COSOPs

COSOPs, or Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes, are country-level strategic planning documents used by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to guide its investments and operations in a given country. A COSOP sets out the strategic direction, priorities, and approach for IFAD’s engagement over a multi-year horizon, aiming to align IFAD resources with national development goals and IFAD’s own strategic framework.

The COSOP describes the country context, particularly rural poverty and agricultural development constraints, and articulates IFAD’s strategic objectives and programmatic focus areas. It identifies expected results, target groups, and the types of interventions (such as investment projects, grants, and knowledge-sharing efforts) that IFAD will pursue. The document also lays out a funding and pipeline strategy, partnership arrangements, and a plan for monitoring, evaluation, knowledge management, and capacity development. It often includes risk analysis and mitigation measures, as well as operational guidelines to ensure coherence across projects and alignment with national plans.

Preparation and governance typically involve collaboration among IFAD's country office, the government, civil society, and other development partners. The COSOP is validated with stakeholders and approved by IFAD's governing bodies, and it is periodically reviewed and updated, commonly every six to seven years or as circumstances require. By providing a coherent framework, COSOPs help coordinate donor support, guide project design, and promote accountability for rural development outcomes in the country.