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Rural futures in focus: Zimbabwe

September 2024 - BLOG

We caught up with IFAD's Country Director for Zimbabwe, Francesco Rispoli, about the country's present challenges – and future potential.

This is a critical moment for water. Only by working together can we turn the tide

August 2024 - BLOG

As leaders gather for World Water Week, IFAD President and UN-Water Chair Alvaro Lario shares insights on our planet's most precious resource.

Climate finance isn't working for Indigenous Peoples. This must change

August 2024 - BLOG

Indigenous climate activist Helen Biangalen-Magata weighs in on the urgent need to rethink how development finance supports communities like hers.

Sustainable development can solve rural China's climate challenges

August 2024 - BLOG

Our Associate Vice-President Donal Brown reflects on how IFAD has accompanied this dynamic country on its development journey – and how we will continue to collaborate into the future.

 

In Zambia, I saw rural resilience first-hand

June 2024 - BLOG

IFAD Associate Vice-President Guoqi Wu shares insights after a visit to project areas in Zambia, which has been hit hard by drought.

When it comes to protecting biodiversity, we must all do our part

May 2024 - BLOG

Biodiversity in all its forms has transformative power – protecting it requires a whole-of-society approach, in which we all play our part. 

6 ways IFAD is helping to prevent the next pandemic

May 2024 - BLOG

Given the complex interconnections between the health of animals, people and the planet, how can we prepare ourselves for the next pandemic? Here’s how IFAD’s investments are helping.

With new geospatial tools, mapping environmental impact is as easy as ABC

May 2024 - BLOG

Launched this year by the IFAD-hosted Agri-PBD Platform, the ABC-Map uses satellite data to get a holistic view of environmental impact without requiring any ground data.

4 ways IFAD is using AI to transform rural development

April 2024 - BLOG

Artificial Intelligence is not just a buzzword for IFAD – it is a powerful new technology that delivers better development results and increases impact.

Why rural development in Haiti matters, even during emergencies

April 2024 - BLOG

IFAD’s Country Director for Haiti, Paolo Silveri, shares his insights on the current crisis – and explains why IFAD is committed to continuing operations.

Prosperity or the planet? Luckily, they're not mutually exclusive

February 2024 - BLOG

All too often, value chain development harms the planet by emitting carbon and degrading environments. That’s why to build truly prosperous rural areas, we must make value chains not just strong, but sustainable.

When it comes to measuring water security, lived experiences matter

January 2024 - BLOG

Water stress is growing around the world. To effectively tackle it, a new approach assesses not only whether water infrastructure is available and working, but also whether it is meeting the needs of the people who rely on it. 

Why camelids are key to a better future in Bolivia and beyond

January 2024 - BLOG

Why has the UN declared this year the International Year of Camelids? IFAD’s Country Director for Bolivia, Daniel Anavitarte, explains why you should care about these extraordinary mammals – and why they’re key to sustainable rural development in South America and beyond.

Investing in a better future: A new day dawns, and we have reasons for hope

December 2023 - BLOG

When climate and natural disasters strike, it’s rural people who are worst affected. Investing in their resilience ensures that they not only endure times of crisis, but emerge stronger. Associate Vice-President of Programmes Donal Brown explains how rural communities can change the world for the better.

IFAD at COP: Raising the voices of rural people

November 2023 - BLOG

Follow IFAD's journey at COP28, as we showcase efforts towards sustainable agriculture, climate resilience and food security, and raise the voices of rural people all over the world.

 

Investing in a better future: Near East, North Africa, Europe and Central Asia

November 2023 - BLOG

The Near East, North Africa, Europe and Central Asia is a dynamic region faced with many challenges. We caught up with Regional Director Dina Saleh to find out how rural people are coping with the realities of conflict and climate change and to understand why the right investments now can make all the difference later.

Investing in a better future: West and Central Africa

October 2023 - BLOG

West and Central Africa is as intricate as it is vast. We sat down with Regional Director, Bernard Mwinyel Hien, to better understand the region’s strengths and challenges.

Everyone deserves a chance to prosper

October 2023 - BLOG

Rural people in Nigeria face unimaginable challenges. Find out how farmer-focused social enterprise Babban Gona and IFAD have joined forces to support those who are most in need.

Learning from El Niño

September 2023 - BLOG

El Niño is back, and its effects are expected to have dire consequences for rural people. Oliver Page explains why we must do more to create a resilient, sustainable future in the face of this devastating climate phenomenon.

North Africa is struggling to cope. The terrible events of this week will become all too familiar unless we invest in resilience

September 2023 - BLOG

IFAD’s Regional Director for the NEN region, Dina Saleh, reacts to the disastrous events that have occurred in the region this week.

The road to a greener future

September 2023 - BLOG

Roads may sometimes be taken for granted. But for remote rural communities, they can be life changing. Find out how integrating roads and water management can lead to sustainable economic growth.

Investing in a better future: Asia and the Pacific

September 2023 - BLOG

The Asia Pacific region is one of dizzying contrasts and incredible scale. We caught up with Regional Director, Reehana Rifat Raza, to find out the challenges faced by rural people in this dynamic region and how investment can make all the difference for their futures.

Investing in a better future: East and Southern Africa

September 2023 - BLOG

East and Southern Africa is home to a diversity of landscapes, people and challenges. We sat down with Regional Director Sara Mbago-Bhunu to talk about rural life and the importance of investment.

Africa is in the eye of the climate change storm. Here is what its people are calling for

August 2023 - BLOG

It’s time countries step up their investments and secure a climate-resilient future for small-scale farmers in Africa. Here’s how.

When resilience is not enough

August 2023 - BLOG

The line between getting by and going under is often all too thin. Disasters can immediately upend lives and reverse decades of progress and rural development. That’s why rural people also need their community, their country and their planet to be resilient.

Rural realities go global with immersive storytelling

August 2023 - BLOG

Few storytelling mediums are more powerful than film. Find out how IFAD is using virtual reality and 360° video technology to ensure that rural people’s voices are heard.

