IFAD Launches Response to Global Food Security Impacts of War in Ukraine

Rome/Nairobi, 5 May 2022 – As the risk of global food security rises due to the war in Ukraine, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will launch its Crisis Response Initiative (CRI) at a press conference in Nairobi.

The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on global supply chains, driving up food and energy prices, and creating food shortages in countries already grappling with food security and poverty issues.

Without a strong and concerted response, there are concerns that global hunger and poverty will worsen, particularly in countries shouldering high debt burdens and among small-scale farmers and the poor rural women and men of the developing world who are already suffering from the impacts of severe weather and COVID-19.

IFAD has a long history in building the resilience of small-scale farmers who are critical for producing a third of the world’s food. IFAD’s CRI aims to protect the development gains and livelihoods of farmers while focusing on the poorest and most affected countries.

This new facility aims to raise funds from donor countries to assist a limited number of priority countries with grants. These countries are mostly located in Sub-Saharan Africa.

What: Press Conference, Launch of IFAD’s Crisis Response Initiative
Organized by IFAD – UN specialized agency and international financial institution

Who: 

• Donal Brown, IFAD Associate Vice-President, Programme Management Department
• Dina Saleh, IFAD Regional Director of Near East and North Africa and Europe Division
• Sabrina Dhowre Elba, United Nations’ IFAD Goodwill Ambassador, Actress, Activist and Model
• Maarten Brouwer, Ambassador, The Netherlands
• Nasser Ega-Musa, Director, United Nations Information Centre for Kenya, Uganda and Seychelles will moderate the press conference.

When: Wednesday, 11 May 2022, 11:00-12:00

Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill

Media are welcome to attend the press conference. Due to limited number of seats, please RSVP by 10 May noon to:

Linda Odhiambo, Sub Regional Communications Analyst

Mob: +254 722 816296 / 0780 320 073

E-mail: [email protected]

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Media Alert No: IFAD/03/2022

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$23.2 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries. Last year, IFAD-supported projects reached an estimated 130 million people.