International Fund for Agricultural Development

📢 IFAD has just released its 2025 Annual Report! From increasing small-scale producers' incomes and productivity to creating jobs and strengthening resilience, the report highlights the results that #FinancingTheFirstMile of food systems is delivering around the world. • 92 million people reached through ongoing projects • 389,800 jobs created by IFAD's investments • Avoided or sequestered 133.7M tons of greenhouse gas emissions According to recent impact assessments, IFAD investments led to: • +34% increase in incomes • +35% increase in production • +35% increase in market access Partnerships and innovative financing are scaling the impact of IFAD investments, with more than US$1.5 billion pledged for IFAD13 and US$6 generated on the ground in rural communities for every US$1 of donor funding. Read the full report at bit.ly/3TxIyas #IFADImpact #IFAD14

IFAD is pleased to invite proposals under its new grant initiative, Leveraging IFAD’s Rural Sector Performance Assessment for Policy and Investment, with up to US$1.2 million in financing available. Eligible non-profit organizations, private sector entities, universities, think tanks and research institutes are invited to apply. Through this initiative, IFAD seeks to support innovative, evidence-based approaches that strengthen the policy and investment environment for rural development. Learn more and submit your proposal at bit.ly/4wzPl1z

Around the world, nearly 65 million young people are unemployed, most of them living in rural areas. Through its Agribusiness Hubs Programme, IFAD is investing in their potential – helping establish more than 8,000 youth-led agribusinesses and creating over 59,000 jobs across nine African countries. With continued IFAD investment, over 20 million young people could benefit from opportunities like Clara’s – driving growth in their communities and beyond.

Africa’s future will be shaped in its rural economies and areas. Today at @IFAD, I was pleased to co-host with Italy the event “Advancing the Italian Mattei Plan: Scaling Joint Investments in Agriculture and Food Systems.” The #MatteiPlan reflects an important shift in international cooperation with Africa: moving from traditional donor-recipient models towards equal-to-equal partnership, shared ownership, co-investment and mutual benefit. The third annual progress report to the Italian Parliament shows how this approach is moving from vision to implementation across priority areas including agriculture, water, energy, infrastructure, education and health, with IFAD recognized among the international partners supporting this agenda. This direction is closely aligned with IFAD’s mandate. We invest with governments and rural communities to strengthen smallholder agriculture, build resilient value chains, expand access to finance and markets, and create opportunities where they are needed most. Italy and IFAD’s collaboration under the Mattei Plan is now moving from alignment to implementation: Côte d’Ivoire is partnering with Italy and IFAD to advance a major milestone through the Agro-Industrial Pole Project in the North-East. Italy’s €100 million co-financing will complement IFAD’s US$75 million investment to support climate-adaptive agriculture, strengthen value chains and improve food and nutrition security for more than 35,000 rural families, around 220,000 people. The Government of Senegal is working with Italy, IFAD, @TheOPECFund and @EIB on a US$265 million co-investment programme to support food sovereignty and reach more than one million people. With Angola, we are exploring further collaboration in the coffee value chain, drawing on Italian expertise and private sector engagement. These examples show how public investment, technical expertise and private sector partnerships can come together to deliver lasting impact at the first mile of food systems. With more than 60 per cent of IFAD’s portfolio in Africa, and with our country presence, IFAD is a strong partner of the Mattei Plan. As we look towards #IFAD14, with its focus on market integration, employment and resilience, this partnership offers a strong operational platform to scale joint investments with African countries. My thanks to the Government of Italy, Ambassadors from our African Member States, institutional partners and private sector actors for today’s important discussion and for their shared commitment to investing in rural prosperity. @ItalyMFA_int | @GruppoCDP | @Palazzo_Chigi | @SocialMasaf | @MEF_GOV

Each year, millions of young people enter labour markets across low- and middle-income countries. Yet too many rural economies are not creating enough productive opportunities to absorb them. When opportunities are limited, the effects can be far-reaching. Economic exclusion can fuel instability and increase migratory pressures, with consequences that extend beyond the communities directly affected. Evidence shows that when rural economies grow, so do people’s opportunities to build viable futures at home. Increasing investment in rural development by the equivalent of 1% of GDP can reduce out-migration by nearly one percentage point. Expanding rural employment opportunities is central to this effort. In #Cameroon, the IFAD-funded AEP-Youth programme took an innovative approach to boosting youth employment: tailored business incubators. From poultry farming to snail slime production, more than 30,000 young people benefitted from the start-up kits these incubators provided, including interest-free loans, productive grants and tailored financial products. The programme produced strong results: participants achieved 45.4% higher total gross income and 36.3% higher gross income per capita compared with non-participating households. Additionally, livestock gross income increased by 152.3% while the likelihood of selling products rose by 108.6%. But the programme generated impact far beyond young entrepreneurs themselves – supported enterprises were significantly more likely to hire labour and spent more on wages, pointing to a broader employment creation effect and showing that targeted investments can stimulate local labour demand, strengthening rural economies more broadly. With the right financing instruments, targeted support and evidence-based programme design, rural development can generate jobs, reduce pressures to migrate and contribute to more stable and inclusive growth. Read more about IFAD investments in Cameroon at bit.ly/44m7Sm7