Farmers in Mozambique rise to the challenge

June 2023 - BLOG

Farmers in Mozambique face unimaginable challenges. We must continue to support them if we want to see rural communities lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. Norway's Minister of International Development, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, shares her reflections on her recent visit to Mozambique.

Transforming rural futures through digital remittances

June 2023 - BLOG

Remittances are a lifeline for rural communities all over the world, here’s why we should continue to invest in digital transfers.

Cabo Verde is small in size but not in ambition

June 2023 - BLOG

Despite its name, Cabo Verde is arid and water starved. IFAD AVP, Jo Puri, visited the archipelago to discuss its future with the country’s leadership and hear from the rural people IFAD supports about how we can improve their lives.

After the earthquake in Türkiye, rural people need more support than ever

April 2023 - BLOG

In southern Türkiye countless farming communities are suffering after losing their homes and livelihoods to the devastating earthquake that struck the country.

As the world moves to protect oceans, we must also protect small-scale fishers

March 2023 - BLOG

As the world welcomes the historic UN agreement to legally protect high seas, we must also ensure that small-scale fishers continue to be protected.

A new chapter in IFAD’s work with persons with disabilities

March 2023 - BLOG

Meet IFAD’s new Disability Inclusion Champion as she works towards amplifying the voice and potential of persons with disabilities.

It’s time to step up.

February 2023 - BLOG

In today’s multi-crisis context, one disaster quickly follows another. With crisis fatigue setting in, the time is now to invest in solutions with lasting impact, including food systems and small-scale farmers.

Giving Indigenous Peoples the recognition they deserve: Why updates to IFAD's policy matter

February 2023 - BLOG

IFAD’s updated Policy on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples enshrines the value of their traditions and supports the crucial role they play in the world. We spoke with three experts to get an insight into the policy.

How livestock in Lesotho is adapting to climate change

January 2023 - BLOG

An IFAD-FAO study from Lesotho provides valuable insight on how to mitigate against climate change while sustainably producing enough healthy food for everyone.

Why insects are the next global superfood

January 2023 - BLOG

IFAD helps rural small-scale farmers reduce emissions while adapting to climate change. Find out how rearing insects as human food and livestock feed can achieve these goals.

Why ownership matters: What I learned from farmers in Kenya and Tanzania

December 2022 - BLOG

Following a recent visit to Tanzania and Kenya, IFAD AVP, Satu Santala, shares what she learned about sustainable development from the farmers themselves.

The youth weigh in on COP27

November 2022 - BLOG

As today’s young people grow into tomorrow’s adults, the impacts of climate change are simultaneously growing and worsening. Rural youth are valuable contributors to climate action. At COP27, we showcased the lives and ambitions of young innovators and activists. Find out what they had to say.

Cooking at the top of the world: A family in Nepal share their story of climate resilience with Meteorologist Clare Nasir

November 2022 - BLOG

Meteorologist Clare Nasir travels to Nepal where she shares a homecooked meal with a local family and discovers how rural farming communities are adapting to the threat of climate change.

Mind the Gap: Climate adaptation is falling far short of needs

November 2022 - BLOG

To respond to the impacts of climate change that are already happening around us every day, we urgently need to invest in climate adaptation. UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report identifies the gap between where we are and where we need to be. Jo Puri shares her impressions on what this year’s report reveals.

At COP27, we need big wins for a greener future, says IFAD President

November 2022 - BLOG

Ahead of this year’s COP, President Lario shares three big wins for the planet that can mitigate climate change and help the world’s poorest rural people adapt to its inevitable impacts.

Small-scale farmers could help fill the global food gap if they irrigate properly – even with growing climate challenges

October 2022 - BLOG

Small-scale farmers hold the key to feeding the world, its important for them to trust and invest in different types of irrigation systems.

With the world in firefighting mode, we cannot forget about rural women

October 2022 - BLOG

As the world faces a myriad of crises, experts fear that the progress rural women and girls have worked so hard for may be reversed. Here is how IFAD is working to prevent this.

What I’ve learned about resilience from rural communities in Guatemala

October 2022 - BLOG

Faced with the impacts of climate change, small-scale producers in Guatemala urgently need to manage risk using tools like insurance. Read how INSURED promotes the use of agricultural insurance to build resilience and strengthen livelihoods.

Making change happen now: my commitment as IFAD President

October 2022 - BLOG

On his first day in office, IFAD President, Alvaro Lario, shares his thoughts on how IFAD can address the challenges of today to ensure sustainable global food systems and transform the lives of the world’s poorest rural people.

Tackling food loss for sustainable food systems

September 2022 - BLOG

Reducing food losses makes food systems more sustainable. Although the exact causes are different for every crop and in every country, there are plenty of avenues to prevent, detect, and reverse these losses.

A decade of progress for small-scale farmers in Cuba

September 2022 - BLOG

Marking ten years in Cuba, IFAD’s Country Director met small-scale farmers and partners to discuss progress made and what is yet to be done.

The perfect weekend away in rural Bangladesh

September 2022 - BLOG

Discover hidden gems in rural Bangladesh with two IFAD colleagues as they visit a community-led eco-tourism project that has transformed the area.

What everyone was talking about at UNGA77

September 2022 - BLOG

The trending topic at UNGA this year was the escalation of the war in Ukraine. But the topic IFAD’s Alberto Trillo Barca heard discussed most in the halls and lifts of UN HQ in New York was food security and the global food crisis.

Hungry caterpillars threaten Kenya's crops. Can plants provide a natural pest control solution?

September 2022 - BLOG

Kenyan farmers and their crops face a tiny but destructive threat: the fall armyworm. With climate change causing more infestations, push-pull technologies are a sustainable and affordable way of naturally controlling pest numbers. Find out how this simple but effective technology works.

Weathering the storm: How finance provides a lifeline for SMEs in times of crisis

August 2022 - BLOG

The impacts of the war in Ukraine, coupled with the pandemic and climate change, are threatening the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the world over. Finance is a critical lifeline, but can rural agri-SMEs access it?

