Governance

Ensuring IFAD is efficient, open, inclusive, and accountable

As a unique partnership of members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), other developing countries, and member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), collaboration at the global, regional, national and local levels is essential to our work.

Member States

Member States have the ultimate decision-making power on all matters, including policy, financial or membership issues. 

Member States govern IFAD through the Governing Council and the Executive Board. These two bodies make all major decisions for the organization. View a complete list of our current members here.

• Voting Rights of IFAD Member States
• Contributions to IFAD's Regular resources

Governing Council 

Held annually at IFAD headquarters in Rome, the Governing Council is the Fund's main decision-making body and is open to all Member States. The annual meeting and proceedings are the basis for IFAD's continued rural development efforts, along with its partners on the ground. LEARN MORE

Executive Board

The Executive Board is responsible for overseeing the general operations of IFAD and for approving its programme of work. Membership on the Executive Board is determined by the Governing Council. 

Executive board members serve a three-year term of office. LEARN MORE

The Evaluation Committee is a sub-committee of the Executive Board which performs in-depth reviews of selected evaluation issues and the Independent Office of Evaluation's (IOE) strategies and methodologies. It discusses selected evaluation reports and it also makes suggestions for including evaluations of particular interest to the Committee in the IOE annual work programme. LEARN MORE

The Audit Committee is a sub-committee of the Executive Board which deals with audit-related matters on an ad hoc basis. LEARN MORE

Management

The IFAD President chairs the Executive Board and is responsible for overall management of the Fund. The President is selected by the Member States for a four-year term that is renewable once.

IFAD operates day-to-day under the leadership and direction of the Office of the President and Vice-President, with departments covering financial operations, corporate services, strategy and knowledge management, and programme management. DOWNLOAD OUR ORGANIGRAMME.

Did you know?

IFAD is led by 177 Member States. Member States meet every year to take part in IFAD’s Governing Council, our highest decision-making body.