Save the date: IFAD Member States elect next President

Rome, 24 June 2022 – The UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) elects its next President on 7 July, designating new leadership at a crucial time when rising food, energy and fertilizer prices threaten to trigger a global food crisis and push millions more rural people into hunger and poverty.

The President will lead IFAD, a specialized United Nations agency and international finance institution with 177 Member States, for the next four years as it races to help deliver Sustainable Development Goals and boost rural communities’ resilience in the face of climate change.

Small-scale farmers produce one-third of the world’s food and are essential to global food security. Yet their productivity and welfare have been adversely impacted by the war in Ukraine, which has unleashed record-high food, energy and fertilizer prices. The shock comes as small-scale producers are already reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, their rural communities are among the most impacted by the ravages of climate change.

Through its innovative financing and grants, IFAD plays a crucial role in strengthening the resilience of rural populations and helping them strengthen food security and escape hunger and poverty. Between 2019 and 2021, IFAD helped 77 million people improve their income, 67 million people improve their access to markets, 60 million people increase their production and 40 million people strengthen their resilience.

What: Hybrid press conference with IFAD’s President-elect. Registration is required for attendance in person (media spaces will be limited) or virtually.

When: 7 July 2022, Time TBD – Members of the media who have registered to attend, either in person or virtually, will be alerted by email 30 minutes in advance of the start of the press conference. 

Where: In-person attendance : IFAD headquarters, Via Paolo di Dono, 44 - Rome. Virtual attendance: a link will be provided to registered media. 

The election starts at 9.30 am and takes place behind closed doors. After the results are announced to IFAD Member States, the new President’s acceptance speech and press conference will be accessible to registered media through a link to be provided.

For more information, please see: Appointment of IFAD President

ACCREDITATION:

Media accreditation to attend IFAD premises or participate in the online press conference must be completed by Monday 4 July 2022, COB.

Please send your request to Vincent Sineau at [email protected] and include “Press Accreditation” in the subject line, along with:

• Indication on whether attendance is in person or online
• A copy of a valid press card or letter of assignment on company stationery
• A copy of a valid ID (passport, national identity card)

Please have the above ID material with you to gain access to IFAD premises.

Due to COVID-19 protective measures, journalists attending in person will be required to submit a health questionnaire at least 24h prior to the event and to follow COVID-19 hygiene measures on-site.

For further information, contact Caroline Chaumont: [email protected], IFAD, mobile: +39 3496620155

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About International Fund for Agricultural Development

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. A wide range of photographs of IFAD’s work in rural communities are available for download from its Image Bank.