 

“This is unprecedented”: IFAD’s Country Director in Pakistan reacts to the floods

August 2022 - BLOG

Following months of incessant rain, nearly one third of Pakistan is underwater. Millions of people are affected, thousands have died, and agriculture is at risk. IFAD’s Country Director in Pakistan reflects on what is happening on the ground.

Seeing change happen before our eyes in Guatemala and Honduras

August 2022 - BLOG

On a recent trip to Guatemala and Honduras with the US Ambassador to the UN agencies based in Rome, IFAD Country Director, René Castro, explains how smallholder farmers are transforming rural communities despite the challenges of climate change.

The proof is in the pudding: 3 ways to enhance evidence-based policymaking to sustainably transform food systems

July 2022 - BLOG

As the world experiences new and complex crises at an ever-increasing pace, we must back up decision-making with rigorous research and data. Here are three principles to bridge the divide between research and policy.

The latest food security and nutrition report paints a grim picture. Three IFAD experts react to the shocking figures

July 2022 - BLOG

The latest SOFI report shows that rather than moving towards zero hunger, evermore people are hungry. On the back of these disheartening results, three IFAD experts give their reactions to the report.

Designing projects from the ground up: Insights and lessons from Ethiopia

July 2022 - BLOG

At IFAD, we take a community-driven, bottom-up approach to project design. This creates a sense of ownership for rural communities and governments alike. A recent example from Ethiopia shows how government and communities came together to design investments in building resilience.

What it means to make “good” food: A conversation with Chef Dhondy

June 2022 - BLOG

Chef Anahita Dhondy is a passionate advocate for Parsi food – the rich cuisine of India’s Zoroastrian community to which she belongs – as well as for the use of local, seasonal, sustainable ingredients. We recently caught up with her to hear more about her work in and out of the kitchen.

Good food and good stories: A conversation with Chef Thomas Zacharias

June 2022 - BLOG

Chef Thomas Zacharias is a big fan of storytelling as a way to get people interested in fixing our food systems. We caught up with him to learn more about what drives him to tell the stories of the farmers he’s met and to champion local, seasonal, sustainable ingredients.

40 years of IFAD-China cooperation: Celebrating the past, envisioning the future

June 2022 - BLOG

IFAD and China are celebrating 40 years of cooperation. Over the last four decades, IFAD has supported China’s development and China has been a key supporter and champion of our work. Here, we look back on 40 years of achievement and look forward to where the next few decades will take us.

Grant-based development interventions are worth it. But how – and when?

June 2022 - BLOG

Conventional wisdom has long held that giving grants to small-scale farmers produces temporary gains at best. But recently, our research into a grants-based intervention employed by PRICE, an IFAD-funded initiative in Rwanda, found benefits that have lasted for five years and counting.

The people of Bangladesh are resilient, but without urgent climate action, the future of this fascinating country is uncertain

June 2022 - BLOG

Journalist and documentary maker Qasa Alom recently visited Bangladesh with IFAD. He reflects on how climate change is affecting its people and what IFAD is doing to support them.

The need for better donor coordination: Building long-term resilience against food systems crises

May 2022 - BLOG

These days, it feels like the vulnerability of the world’s food systems is on full display. As I watch the current situation unfold, I’ve been reflecting on the need for multilateralism and donor coordination to help the world overcome this emergency.

“Why shouldn’t people eat bugs?”: A conversation with Chef Yoon

May 2022 - BLOG

We sat down with Chef Joseph Yoon to learn more about edible insects: their health benefits, their potential as a method for fighting climate change, and even – for those who are tempted – how to start incorporating them into your cooking.

Moldova is suffering due to the war in Ukraine – and we have a chance to help

May 2022 - BLOG

The war in Ukraine is testing the resilience of the people of Moldova, including its small-scale farmers. Our support is essential for helping them respond to the crisis – but opportunities to help are slipping through our fingers.  

Lending a hand – and finance – to young agricultural entrepreneurs in East Africa

April 2022 - BLOG

We know a thing or two about connecting youth with the financial services they need to start a business – but there’s always more to learn. Here, we reflect on some of our “lessons learned” as part of a recent grant programme in East Africa.

Tapping public policies and programmes to boost IFAD’s impact

April 2022 - BLOG

In many countries, we have the opportunity to partner with public policies and programmes to deliver the services our project participants need. Although effective inter-institutional coordination is never simple, it is doable – and entirely worth the effort.

 

 

Do IFAD-supported projects reduce the risk of conflict? What the evidence says

April 2022 - BLOG

We used GIS to assess the impact of IFAD-supported projects on the likelihood of conflict in fragile contexts. Our results suggest that the presence of IFAD interventions may prevent conflicts from arising and reduce the overall number of conflicts.

 

 

The importance of food sovereignty for indigenous peoples: A conversation with Dr. Elifuraha Laltaika

April 2022 - BLOG

Learn more about food sovereignty and what it means for indigenous peoples with Dr Elifuraha Laltaika, a professor of law and expert on indigenous peoples’ rights. 

What it will take to make IFAD truly diverse

April 2022 - BLOG

There is much interest in promoting workplace diversity recently. Not only is this long overdue, but it also makes financial sense.

Building resilience in the Asia-Pacific region in uncertain times

April 2022 - BLOG

Just as the shadow of COVID-19 was lifting from many parts of the world, new crises have arisen – and they’re a particularly difficult challenge for poor rural people in developing countries.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, rural agribusinesses cluster together to flourish

April 2022 - BLOG

All too often, small family farms operate in isolation. By themselves, they often lack the resources and skills they need to thrive. IFAD is now bringing small-scale farmers and other stakeholders into clusters to work together for their common interests. We caught up with one of our technical specialists to learn more.

Building a bay, one oyster at a time: A conversation with Chef Rob Rubba

March 2022 - BLOG

“At the end of the day, restaurants are a luxury, but having food is a right. Everyone should have access to food.”

Is the grass always greener where it rains?

