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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.
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.