Regional Communications Officer, Asia and the Pacific
[email protected]Rome, 14 February 2025 - Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Liao Min, Vice Minister of Finance of the People’s Republic of China, renewed the country’s US$10 million contribution to the China-IFAD South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) Facility. The signing took place yesterday during IFAD’s 48th Governing Council meeting in Rome.
Launched in 2018 with an initial US$10 million contribution from China, the China-SSTC Facility – the first of its kind within IFAD – has leveraged South-South cooperation to drive rural development.
“IFAD has a unique advantage in using SSTC to support global rural economic development. China, as the largest developing country, is willing to share more experience with other fellow developing countries”
Liao Min Vice Minister of Finance of the People’s Republic of China
Through knowledge-sharing and collaboration among Southern countries and organizations, the Facility has indirectly benefited over 100,000 people in rural areas by sharing best practices between Southern counterparts in countries and organizations. This latest funding reinforces China's commitment to supporting SSTC within the UN system, particularly in agricultural development for the Global South; driving progress in poverty reduction, productivity, and rural transformation.
"China's experience in lifting millions out of poverty offers valuable lessons for the world, and this generous contribution demonstrates its commitment to sharing that expertise with other nations," said Lario. "This support will enable us to further accelerate progress in rural poverty reduction and empower small-scale farmers by sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices through our South-South and Triangular Cooperation facility. It's a significant vote of confidence in IFAD's mission and strengthens our partnership," he added.
By the end of 2024, the Facility had supported 20 SSTC projects across 40 countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, directly benefiting over 50,000 people.
With this new funding, the Facility’s Phase II will continue to advance SSTC efforts by promoting the exchange of knowledge, technology and resources among developing countries to reduce rural poverty, enhance food security, and increase the resilience and livelihoods of rural people. Through strategic grants, the Facility will promote innovative solutions to strengthen the productive, entrepreneurial, financial, and marketing capacities of rural populations and small-scale farmers; foster the adoption of inclusive production and business models that can raise rural people’s incomes, both in agriculture and in non-farm rural activities; and support investment and market linkages between developing countries. The Facility will also improve rural livelihoods and transform agri-food systems, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs 1 (No Poverty) and 2 (Zero Hunger), by 2030.
You can download footage from the signing ceremony at this link.
To find out more about IFAD's partnership with China and the SSTC Facility, follow this link.
Watch the China-IFAD SSTC Facility in action:
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Press release No.: IFAD/12/2025
IFAD is an international financial institution and a United Nations specialized agency. Based in Rome – the United Nations food and agriculture hub – IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided more than US$25 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries.
A wide range of photographs and broadcast-quality video content of IFAD’s work in rural communities are available for download from our Image Bank.