March 2022 - BLOG

Groundwater depletion continues to be a challenge for small-scale farmers in the NENA region, despite the existence of water-saving technologies. Now, a new study is shedding light on ways farmers can improve their water efficiency – and where they can turn for help.

Groundwater can help small-scale farmers adapt to climate change, if it’s used sustainably

March 2022 - BLOG

If groundwater is used carefully, it can be used by small-scale farmers to grow the crops they need to feed their families and build livelihoods in areas that are strongly affected by climate change.

Why rural women need land rights: A conversation with Steven Jonckheere

March 2022 - BLOG

This International Women’s Day, we sat down with Steven Jonckheere, IFAD’s Senior Technical Specialist on Gender and Social Inclusion, for a conversation on why women’s land rights matter – and what IFAD is doing about it.

Why must we wait another generation to close the gender gap? Women are long overdue a seat at the table

March 2022 - BLOG

Last year, the World Economic Forum revised its estimates for closing the gender gap. Shockingly, rather than reaching equality sooner, the gap has increased a generation. At IFAD, we work to achieve a more equitable rural world, one where women’s participation in decision-making is no longer an exception.

Nutrition-sensitive investments for resilient food systems: Lessons from Ethiopia

March 2022 - BLOG

More and more of IFAD’s development projects are focusing on nutrition as a way to optimize their impact. Our work in Ethiopia exemplifies this.

 

Changing the narrative on Haiti

February 2022 - BLOG

Last year, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake caused more than 2,200 deaths and US$2 billion worth of damage in southern Haiti. In February 2022, a Donors' Conference was held to seek financial and political support for the reconstruction and relaunch of the region.

The roots that connect us: A conversation with Chef Jeong Kwan

February 2022 - BLOG

Jeong Kwan is a Zen Buddhist nun. She’s also a chef famous for both her sustainable vegan recipes and her pure and sincere approach towards cooking. Our conversation touched upon everything from traditional Korean temple food to what we need to do to rebalance our food systems.

How agrobiodiversity can nourish the planet

February 2022 - BLOG

For our people and planet to flourish, we need agrobiodiversity: agricultural systems that enhance our wealth of ecosystems and living beings instead of diminishing it. Our work has long recognized the importance of agrobiodiversity for sustainable food systems, and now we’re taking this commitment even further.

Using evidence from IFAD’s Impact Assessments to inform the design of new projects

January 2022 - BLOG

To make sure we’re investing in what works and achieving maximum impact, we evaluated 17 of our project Impact Assessments to look for broader trends. The results have implications for everyone who works in rural development – from those on the ground to the donors who make this work possible.

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture: The cornerstone of a healthier world

December 2021 - BLOG

It might seem counter-intuitive to suggest that agriculture should become more nutrition-sensitive – but many small-scale producers worldwide are at risk of food and nutrition insecurity. We’re committing to more ambitious goals for integrating nutrition into our investments and project activities.

In China, youth are at the forefront of transforming food systems

December 2021 - BLOG

Young people are the future of the world’s food systems, and they should therefore have a say in how the food systems of tomorrow should be configured. In China, youth have long been leading efforts to promote organic farming and sustainable consumption – and now, they’re beginning to act for change.

Disability rights matter for the world’s rural-dwellers

December 2021 - BLOG

Our vision of inclusive, sustainable, green, and resilient rural economies can’t be accomplished without the inclusion of persons with disabilities. We are committed to finding ways for persons with disabilities to participate fully in society and realize their potential as contributors to vibrant rural economies.

Fixing our food systems means getting the fundamentals right

November 2021 - BLOG

The term “food systems” encompasses a huge variety of activities and issues. To make sure we’re all starting from the same place, let’s focus on the fundamentals: the land, and how to treat it well.

Promoting sustainable agrifood systems to combat climate change

November 2021 - BLOG

It’s clear by now that no real progress on climate change mitigation will be achieved without the active participation of today’s top greenhouse gas emitters. In addition to transitioning their energy sectors away from carbon, actions such as making their agrifood systems more sustainable and promoting the use of natural carbon sinks could produce dramatic results in record time.

An IFAD–Indonesia partnership advances the policy agenda on sustainable peatland management

November 2021 - BLOG

Peatlands store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests and are home to everything from orchids to orangutans – but today, these lands are in peril. A partnership between IFAD and Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry is working to set a national policy agenda that will protect peatland ecosystems.

Managing fisheries for sustainability and resilience: The case of Angola

November 2021 - BLOG

The fisheries and aquaculture sectors fully or partially support the livelihoods of 10–12 per cent of the world’s population. Yet fisheries across the world are under threat from climate change and over-exploitation. The question of how best to manage fisheries under these conditions is a complex one, but in our experience, bringing communities into inclusive governance structures is an indispensable part of the solution.

Why COP26 matters for the world’s rural dwellers: A conversation with Jo Puri

October 2021 - BLOG

In early November, top experts from around the world will meet in Glasgow for COP26, the biggest climate change conference since the Paris Accords. We caught up with climate scientist and IFAD Associate Vice-President Dr Jo Puri to ask her what COP26 is all about and what she hopes will emerge from it.

The challenges and opportunities of investing in small-scale irrigation

October 2021 - BLOG

Many countries in the Arab world rely on irrigation for their agricultural production. However, large-scale irrigation schemes have historically been difficult to manage. Small-scale schemes, when planned well from the outset, can be the solution.

To achieve the SDGs we must first transform how we feed the world

October 2021 - BLOG

This year we commemorate, for the second time, World Food Day held under pandemic conditions. The theme is Our Actions Are Our Future. It’s time to ask what actions we must take to build that better future, in which food is produced sustainably and efficiently, providing good nutrition to all, while protecting the environment.

Neglected and underutilized species are the key to nourishing the world

October 2021 - BLOG

The natural world has a wealth of plants that can sustain human life, yet global food systems are dominated by just three: wheat, maize, and rice. These species provide 50 percent of the plant-based calories we eat and occupy 40 percent of the world’s arable land. 

