Event | 12 - 13 February 2025

48th session of the IFAD Governing Council

IFAD HQ, Rome, Italy

IFAD’s 48th Governing Council will explore how to catalyse investment at the first mile.

Our work focuses on those who are otherwise left behind: vulnerable rural people. Often referred to as “the last mile”, IFAD considers rural areas the first mile. This is where small-scale farmers grow the food that nourishes the planet.

With four in five of the world’s extreme poor people living in rural areas of developing countries, investing in them is key to a better, more sustainable future.

On 12 and 13 February 2025, heads of state, ministers, development professionals, innovation experts and small-scale farmers from all over the world will explore the importance of IFAD’s work at the first mile to assemble finance, strengthen policies, leverage partnerships and build resilience.

Day 1

Wednesday 12 February

Official Opening of the Governing Council

09:30-10:30

Welcoming statement: Alvaro Lario, President, IFAD
Welcoming statement: His Excellency Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister for Economy and Finance of the Italian Republic
His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho
His Excellency Julius Maada Wonie Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Her Excellency Eng. Noora Sulaiman Salem Al Fassam, Minister for Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investments of the State of Kuwait
The Honourable Hussein Bashe, Minister for Agriculture of the United Republic of Tanzania
His Excellency Dr Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (video statement)
His Excellency Dr Muhammad Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank
Her Excellency Janja Lula da Silva, First Lady of the Federative Republic of Brazil

Unlocking the potential of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

10.30-12.30 | Read more

Opening remarks: Alvaro Lario, President, IFAD
Opening remarks: His Excellency Wellington Dias, Minister for Development and Social Assistance, Family and the Fight Against Hunger, Brazil
The Honourable Hussein Bashe, Minister for Agriculture of the United Republic of Tanzania
The Honourable Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Hege Haaland, Director General, Department for Sustainable Development, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Her Excellency Chanthakhone Boualaphanh, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Forestry of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Closing remarks: Gerardine Mukeshimana, Vice President, IFAD

G7, G20 and IFAD in 2025

14.30–15.15 | Read more

Riccardo Barbieri Hermitte, Director General of the Treasury, Ministry of Economy and Finance of Italy
Tatiana Rosito, Ambassador, Deputy Minister of Finance for International Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Brazil.
Leslie Norton, Assistant Deputy Minister, International Assistance Partnerships and Programming, Global Affairs Canada
Her Excellency Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the Rome-based Agencies

Leaders’ Dialogue on Financing for Development

15.15-16.45 | Read more

Keynote Remarks: Eva Granados Galiano, Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Spain
Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, Chairman, Islamic Development Bank
Jin Liqun, President, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice-President, European Investment Bank
Matteo Patrone, Vice-President of Banking, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Closing Remarks: Alvaro Lario, President, IFAD
Moderator: Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive, ODI Global

Leaders’ Dialogue on Investing in Nutrition

16.45-18.15 | Read more

Keynote address: His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho
Brieuc Pont, France's Special Envoy on Nutrition and Secretary General of the Nutrition for Growth Summit
Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
Erina and Joel Guma, Founders of Pristine Foods Limited
Dayana Domico, Member of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD
Closing remarks: Gérardine Mukeshimana, Vice President, IFAD

Day 2

Thursday 13 February

Governors’ Dialogue with Indigenous Peoples

10.15–11.15 | Read more

Myrna Cunningham, Chair of the IPFI Steering Committee
H.E. Miguel Jorge García Winder, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the UN Agencies in Rome
Joan Carling, Chairperson, Board of the Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity Fund
Hindou Oumarou, Chair, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Tunda Lepore, Indigenous Youth Leader
Closing Remarks: Pieternel Boogaard, Managing Director, Office of Technical Delivery, IFAD

Annual Governors’ Roundtable: Designing and delivering for impact in an increasingly complex context

11:30-13:30 | Italian Conference Room | Open to all Governors/Heads of Delegation | Read more

Moderator: Mr Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President, Department for Country Operations

IFAD-World Bank joint side event: Escaping the Middle-Income trap at the First Mile

14:00-14:45 | Oval Room | Read more

Donal Brown, Associate Vice President, Department for Country Operations, IFAD
Somik V. Lall, Senior Adviser to the Chief Economist, World Bank Group

Governors’ Dialogue on South-South and Triangular Cooperation

15.00–16.30 | Read more

Opening Remarks: Alvaro Lario, President, IFAD
Her Excellency Carla Barroso Carneiro, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Federative Republic of Brazil to IFAD
Liao Min, Vice-Minister of Finance of the People’s Republic of China
Manisha Sinha, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of India
His Excellency Ömer Gücük, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Türkiye to IFAD

Official Closing of the Governing Council

16:30-17:00

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Highlights

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Press release

12 February 2025

GC48: In an uncertain world, investing in rural areas will bring growth and stability

As the world grows increasingly fragmented and the future uncertain, global leaders and financiers at the 48th Governing Council of IFAD today emphasized the strategic importance of investing in rural areas of developing countries to achieve food and nutrition security, economic growth and stability.

Read now

Explainer

4 decisions that shaped rural futures at IFAD’s Governing Council

As IFAD welcomes 180 Member States for the 48th Governing Council, we look back at Governing Council decisions that have made a difference in rural people's lives.

Learn more

Event

10 - 11 February 2025

Seventh Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD

Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination: a pathway for food security and sovereignty.

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Media contact

Susan Beccio

Senior Communication Officer, Global Outreach

[email protected]

Caroline Chaumont

Communication and Media Outreach Officer