in crisis and post-crisis situations. We have repurposed investments in more than 100 projects to target activities to respond to COVID-19. 

And we have launched the Rural Poor Stimulus Facility to help the most vulnerable and marginalized people survive the crisis and to accelerate the recovery. 

IFAD’s role in the global development architecture is unique.

1

Specialized Activities

We specialize in activities needed for inclusive, productive, resilient and sustainable rural and food system transformation.

2

Partnerships

IFAD partners with governments, other financial institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and rural people and their organizations in nearly 100 countries where we currently have investments.

3

Strategic Approach

IFAD-supported projects are embedded in a strategic approach aligned with government development strategies.

Making an impact

IFAD is the only IFI using a comprehensive and quantifiable approach to measure results from impact to outcomes and outputs.

IFAD is committed to conducting impact assessments on a sample of 15 per cent of its portfolio and aggregating impact estimates to determine the overall impact of its entire portfolio.

These impact assessments show that each year, IFAD’s investments raise the production of 15 million small-scale producers and increase the value of sales of another 16 million, improve the resilience of 9 million project participants, and raise the income of 20 million rural women and men by at least 20 per cent.

Increased investments to IFAD by 2030 could help:

1

Increase the production

of 201 million small-scale producers

2

Improve the resilience

of 111 million project participants

3

Raise the incomes

of 264 million rural women and men by at least 20 per cent.

IFAD is expanding its work on climate and environment, as well as gender, youth and nutrition, and integrating them together for more impact.

Fostering inclusive growth

There are glaring inequalities between rural and urban areas, within rural areas, and between women and men.

Food insecurity and poverty are most severe among rural marginalized groups, including women and youth.

The Coronavirus pandemic and related disruptions to trade, markets and movement threaten the well-being and livelihoods of poor rural people, with implications for national and global food security.

To foster inclusive growth that reaches those most in need, larger investments in areas such as major infrastructure have been complemented with efforts to spur “growth from below” - investments at community-level in small and medium enterprises, in small-scale producers and in the rural non-farm economy.

Additional targeted actions need to be taken in countries in which rural poverty and food insecurity remain significant.

These actions must be carried out at the grassroots level, if they are to stand a chance of reaching the poorest and most marginalized people with the resources and skills they need.


Building resilience to climate impacts

Today’s paramount challenge is the environmental threats that imperil the livelihoods of small-scale producers and other rural people, and undermine both global food security and stability.

Hunger is significantly worse in countries where the livelihoods of a high proportion of the population depend on agriculture.

IFAD has been a leader in supporting small-scale producers in building their resilience to climate impacts. Our investments to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic are linked to our priority of enhancing climate resilience.


The Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) has been implemented across 41 countries

_________

 helping rural people build their resilience through grants totalling US$298 million.

3,127,000 

People


have been reached by the programme

760,000

Hectares


have been brought under climate-resilient agricultural techniques

82,000 

Households


have an improved access to water for production and processing

11,300  

Community groups 


are supported to manage climate risks

US$ 22 million

Invested 


in climate resilient-infrastructure

A new ASAP+ programme    


will build on these successes, focusing on low-income countries, particularly those in debt distress and in fragile settings.

Doing things differently

Leveraging responsible private investment

The private sector can be a powerful engine of inclusive growth. Small farms are themselves part of the private sector, though often cut off from resources and access to markets.

Public-private-producer partnerships (the 4Ps approach) can lead to expanded and improved services and market access for poor small-scale producers.

Accelerating progress in IFAD12

IFAD is developing a new financial architecture to dramatically step up its impact and capacity to assist countries most in need. This includes grant-based targeted investments, strengthened risk management, greater leveraging and new financial instruments such as a Private Sector Financing Programme (PSFP). It also includes the Rural Poor Stimulus Facility, to help the most vulnerable and marginalized people survive the crisis and to accelerate the recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic.

Project Planning

Rural people – small-scale farmers, rural women, youth, indigenous peoples –need support and investment now to improve their lives and to build prosperity, food security and resilience for themselves and their communities. They play key roles in sustainably producing food for the world, while managing the world’s richest sources of biodiversity and adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.

With increased support, together we can step up our contribution to ending poverty and hunger.