Preventing the next pandemic by integrating human, animal and environmental health

September 2021 - BLOG

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clearer than ever that human health is not just a matter of providing people with medical care. To avoid future pandemics, we need to recognize that the well-being of people, animals, plants and ecosystems must be addressed as a dynamic whole.

Re-imagining food systems through the climate–nutrition nexus

September 2021 - BLOG

The food we eat plays a role in not just our health, but that of our descendants. How we grow, hunt, fish or gather it, how we process it and bring it to market, affects the world around us. These simple relationships are the foundation of the climate–nutrition nexus.

Three ways IFAD can support digital agriculture in the Asia-Pacific region

September 2021 - BLOG

Farmers and agribusinesses across the Asia-Pacific region are increasingly making use of new digital technologies. IFAD and Grow Asia have recently released a report exploring how these technologies are reshaping the region’s agriculture and how IFAD’s investments can accelerate the adoption of these technologies.

Amplifying rural needs and voices: A conversation with Helene Papper

September 2021 - BLOG

It’s clearer than ever before: to address global crises, the communities who implement solutions must be involved, their voices heard, their knowledge included. But how do we bring forward voices from the world’s most remote areas?

Investing in the foundations of Gambian agriculture

September 2021 - BLOG

Roots are the essence of farming: they erect healthy plants and help grant a predictable and generous harvest. The IFAD-supported ROOTS project seeks to promote exactly that strength in The Gambia.

Small-scale producers are central to Africa’s forest restoration efforts

September 2021 - BLOG

Small-scale farmers have an important role to play in restoring Africa’s forests. Two IFAD-supported projects in Eritrea and Kenya are helping these farmers engage in efforts that both restore local forests and have direct economic and social benefits for their communities.

Finding a way forward: Sector reforms in Lesotho’s wool and mohair industry

September 2021 - BLOG

Lesotho’s efforts to nationalize its wool and mohair industry set off a cascade of unintended consequences. At the government’s request, IFAD and the WAMPP project commissioned a study to analyze the impacts of these regulations and inform future policy revisions.

The labour market dynamics of COVID-19

September 2021 - BLOG

Over a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s still a lot to learn about how the labour market in developing countries is reshaping itself – especially in terms of gender dynamics. Our latest study tracks employment trends in Nigeria with both pre- and post-pandemic data.

Building a Great Green Wall: Four lessons learned from the World Bank assessment

September 2021 - BLOG

Helping the people of the Sahel prosper requires a Great Green Wall stretching across Africa. IFAD is embarking on a series of projects to help build this “wall.” We recently sat down with the World Bank to learn from their successes and challenges across a decade of their own project implementations in this region.

Mainstreaming agroecology in the Asia-Pacific region

September 2021 - BLOG

Agroecology is a holistic approach that integrates elements of ecology, economy, and society within a food system. It also supports the well-being of small-scale producers, especially in terms of their empowerment and social inclusion. IFAD has a long tradition of supporting agroecology practices throughout Asia-Pacific, especially the Himalayas region.

Gender-focused solutions for the post-COVID return to rural areas

September 2021 - BLOG

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to waves of internal migration as urban workers return to rural areas. IFAD must identify solutions to the challenges this phenomenon has created, and will continue to create, for rural agricultural development. This is especially critical from a gender equity perspective.

Returning to Brazil’s Gente de Valor project: Lessons on sustainable impact

August 2021 - BLOG

The Gente de Valor project was designed to assist the sertanejos (those who live in Brazil’s semi-arid region). It featured a community-driven development approach that promoted active participation and local leadership. Five years after the project ended, IFAD returned to evaluate the project’s outcomes and the effects of this approach.

Revitalizing the practice of shifting cultivation: A conversation with Dr Dhrupad Choudhury

August 2021 - BLOG

Shifting cultivation is an indigenous food system practiced by millions of people across south and south-east Asia. A new resource book authored by Dr Dhrupad Choudhury, in collaboration with ICIMOD, is designed to guide policymakers and development professionals in sustainably transforming this practice.

How small-scale producers can leverage the growing livestock market

August 2021 - BLOG

With global production and consumption of meat projected to rise, livestock rearing is becoming an increasingly important income source for many small-scale producers. Recently, livestock farmers from around the world have been learning from each other via the SSTC framework.

It’s time to think small

August 2021 - BLOG

Small-scale farmers and the rural poor have a crucial role to play in the restoration of ecosystems and the conservation of natural resources.

How can International Financial Institutions invest to ‘’build back better’’?

July 2021 - BLOG

Given the already-high levels of poverty and vulnerability faced by small-scale rural producers, the pandemic has hit them and their families particularly hard. So, what should be the priorities for organisations, like IFAD, in the coming years?


 

Bold actions for gender equality and women’s empowerment in food systems

July 2021 - BLOG

What does a gender just and equitable food system practically look like? A just and equitable food system is one in which women’s roles change from being invisible to being visible.

Strengthening food systems in Pakistan

July 2021 - BLOG

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021 reported that more than half of the world’s undernourished are found in Asia (418 million). In Pakistan, Covid-19 has exposed vulnerabilities and inadequacies making nutrition a more complex challenge now.

 

 

Putting food and agriculture at the heart of the global biodiversity framework

July 2021 - BLOG

Despite standing to suffer immensely from the decline of biodiversity, agriculture is the lead driver of biodiversity loss, primarily through conversion and fragmentation of habitat and unsustainable intensification.

A decade of IFAD’s inclusive rural finance programmes points to an innovative and catalytic future

July 2021 - BLOG

The number and variety of financial services accessible to the rural poor continues to grow. A recently completed stocktake of IFAD’s rural finance programmes has identified a number of successes, plus some opportunities for further innovation.

Transforming rural agriculture through technology and innovation

June 2021 - BLOG

Despite the African continent holding the world’s most arable land and the agricultural sector employing over half of the population, Africa is still struggling with food production and food insecurity.

