Connecting global financial markets to small-scale farmers: discover the impact of IFAD’s first sustainable bonds

As global leaders gather at COP28 at the end of November, the importance of driving private investments to those who need it most is top of mind. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will share results of IFAD’s first sustainable bonds at the London Stock Exchange (LSE) on 21 November, and illustrate how investments are improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of small-scale farmers, who are trying to cope with climate change, inflation and broken supply chains.

In June last year, IFAD issued its first-ever sustainable bonds as part of a strategy to channel more funding to the world’s poorest people, who live in the rural areas of developing countries and are essential to feeding the world today and tomorrow. With climate change accelerating, food insecurity rising and instability growing, IFAD is innovating to ensure developing countries and vulnerable populations have the financing they need to develop and take climate action.

IFAD is the first United Nations Fund and the only UN body and specialized agency other than the World Bank Group to raise funding on capital markets. It has a AA+ rating from both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch.

The UN flag will fly for the first time ever at the London Stock Exchange. IFAD will open the LSE markets at 08.00 and will complete the listing of its four private placements on the LSE as well.

The UN Goodwill Ambassador for IFAD, Sabrina Elba, and RT Hon Andrew Mitchell, Minister of State for Development and Africa, will participate in the market opening.

WHEN: Tuesday 21 November 2023, 8.30 – 9.30 GMT.

WHAT: Presentation of the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) first sustainable bonds impact report

WHO:

• Alvaro Lario, IFAD President.
• Nigel Brett, Director of the Operational Policy and Results Division at IFAD
• Natalia Toschi, Head of Funding at IFAD

WHERE: London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, London EC4M 7LS

ACCREDITATION: please provide your name, nationality, media affiliation, email and phone number to [email protected]

Photos will be available from IFAD immediately after the market opening (9:30 GMT).

For more information on IFAD sustainable bonds, check our investors page: A smart investment for a better world

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Media advisory No.: MA/10/2023

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$24 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.