On #WorldRuralDevelopmentDay, we celebrate rural areas for what they truly are: places of opportunity, for everyone. When rural communities thrive, societies grow more stable, economies grow more resilient and rural people can fully harness the potential that has always existed where they live. That's why IFAD invests at the first mile of food systems, where the green shoots of economic growth begin, and where shared prosperity takes root. On this important day, explore IFAD's 3 priorities for rural development 👇 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗘𝗧 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦 Reliable access to markets and strong value chains allow small-scale producers to sell more, process products locally and earn more from their work. 𝗥𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗬𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 Creating jobs and opportunities, especially for young people and women, helps rural communities thrive and shape their own future. 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 When rural communities can cope with shocks, they can limit impacts locally and stop crises from spreading further. #FinancingTheFirstMile

Rural development is one of the most powerful investments we can make in global prosperity, food security and stability. Small farms of up to five hectares produce around half of the world’s food. Behind this are rural women, men and young people working at the first mile of food systems — growing food, powering local economies and building resilient communities. On World Rural Development Day, we recognize their essential role. At @IFAD, we invest in the first mile of food systems — where rural people, their skills and their enterprises drive lasting change for their communities. These investments increase production, improve access to markets, strengthen value chains and build resilience to shocks. When rural communities have access to finance, technology and opportunity, incomes grow, food security improves and societies become more stable and resilient. #WorldRuralDevelopmentDay | #FinancingTheFirstMile

From farms & fisheries to local businesses, rural communities are driving innovation, strengthening food systems & creating opportunities. On #WorldRuralDevelopmentDay, we join @IFAD in celebrating the people shaping a more sustainable future for all. un.org/en/observances…

Private sector engagement is a decisive driver of rural transformation. When companies connect with rural areas, they bring markets, capital and innovation closer to small‑scale producers, turning local production into viable, long‑term business opportunities. Evidence from 58 impact assessments shows that projects with strong private sector engagement boosted incomes by 64%. This is nearly double the 33% increase observed when the private sector was involved in a limited way. Farmers’ organizations are critical to making this engagement work. By aggregating supply and reducing transaction costs, they help rural producers reach scale and facilitate the establishment of lasting commercial relationships. As we approach #WorldRuralDevelopmentDay under the theme #FinancingTheFirstMile, discover how IFAD investments leverage private sector engagement to drive lasting growth in rural areas, strengthening the role of small‑scale producers as economic actors across food value chains.

At the first mile of food systems, agricultural #cooperatives help turn individual production into collective economic power. Connecting small-scale producers to finance, markets, services and stronger value chains. In doing so, they support rural prosperity, food security and more stable, resilient and peaceful communities. This #CoopsDay, meet a cooperative in Morocco that, with support from an IFAD-funded project, has scaled saffron production, opening new pathways to jobs and higher incomes. #FinancingTheFirstMile

In #CaboVerde, irrigation is helping turn scarce water into stronger harvests, higher incomes and more resilient communities. On islands beyond the main tourism hubs, where agriculture remains a key source of employment, water scarcity has long constrained productivity, incomes and opportunity. Through the Rural Socio-Economic Opportunities Programme, IFAD, the Government of Cabo Verde and partners are helping finance change. Investments in irrigation infrastructure, solar-powered systems, local water governance and climate-smart agriculture are enabling rural communities to produce more, earn more and build more resilient local food systems. The results are clear: 🔹Crop production has increased by 77%. 🔹More than 518 hectares have been brought under cultivation. 🔹More than 21,000 people have directly benefited. Women and young people are gaining new skills, employment and leadership opportunities. This is what investing in the first mile of food systems looks like. It turns infrastructure into income, water security into food security, and rural potential into lasting prosperity. Read more at bit.ly/4oZo5Hi #FinancingTheFirstMile | @CaboVerde_Gov

Connecting small-scale producers to markets requires more than finance – it requires strong partnerships. Through #AgriConnect, IFAD and the @WorldBankGroup are stepping up to connect small-scale producers with markets, mobilize private investment and strengthen agricultural value chains. Hear from Akihiko Nishio, Vice President of Development Finance at the World Bank, on why IFAD's expertise in rural development and its growing engagement with the private sector make it a key partner in delivering where it matters most. #IFADImpact #FinancingTheFirstMile | @WBG_IDA