Promoting renewable energy technologies for small-scale farmers in Cambodia

June 2021 - BLOG

Renewable energy technologies are an increasingly important part of small-scale agriculture. IFAD’s S-RET project is bringing these technologies to farmers throughout Cambodia – and it’s recently been selected as a GEF Global Good Practice Project.

Diving in on aquatic foods: IFAD investments create rural opportunities

June 2021 - BLOG

The blue economy opens the space for IFAD to reach more rural people in the most challenging situations, and to get them out of poverty.

Taking stock of IFAD’s digital agriculture efforts in the Asia-Pacific region

June 2021 - BLOG

Digital agriculture is an indispensable part of strengthening food systems. IFAD’s recent stocktake of our ICT interventions in the Asia-Pacific region has revealed over 50 active solutions and some critical gaps to address.

A platform to take household methodologies to scale

June 2021 - BLOG

The Empower@Scale platform helps organizations to address the root causes of gender inequality by incorporating household methodologies (HHMs) into their projects, which address the embedded gender biases and discrimination against women at the household level.

Livestock key to combatting climate change in Kyrgyzstan

June 2021 - BLOG

Livestock-based food systems can be climate-friendly if managed well. A new assessment tool is helping governments calculate and predict their livestock emissions for use in their NDCs.

Thriving food systems and nutritious food for all go hand in hand

June 2021 - BLOG

Malnutrition, and the toll it takes on human health and societies, is directly linked with the health of our food systems. Creating sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems will make lasting improvements in global health, nutrition and productivity.

Efforts to restore tropical peatlands need fire-free plantations

June 2021 - BLOG

Peatlands across south-east Asia have been cleared for agricultural purposes, leading to a sharp increase in fires. To reverse course, we need to transition to sustainable, fire-free peatland management practices.

Reflections on improving rural people’s nutrition: A conversation with 2021 World Food Prize winner Dr Shakuntala Thilsted

May 2021 - BLOG

Nigel Brett, Director of IFAD’s Asia and the Pacific Division, interviews Dr Shakuntala Thilsted, Lead for Nutrition and Public Health at WorldFish.

Why land tenure is crucial for sustainable food systems

May 2021 - BLOG

With nearly half of the world’s population living in the rural areas of low- and middle-income countries, tenure security is fundamental for sustainable development.

New operational guidelines for Pro-Poor Value Chain Development help IFAD reach the poorest

May 2021 - BLOG

In Ghana, the value chain model has helped build solid relationships, showing that even the poorest can be brought into commercial value chains if extra support is provided.

Interview with Recipes for Change Chef Roy Caceres

May 2021 - BLOG

"A passion for work is the fundamental ingredient of cooking."

Spearheading South-South and Triangular Cooperation with partners in Asia

May 2021 - BLOG

Cooperation among the global south, i.e., South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), is an integral part of international cooperation, and complements the traditional North-South Cooperation in development assistance.

Building climate resilient agriculture

April 2021 - BLOG

Those who have the most to lose as a consequence of climate change are poor rural people, especially smallholders who rely on agriculture for survival.

Boosting food security in the Pacific with innovative technologies

April 2021 - BLOG

Who could have predicted that two innovative mobile applications, each the winner of a Pacific Agrihack Lab grant in late 2018, would go on to make a difference in the lives of Pacific Islanders during the pandemic?

IFAD-BRAC collaboration empowers rural people to build their climate resilience

April 2021 - BLOG

People in rural areas, especially small-scale farmers, are among those most affected by climate change. The shifting climate has made weather patterns more unpredictable and weather-related events more extreme. 

Fighting fires with rice paddies in Sierra Leone

April 2021 - BLOG

Farmers in Sierra Leone have shifted from slash-and-burn cultivation to rice cultivation in inland swamps. That is reducing the number of forest fires, a GIS study has shown.

Drought-tolerant rice varieties benefit farmers even in non-drought years

March 2021 - BLOG

Farmers that lack irrigation and rely on rainfed production are particularly vulnerable to drought. Fortunately, agricultural technologies, such as stress-tolerant rice varieties (STRVs), can help them adapt to climate change. 

Making every drop count: Saving water and rural livelihoods

March 2021 - BLOG

Until recently, every time Fatima Hassan Mohamed needed water to wash, cook, or drink, the mother of five had to set out on foot. The nearest water source was more than 20 kilometers away.

Promoting women’s economic empowerment in West and Central Africa

March 2021 - BLOG

A growing number of reports are demonstrating what many development professionals already know about the impacts of COVID-19: women and girls are more vulnerable to the negative health and socio-economic effects of the crisis.

What impact will the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic downturn have on world food security?

March 2021 - BLOG

In 2021, the impact of the epidemic and the global economic recession will have an impact on world food security. After the epidemic, what problems will global food security face and how to deal with it?

Tracking investments in Tunisia with remote sensing

February 2021 - BLOG

Many elements involved in IFAD-funded projects. As long as an element’s precise geographic coordinates are known, satellite imagery can be used to monitor any changes that have taken place.

Breaking the vicious circle of hunger and conflict

February 2021 - BLOG
Hunger is both a cause and result of conflict. In fact, conflict is the main driver of hunger in most of the world’s food crises.

IFAD’s new book The People Behind Your Plate

February 2021 - BLOG

As I scroll through the pages of the new photo book The People Behind Your Plate just published by IFAD, I remember my own visits with rural people in remote villages as I travelled around Lesotho to collect recipes for my cooking books.

There is a growing climate emergency facing smallholders across Asia Pacific – what is IFAD doing about it?

January 2021 - BLOG

According to UN reports, the Asia Pacific region is the most disaster-prone region in the world. Nearly 45 per cent of the world’s natural disasters occur in the region. 

Digital agriculture: key to helping small-scale producers overcome COVID-19 challenges

January 2021 - BLOG
As we approach the first anniversary of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s an important moment to take stock on the impact of the pandemic, and to reflect on what we have learned, and what we can do better going forward.

