COSOP

The Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) is a country-level strategic planning instrument used by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to guide its engagement in a country over a multi-year period, typically six to eight years. It sets out IFAD’s strategic objectives in the country and the portfolio of loans, grants, and knowledge activities intended to advance rural poverty reduction and inclusive agricultural development. The COSOP aligns IFAD’s work with national development priorities and identifies opportunities where IFAD's resources can add value, alongside co-financing from the government, other partners, and the private sector.

A COSOP includes analysis of the country context, rural poverty and agricultural sector constraints, and potential opportunities in areas such as production, market access, value chains, resilience to climate and shocks, governance, and gender inclusion. It specifies strategic objectives, expected results, the design of operations, and a plan for monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, and dissemination. It also outlines risk management, partnership strategies, and resource mobilization.

Process: COSOPs are developed through a consultative process involving the government, civil society, and development partners, and are aligned with national plans. The document is prepared by the IFAD country team and endorsed by the government, then submitted to IFAD’s governing bodies for approval. Once approved, the COSOP guides the selection and implementation of operations and serves as the basis for future programming and evaluation.