It was my pleasure to welcome Gulf Cooperation Countries Ambassadors to @IFAD for the first IFAD–GCC Dialogue. For nearly 50 years, IFAD and GCC countries have worked together to invest in rural people, strengthen food systems and build long-term resilience. This partnership has been central to IFAD’s story from the beginning, when GCC members contributed half of the Fund’s initial capital. Our partnership is as relevant as ever. IFAD is a strategic investment platform that turns capital into tangible results at the first mile of food systems. We invest where risk can be reduced early, where production can be strengthened, and where rural communities can build the resilience needed to sustain food systems and local economies. This is also about managing risk upstream: investing before disruption becomes crisis, strengthening supply chains and supporting more stable food systems globally. Our dialogue was an important opportunity to deepen this partnership and shape practical solutions together for food security, resilience and sustainable growth. #FinancingTheFirstMile

How can global policy responses rise to a crisis that threatens food, fertilizer and energy security simultaneously? Join a fireside chat hosted by IFAD in collaboration with @FAO. Against the backdrop of the Hormuz and food systems crisis, the discussion will explore the policy responses needed to safeguard agrifood systems, strengthen resilience and mitigate risks for the world's most vulnerable rural areas. From emergency measures to long-term investments, the conversation will examine how development can help address disruptions to supply chains while building more resilient agrifood systems for the future. 📅 Tuesday, 7 July 2026 🕓 16:00–17:00 CET 📍 Watch live on YouTube at youtube.com/live/iMPTTnXAI…

📢 IFAD is #hiring! As a specialized International Financial Institution, IFAD invests in rural development to drive sustainable impact in rural communities worldwide. We are looking for experienced professionals to join our team in the following roles. Click the links below to learn more and apply: 🔹 Treasury Analyst 👉 bit.ly/4gfM1nx 🔹 Communication Specialist (Leadership Communications) 👉 bit.ly/4ePspnL 🔹 Financial Reporting Analyst 👉 bit.ly/4eM9muB #JoinIFAD #IFI #Careers

Last week, IFAD joined the Government of #Angola, the @WorldBankGroup and development partners in launching the Angola AgriConnect Compact, an ambitious initiative aimed at transforming the country's agri-food systems, creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of rural communities. The initiative focuses on developing agricultural ecosystems through stronger farmer organizations, improved market linkages, enhanced access to finance and digital solutions and greater private sector participation across food systems. In Angola, the Compact will support agricultural development in the Lobito and Malanje Corridors, leveraging partnerships across government, development institutions, the private sector and farmer organizations to unlock the country's agricultural potential and accelerate inclusive rural development. “AgriConnect presents a unique opportunity to transform rural livelihoods by connecting smallholder farmers to markets, finance, technology and productive infrastructure," said Custodio Macavele, IFAD Country Director for Angola. Read more at bit.ly/4aswSvz @WBG_AgriFood | #FinancingTheFirstMile | #WBGAgriConnect

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are central to the functioning of rural economies. Across the first mile of food systems, rural SMEs connect small-scale producers to markets, creating jobs, adding value to agricultural products and strengthening local economies. Yet many struggle to access the finance they need to grow. On #MSMEDay, we highlight MSMEs power to transform rural areas. By investing in rural enterprises that drive inclusive economic growth. From #Uganda, where blended finance is helping agribusinesses expand while creating new market opportunities for small-scale farmers, to #CaboVerde, where investment has enabled family farms to scale production, access new markets and create local jobs, IFAD works to unlock the potential of rural SMEs through finance, partnerships and innovation. Read more at bit.ly/4euCVSF #IFADImpact #FinancingTheFirstMile

Strengthening partnerships for rural transformation. Members States Ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Switzerland joined @Gouvciofficiel and IFAD for a field visit to the Agricultural Value Chain Development Programme. The visit provided an opportunity to see how targeted rural investments are translating into tangible results for communities, from a mango processing enterprise to irrigated rice schemes and a solar-powered water system serving schoolchildren and surrounding households. These investments are helping to strengthen agricultural value chains, raise rural incomes, improve food security and nutrition, support school meals, create jobs and build resilience. The direct exchanges with farmers, rural entrepreneurs and government partners were central to the visit. Their experiences showed how country-led investment, backed by strong partnerships, can unlock economic opportunity and drive inclusive rural transformation. Together with our partners, IFAD is investing in rural people, productive value chains and resilient rural economies. #FinancingTheFirstMile #IFADImpact

For nearly 50 years, India and @IFAD have pioneered rural development models like the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme -- unlocking the economic potential of rural communities as drivers of change. IFAD joined the discussions on #financialhealth with @UNGSA, @UNinIndia and partners.