Alvaro Lario

Strong and timely reaffirmation of @IFAD’s partnership with #Norway at a critical moment for global #FoodSecurity. Following my meeting today with Minister of International Development @AsmundAukrust, IFAD and Norway issued a joint statement to underscore the urgency of sustained and well targeted investment in agriculture, food systems and rural development. We discussed the impact of global shocks amd the increased energy and fertilizer prices. These shocks can push rural communities back into poverty, increasing food insecurity, conflict and forced migration—underscoring prevention and resilience to protect stability. At IFAD, evidence shows that well-structured public investment can unlock significantly greater capital with the central role of the private sector. When the private sector is engaged, IFAD investments accelerate and according to our impact assessments, they deliver up to 4x higher income gains for #smallholders. We welcome Norway’s continued leadership and partners such as @noradno, @norfund and Norwegian private sector companies. Together, we can scale solutions that strengthen #FoodSystems, expand economic opportunity and contribute to global stability. #FinancingTheFirstMile

Pleased to discuss today with @FinDev_Canada’s CEO Lori Kerr how #IFIs like @IFAD can work together to scale investment in sustainable #FoodSystems. At IFAD, we see strong alignment with FinDev #Canada’s focus on mobilizing private capital and using #BlendedFinance to de-risk investments that reach smallholder farmers and rural enterprises. Our discussion marked an important step from dialogue to action, identifying potential co-investment opportunities across regions and instruments. By combining IFAD’s country presence and #FirstMile expertise with FinDev’s private-sector investment approach, we can help unlock greater capital for rural economies. Strengthening partnerships like this is essential to build more resilient food systems and expand opportunities for rural communities.

Investing in rural women is a trillion-dollar opportunity. Women are central to rural economies - as farmers, entrepreneurs and leaders. Yet they continue to face significant structural barriers to land, finance and markets. Women make up 41% of the global agrifood workforce, contributing across the entire value chain from production to processing and marketing. Yet less than 15% of global landholders are women, limiting their ability to fully participate in and benefit from rural economic growth. Closing these gaps is not only a matter of equality, but also a powerful economic opportunity. Evidence shows that investing in rural women could raise incomes for 58 million people and strengthen resilience for 235 million more. At @IFAD, we invest where impact is greatest: at the #FirstMile of food systems. By expanding access to finance, technology, knowledge and markets, we are helping rural women strengthen livelihoods, build businesses and drive transformation across rural economies. On #InternationalWomensDay, the message is clear: investing in rural women strengthens food systems, economies and global resilience. Learn more: Rural women, from investment to impact #IWD2026 #YearOfTheWomanFarmer

It was my pleasure to meet Dr Mwangi, CEO of Equity Bank Limited, today and to welcome him to #IFAD headquarters. Equity Group’s work in expanding access to finance for smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs, and its value-chain-based approach to agricultural finance, closely aligns with IFAD’s mandate: investing in rural people, strengthening agricultural value chains and improving livelihoods for the most vulnerable. Blended finance is key to de-risk investment, crowd in private capital and deliver sustainable impact. By combining development finance with commercial capital, we explore strengthening agricultural value chains, enhancing climate resilience and expanding access to finance for smallholders and rural enterprises across Africa. At @IFAD, we are committed to partnering with financial institutions and private-sector actors that share our commitment to smallholders, inclusion, climate resilience and long-term development impact. Today’s exchange was a valuable opportunity to explore how innovative partnership models can be scaled to deliver results for rural communities

Yesterday, I welcomed Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries to discuss the great potential of sustainable and inclusive #BlueEconomy. Our conversation underscored the strategic importance of healthy oceans for rural economies, nutrition and the livelihoods of coastal communities — particularly among the most vulnerable. @IFAD remains committed to strengthening fisheries and aquaculture value chains, improving nutrition and creating jobs through coastal restoration and climate-resilient production systems. Aquaculture is rapidly expanding across IFAD programmes in over 20 countries, offering significant opportunities to enhance food security, biodiversity and rural livelihoods. We are committed to deepening the joint collaboration with the European Union under its new Ocean Policy in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture value chains — including improved infrastructure investments, innovative financing and greater private sector engagement. I look forward to continuing and strengthening our partnership with the European Union to advance sustainable, inclusive and ocean-based rural economies. @EU_Commission

Last week, I was delighted to welcome H.E. Karin Herrera Aguilar, Vice-President of #Guatemala, to the headquarters of @IFAD in Rome. We explored how to further strengthen our partnership to advance food and nutrition security, reduce child malnutrition in vulnerable rural areas, and promote the economic empowerment of rural women, youth and Indigenous Peoples. Our conversation underscored a strong shared commitment to school feeding and family farming. Building on the successful RBA programme linking family farmers to the national school meal programme, we are now developing a new South–South and Triangular Cooperation (#SSTC) initiative to further integrate small-scale producers into inclusive and resilient food systems. We also agreed on the importance of financial inclusion — particularly for women, migrants and other vulnerable groups. We discussed the potential of private sector investment through microfinance institutions to promote the productive use of remittances and strengthen smallholders’ resilience and adaptation to climate change. I look forward to continuing our close collaboration to deliver lasting impact for rural communities across Guatemala.

