ifad

IFAD, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, is a specialized agency of the United Nations focused on eradicating rural poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in developing countries. It was established in 1977 as a UN specialized agency, following the 1974 World Food Conference, and is headquartered in Rome, Italy. IFAD funds and supports projects that increase agricultural productivity, improve rural incomes, and build resilience to climate change, with a major emphasis on smallholder farmers and rural women.

IFAD is governed by a Governing Council and an Executive Board, with a President leading the organization. It is financed through contributions from its member states and by concessional lending and grants from its own resources, and it mobilizes additional funds through partnerships with other lenders and investors. The fund works with countries to develop Country Strategic Opportunities Programs (COSOPs) that identify investments in rural development, value chains, rural infrastructure, and social protection, and it emphasizes participatory design, gender equality, and climate resilience.

IFAD operates in numerous developing countries, collaborating with national governments, local communities, civil society, the private sector, and other United Nations entities. Its approach centers on supporting smallholder producers, empowering rural women, and promoting sustainable, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, with a focus on long-term livelihoods and inclusive rural growth.