IFAD’s fight against rural poverty and hunger highlighted at One Planet Summit, as President Macron calls on others to step up their commitment

In a move to sustainably address rising hunger and poverty, exacerbated by COVID-19, climate change and biodiversity loss, French President Emmanuel Macron called on global leaders to step up their commitments in support of long-term agricultural development.

“Climate change, biodiversity and food are all correlated. Agriculture is key,” said President Macron, who announced a series of commitments during the One Planet Summit, including a 50 per cent increase in funds to IFAD for its work in 2022-2024. “I am convinced our partners will follow in this ambitious dynamic.”

Earlier in the day, President Macron met with the IFAD’s UN Goodwill Ambassadors Idris Elba, actor, filmmaker and humanitarian, and Sabrina Dhowre Elba, actress, model and activist, who advocated for increased investments to rural populations, biodiversity and the fight against climate change.

©Philippe Servent /Présidence de la République

“We are delighted that President Macron has joined many countries, including those from Africa, who have increased their pledges to IFAD, and we hope other leaders and countries will follow their lead,” said Idris and Sabrina Dhowre Elba following the announcement. “At a time when every country is experiencing hardship from the pandemic, we need more than ever the political vision to tackle our interlinked climate, health and economic emergencies. Investing in sustainable agriculture and rural areas not only creates economic opportunities for a better and more equal future, but can also help safeguard our planet.“

Three out of four of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas. A majority of them work in agriculture on small farms. While they produce 50 per cent of the world’s food calories on only 30 per cent of global agricultural land, many of them live in poverty and cannot feed their families. Hunger and poverty are on the rise due to conflict, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.

IFAD has called on its Member States to significantly increase their contributions in support of its Twelfth Replenishment to deliver an overall programme of work of at least US$11 billion from 2022 to 2024, including through a new private sector financing programme and an expansion of its pioneering climate change adaptation programme (ASAP+). This would help approximately 140 million rural people increase their production and raise their incomes through better market access, contributing to creating jobs and improving food security and nutrition for the world’s most vulnerable people.