Over the past week, the #IFADGoverningCouncil brought together governments, young people, and public and private sector partners to explore the pivotal role young entrepreneurs play in transforming global food systems and strengthening food security and stability. Watch the highlights.

As world leaders meet at the Munich Security Conference amid rising geopolitical tensions, IFAD is urging governments and investors to make food security and rural investment a global security priority. “Fragile food systems pose an underestimated risk to global stability - access to productive land and reliable freshwater must be prioritized," said @IFADPresident Alvaro Lario. Nearly 80% of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas, where climate shocks, failing food systems and limited opportunities combine to drive conflict, displacement, and regional instability. Investing in connecting these communities to markets and finance, Lario added, “does not just promote opportunity and prosperity, it also strengthens the foundations of peace and safeguards some of our most valuable resources”. IFAD works with governments, UN agencies and the private sector to align food security investments with broader security and foreign policy goals. For every dollar in core contributions, IFAD delivers US$6 in high‑impact investments, crowding in public, private and domestic finance and serving as a frontline actor in promoting stability and prosperity. A recent three‑year impact assessment by IFAD found that project participants saw increases of more than a one‑third in income, productive capacity and market access. By addressing the root causes that drive people toward violence, illicit economies or irregular migration, these investments in rural economies demonstrate a clear and direct impact on stability. Continue reading at bit.ly/4rHcqwQ #MSC2026 @MunSecConf

As IFAD launched consultations with Member States for its 14th replenishment, @IFADPresident Alvaro Lario called for strong collective ambition. Lario outlined a clear direction for #IFAD14: deeper market integration to better connect small-scale producers food value chains; expanded rural employment - especially for young people - to shape regional stability; and stronger resilience to climate, conflict and economic shocks. Investing in rural transformation is essential to strengthen food security, spur economic growth, create employment and reinforce stability at a time of rising geopolitical fragmentation, tightening fiscal space and systemic risks to global food systems. The first pledge to IFAD14 came from the Republic of #Chad which announced an 11% increase over its IFAD13 contribution, bringing its total to US$500,000. “This increase reflects the importance of agricultural and rural development as a national priority for Chad - just as it is for many countries in the region - and a core pillar of Chad’s national development plan, Connection 2030. We encourage other countries to follow suit,” said Keda Ballah, Minister of Agricultural Production and Transformation. Resources pledged to IFAD14 will finance IFAD's 2028-2030 programme, combining public contributions with co-financing and other sources of capital, including from the private sector, to expand the reach and impact of IFAD's projects in the world's poorest rural areas. Continue reading at bit.ly/3OGWYCE

Over the past two days, I have held intensive consultations with Member States on the next phase of @IFAD’s strategic vision under IFAD’s 14th Replenishment. In a world marked by geopolitical fragmentation, climate volatility and fiscal constraint, there was clear alignment: investment in rural economies can strengthen global food value chains, as well as social cohesion and job creation in some of the most vulnerable communities globally, and specially in the least developed countries. Member States reaffirmed IFAD’s role as a results-focused #IFI delivering measurable return on investment at the #FirstMile. Today’s launch of #IFAD14 replenishment discussions marks another major milestone. The strong support expressed by Member States reflects their confidence in IFAD’s strategic direction and in the measurable impact of our work. IFAD14 is more than a financing cycle. It is a strategic platform to mobilize capital, deepen partnerships and deliver stability and growth, starting by financing the first mile.

Ahead of the @MunSecConf, read my article in @faznet on the importance of water and land for security. #MSC2026

Today’s programme for the 49th #IFADGoverningCouncil has been centered on governance, partnership and strategic direction, from how @IFAD delivers today, to how we position the institution for the decade ahead. Over the past two days, we have returned repeatedly to one priority: young people—especially young entrepreneurs—and the role they can play across the value chain that links farms to markets. During our Centre Stage, we heard directly from them: the barriers they face, the choices they are forced to make, and the persistence it takes to keep a business moving in difficult conditions. We also saw their ideas and their leadership in action.   Young people will shape the future of farming. Their creativity and drive show what is possible when opportunity is matched with investment and support. Their participation in rural economies will influence the future of #FoodSystems and food security, as the world works to meet rising demand.   Yet as I noted yesterday, this generation faces a gap between potential and the investment, services and finance required to scale and sustain productive work.   We concluded with a Governors’ Dialogue marking the #YearOfTheWomanFarmer, amplifying the voices of women who are already transforming rural economies, strengthening food and nutrition security, and building more resilient communities. Their stories remind us why investing in rural women is not only a moral imperative, but a strategic one for sustainable development.