Greening the Sahara: the Great Green Wall Initiative

January 2021 - BLOG

In 2009, I travelled by road to Timbuktu, Mali on a short field trip. As we made our way down the dusty roads, I remember wondering what could possibly pull this arid, sparsely populated land into relative prosperity.

Climate change talks cannot continue to ignore the needs of small-scale farmers

December 2020 - BLOG

Poor rural people are among the hardest hit by climate change while contributing little to its causes. They deserve a fair share of climate finance to improve their resilience, and a seat at the table for the global climate talks.

World Soil Day: A tribute to our friends underground

December 2020 - BLOG

Today is World Soil Day, so let’s dwell a little on this amazing world of earthworms, mites, fungi and microbes.

Working closer as a UN family in country – a review of progress in implementing the UN reform agenda across Asia Pacific

December 2020 - BLOG
The adoption of General Assembly resolution 72/279 in May 2018, triggered a consortium of UN organizations to come together and rethink how the United Nations Development System can deliver more coherent, accountable and effective support to help countries achieve the 2030 Agenda. 

Why small farms are key to the future of food - and how we can support them

November 2020 - BLOG

In the 25 years since Clayton Christensen coined the term “disruptive innovation,” much has been written about the benefits of shaking up established business practices.

In an urbanizing world, strong rural–urban links remain the key to resilient cities

November 2020 - BLOG

As the world becomes more and more urbanized, many have suggested that cities hold the key to an efficient, sustainable future.

Agricultural risk management: Towards long-term resilience

November 2020 - BLOG
Risk and uncertainty intensify in the agriculture sector – especially throughout Africa.

A look at the digital technologies transforming agriculture

November 2020 - BLOG

Agriculture has periodically been shaken up by various technological revolutions. The latest? The advent of digital technologies.

The 14th Five-Year Plan: An opportunity to advance China’s agricultural and rural transformation

October 2020 - BLOG

A unique opportunity for China to advance its agricultural and rural transformation agenda.

Three reasons to invest in land tenure security

October 2020 - BLOG
For rural people, especially low-income rural people, land and livelihood are one and the same.

Disability in rural areas: A matter of perception

October 2020 - BLOG

One billion people – 15 per cent of the world’s population – currently have a disability, and 80 per cent of them live in developing countries. People with disabilities, despite being “the world’s largest minority,” are often overlooked.

Opportunities for policy engagement in NEN and beyond

October 2020 - BLOG
All too often, the path to sustainable development is blocked by outdated policies and legislation.

Results-based financing: A potential game-changer for IFAD's future operations

September 2020 - BLOG
IFAD is always exploring new lending instruments to increase the number of potential financial solutions it can offer. 

Fighting food waste in China: Local efforts, global effects

September 2020 - BLOG
Reflecting on the fundamental role that sustainable food production and consumption plays in promoting food security and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

A second chance for Sri Lankan tea

September 2020 - BLOG
I grew up knowing that Sri Lankan tea was truly something special. People all across my native Egypt competed with each other to bring home those packages with the trademark “Ceylon Tea” stamped on the side.

Maximizing impact in the LAC region with SSTC and knowledge management

September 2020 - BLOG

Although the residents of the global South may live worlds apart from each other, they often face a surprisingly similar set of challenges.

IFAD country programmes adapt to the COVID-19 crisis: Updates from the Asia-Pacific region

September 2020 - BLOG

The scale of the challenge has become ever more daunting across the region. 

Years later, IFAD-established seed producer groups to continue improving their communities’ climate resilience

August 2020 - BLOG
Lack of access to seed is a common problem for small-scale farmers in Nepal and elsewhere.

Location, location, location: Why using GIS in rural development projects is fundamental

July 2020 - BLOG
Knowing the geographic location of people or things helps us to monitor well-being and assess the impact of events.

Stepping up rural finance to support smallholder farmers in Zambia

June 2020 - BLOG
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating disruption - but sometimes offers opportunities for innovative solutions for rural farmers.

Catching up with Recipes for Change Chef Lance Seeto

June 2020 - BLOG
Chef Lance Seeto is an icon of South Pacific cuisine. He’s also been a supporter of IFAD’s Recipes for Change campaign for more than five years now.

Interview with Recipes for Change Chef Bela Gil

June 2020 - BLOG

“I joined this project because I believe food can really change the world.”

Never let a good crisis go to waste

June 2020 - BLOG
Small-scale farmers face multiple challenges in Cambodia - with limited access to credit and vulnerability to climate change. 

The difference four years makes: A small Ecuadorean town goes from subsistence to prosperity with IFAD’s support

June 2020 - BLOG

Four years ago, the residents of Chiquicha were just gathering the first fruits of an irrigation project.

Coming back home: The road ahead for migrant returnees in Nepal

June 2020 - BLOG

Migrants are essential workers; they contribute to the economy of the places they go and, through remittances, to their communities back home.

African migrants’ family remittances put to the test

June 2020 - BLOG
In April, the World Bank projected a sharp decline of about 20 per cent in global remittances as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. 

Regional SOFI 2019: Sustainable food systems for healthy diets in the Near East and North Africa

June 2020 - BLOG
Rethinking food systems for healthy diets and improved nutrition.

COVID-19: The decline of global remittances puts rural families at risk

June 2020 - BLOG

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the loss of millions of jobs in the developed and developing world. 

From Meghalaya to Jharkhand, how India is ensuring agri supply chains are not disrupted

June 2020 - BLOG
In a world living with Covid-19, it is clear that supply chains and logistics should be simple and easy to manage. And that’s what several Indian states are doing.

Maintaining critical extension services for smallholders during COVID-19

June 2020 - BLOG

Agricultural extension services play a fundamental role in building producers’ capacities to maintain good agricultural practices.

Restoring nature and livelihoods: Experiences in Zambia

June 2020 - BLOG
World Environment Day is a day set aside to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage protective action. This year’s theme is “Time for Nature.”

Why do wet markets matter?

June 2020 - BLOG

Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak, much information and misinformation has been circulated about wet markets and an international rallying cry has been made for wet markets to be better regulated or even closed down.