Throughout the opening day of the 49th #IFADGoverningCouncil, I held a wide range of bilateral meetings reflecting the depth, confidence and diversity of @IFAD’s partnerships with our Member States. The day began with a breakfast exchange with our Nordic Member States, followed by meetings and discussions with representatives from #France, #Germany, #UnitedStates, #Mauritania, #Qatar, #China and #Spain. Across all my bilaterals, the message was consistent: the need to deepen partnerships, align around shared priorities and scale investment in rural economies at the #FirstMile. From #FoodSecurity and climate resilience to youth employment, private-sector engagement and innovative finance, these exchanges are shaping how IFAD delivers impact, looking ahead to day two of the Governing Council and the launch of #IFAD14.

Today we officially open the 49th #IFADGoverning Council. We placed young entrepreneurs at the heart of rural transformation, moving from vision to impact. Across rural economies, young women and men are already driving innovation, jobs and growth. Our task is to ensure they have access to finance, markets and the enabling conditions needed to scale. Throughout the day, leaders from governments, international financial institutions and the private sector will explore new frontiers for #IFIs, financing the #FirstMile, and investing in water security as a foundation for resilient #FoodSystems. I look forward to an ambitious @IFAD Governing Council with our 180 members states focused on investment, impact, partnership, and empowering young entrepreneurs.

Ahead of the 49th #IFADGoverningCouncil, I had productive meetings with representatives from #Burundi, #Canada, #Nepal and #UnitedKingdom. These bilateral meetings are essential moments to listen, align priorities and strengthen partnerships, particularly as we prepare for the #IFAD14 Consultation. At a time of global uncertainty, dialogue and collaboration are critical to mobilizing investment at the #FirstMile, scaling impact and positioning rural economies as drivers of growth, stability and opportunity. I look forward to advancing shared ambitions during @IFAD’s Governing Council and beyond.

As we look ahead to the 49th #IFADGoverningCouncil, our focus is clear - From Farm to Market: Investing with Young Entrepreneurs. Today, there are 1.3 billion young people worldwide, the largest generation in history, and nearly half live in rural areas. Investing in their entrepreneurial potential, unlocks jobs, innovation and growth, turning rural areas into engines of stability, prosperity and sustainable development. This Governing Council also takes place at the outset of the #YearOfTheWomanFarmer, a moment to recognize the indispensable role women play across agrifood systems, from production to markets, and their contributions to food security, nutrition and prosperity. Women already make up more than half of IFAD’s project participants, and over 60% of our active portfolio is youth-sensitive, reaching more than 12 million young people globally. The Governing Council will also mark the launch of the #IFAD14 Consultation, providing an important investment platform for Governors to share perspectives on strategic priorities at a time of global uncertainty. I look forward to these discussions and to shaping the next chapter of IFAD’s role in investing in the #FirstMile. Learn more about IFAD’s 49th Governing Council: ifad.org/en/w/events/go…

The 49th session of #IFADGoverningCouncil brings together Member States, private sector leaders, young rural entrepreneurs and key partners to explore how investing in rural youth can unlock jobs and turn rural areas into engines of stability and growth. Join the dialogue.

In #Dubai, I joined other leaders at the @WorldGovSummit to ensure rural transformation is embedded in global decision-making. #FoodSystems are interconnected, from cities in the Gulf to the millions of small-scale farmers who feed the region. These producers supply a large share of national food needs, yet face climate shocks, water scarcity and market volatility. Throughout #WGS2026, my engagements focused on advancing rural development, food systems and investment-driven solutions, including signings on parallel co-financing agreements with the @ABUDHABI_FUND and a letter of intent with the @IOFS_Official. In a parallel conference on Food Security organised by @Arab_Authority, I highlighted in the opening @IFAD’s strong alignment with the Arab region’s priorities on sustainable food systems and long-term stability. #WorldGovSummit

Short extract of the interview with the @FT Live during the @wef. Watch the full interview here: youtube.com/live/iRi4ODAAJ… #Davos #Davos2026 #WEF26 @IFAD

At #WEF26 final day, I had conversations with partners such as @yara on farmer and soil data interoperability across different actors, with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development on resilient agrifood value chains or on the use of digital tools through the MADE Alliance. During the day I also had various interviews jointly with @Sabrinadhowre, @IFAD's Goodwill Ambassador. For example at the @FT with Andrew Hill where we discussed the economic and business case for investing in rural areas. Later in the day, I also joined a @CNBC with Tania Bryer OBE before an audience of business leaders, investors, and philanthropists, underscoring the growing convergence between development, private capital, and global stability. Finally, interesting discussion also with @GlblCtzn and The Partnering Corporation on “Cultivating the Well-Being Economy: Youth, Smallholder Farming, and the Future of Rural Prosperity”. It was also nice to catch up briefly with Christian Frutiger of @SwissMFA. As we finalise #Davos, partnerships remain critical. Empowering young people and smallholder farmers is central to building resilient global food value chains, jobs in the least developed countries, keeping the cost of food affordable and long-term stability.