Building up family farmers’ resilience through nature-based solutions in Latin America and the Caribbean

June 2020 - BLOG

Resilience has become the talk of the town in the development community.

Leveraging artificial intelligence: Harnessing big data to improve decision-making

June 2020 - BLOG
To take advantage of the potential of AI, IFAD employed machine learning techniques to extract insights from across IFAD’s entire investment portfolio.

The impact of COVID-19 on smallholders in China

June 2020 - BLOG
One emerging lesson from the pandemic is that those who are already vulnerable are likely to be the most severely impacted. 

What’s needed to protect food security in Africa during COVID-19

May 2020 - BLOG
In most of Africa, people are more likely to die from starvation caused by the economic fallout from the pandemic than from COVID-19 itself.

Protecting health and protecting livelihoods: a delicate balance in the era of COVID-19

May 2020 - BLOG
Development encompasses a wide range of actions that enables people, communities and nations to thrive even after projects have ended. 

Long-term development supports quick action in a crisis: an update from Asia and the Pacific

May 2020 - BLOG
It has been really inspiring to receive updates from the field over the past two months illustrating how IFAD-supported projects are continuing to deliver. 

The potential impact of COVID-19 on China’s food security: Prospects for food imports

May 2020 - BLOG

Last week, the China Grain Reserve Group announced its intention to purchase 22 million tonnes of imported grain during 2020. Should China worry about food security?

On the International Day for Biological Diversity, commitment to sustainable agriculture is more important than ever

May 2020 - BLOG
This year’s theme for the International Day for Biological Diversity is “Our Solutions are in Nature.”

Five ways organizations can help countries build agile and inclusive responses to COVID-19

May 2020 - BLOG

How can we enhance local capacity to respond to this emergency in an agile and inclusive manner?

COVID-19 response must target African agriculture and the rural poor

May 2020 - BLOG
Africa has so far escaped the worst health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the continent looks like it could be the worst hit.

Tracking the implementation and impact of the Uganda Yield Fund: A groundbreaking M&E system for a groundbreaking fund

May 2020 - BLOG
We are in the middle of a shift in how development is financed. Impact investing is on the rise.

When they came home: Migration and responses to COVID-19 in India

May 2020 - BLOG
With most of the world sheltering in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ILO estimates that about 2.7 billion people are currently affected by workplace closures.

Small-scale farmers can help build resilient food systems in a post–COVID-19 world

May 2020 - BLOG

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 820 million people were living in hunger. Tens of millions more will join them if we do not take the right actions, and quickly. 

How do shocks affect project impacts?

April 2020 - BLOG
Past experience tells us that quick, tailored support is required to ensure that the impacts of our projects are protected from the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

An Asia-Pacific crisis like never before

April 2020 - BLOG
After many years of sustained annual reductions in poverty and hunger across the Asia-Pacific region, the COVID-19 global pandemic is threatening a massive reversal of these gains and driving Asian countries into recession. 

As Earth Day adopts a climate action theme, let’s not forget about smallholder farmers

April 2020 - BLOG
On this day 50 years ago – the first Earth Day had just taken place – and a global movement was born.

Recovery, reactivation and resilience: Confronting COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean

April 2020 - BLOG
With half of the planet’s population locked down, the global economy brought to a halt and the number of cases reaching into the millions, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest crisis of our time.

Collaborating in a time of crisis: Three early takeaways from the COVID-19 response in India

April 2020 - BLOG

The tremendous progress in reducing poverty made by India over the past 25 years could now be reversed because of the unprecedented emergency facing all of us – the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supporting Cambodian farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic

April 2020 - BLOG

Cambodia has made remarkable progress and achieved lower-middle-income status - but the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to strain the entire economy.

IFAD helps shape Bangladesh’s response to the coronavirus crisis in rural areas

April 2020 - BLOG

An IFAD team in Bangladesh provided a proposal to the Government for a certified safe transport and logistics system for movement of inputs and produce in rural areas.

COVID-19: An opportunity for the road not taken?

April 2020 - BLOG
Amidst the suffering and economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 emergency, one silver lining has emerged: an interruption to the greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation stemming from human activity.

Re-imagining our economic choices

April 2020 - BLOG
The COVID-19 pandemic will reshape all our economic choices. Nations have made a crucial choice in recent weeks, choosing human life over economic growth. 

Driving AgriTech adoption: Insights from Southeast Asia’s farmers

April 2020 - BLOG
By leveraging the tools that internet marketing companies have already honed to reach consumers, governments can deliver quality agronomy advice at scale.

Shaping a holistic response to COVID-19: Protecting food systems and rural producers

April 2020 - BLOG
It is easy to lose sight of the big picture when called upon to act quickly in response to the human tragedy caused by COVID-19. 

Don’t allow the coronavirus to open up another front

March 2020 - BLOG
What started as a health crisis could turn into a food crisis unless we take measures now. Preventing a food crisis is key to maintaining the strength to fight back.

Changing lives in times of uncertainty: how innovative agriculture builds resilience

March 2020 - BLOG
As countries prepare for the pandemic the mandate of a rural development organization may seem to some not particularly relevant to the current crisis. 

Serving the rural poor in the time of physical distancing: Staying safe, well – and connected

March 2020 - BLOG
It has been three weeks since COVID-19 has drastically altered the daily lives of IFAD staff headquartered in Rome and stationed around the world.

What we can do to support farmers on the front lines of climate change

March 2020 - BLOG
Each of the world’s agricultural production systems had millennia to adapt to local climatic conditions, especially in terms of temperature and rainfall. 

Rethinking government support to farmers

March 2020 - BLOG

It is becoming increasingly clear that the ways in which we produce, market and consume food need to be reconciled with environmental, economic and social sustainability. 

Handle with care: Vulnerability, the human face of state fragility

March 2020 - BLOG
Vulnerability and fragility might not be perfect synonyms, but they share a very similar meaning. Both words refer to something breakable, delicate and frail – something that needs to be handled with care.

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