International Fund for Agricultural Development

Less than 5% of Africa’s farmland is irrigated, leaving millions of rural entrepreneurs exposed to the risks of water scarcity. For nearly three-quarters of the world’s population, #water insecurity is a daily reality – and no sector feels it more than agriculture. Investing in sustainable irrigation can up to triple the productivity of rainfed small-scale farms, boosting incomes, creating jobs and strengthening rural economies. Ahead of #WorldWaterDay, discover what makes water a particularly high-impact investment for governments and donors seeking to support rural transformation. Read more at bit.ly/4rHeIMk

Around the world, nearly 65 M young people are unemployed, most of them living in rural areas. Through its Agribusiness Hubs Programme, IFAD invests in their potential – establishing over 8,000 youth-led agribusinesses and creating 59,000+ jobs across nine African countries.

#Norway and IFAD issued a joint statement today to underscore the urgency of sustained and well-targeted investment in agriculture, food systems and rural transformation. Rural communities are home to 80% of the world’s poorest people, and their development is a “strategic investment in stability and social cohesion,” as reaffirmed by @IFADPresident Alvaro Lario during a meeting in #Oslo with @AsmundAukrust, Norway’s Minister of International Development. The discussion took place as consultations for IFAD’s Fourteenth Replenishment of core resources (#IFAD14), which will finance IFAD's programme of work from 2028 to 2030, are ongoing. IFAD’s multiplier effect has turned every dollar received into around six dollars of high-impact investment at the first mile of food systems, mobilizing cofinancing from governments, development partners and the private sector. Read more at bit.ly/4cXIcBL #FinancingTheFirstMile | @NorwayMFA

From #Zimbabwe to #Benin, joint investments from #Norway and IFAD are supporting rural businesses’ productive capacity and helping to tackle malnutrition through nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Watch how we’re fostering healthier and more resilient rural communities. @noradno @EspenBarthEide @AsmundAukrust

#Norway is a long-standing partner and a key contributor to IFAD's core and supplementary resources, with key leadership particularly on prioritizing low-income and lower-middle-income countries and driving inclusive growth. Its Supplementary Fund grant, provided by the Government of Norway through @noradno and valued at NOK 60 million, added significant support to IFAD’s work on inclusive and sustainable, nutrition-sensitive agriculture. The grant has helped invest in nutrition-sensitive value chains, covering everything from production and post-harvest handling to processing and marketing, linking small-scale producers to markets while improving the availability and affordability of nutritious foods. At completion in late 2024, the grant had directly benefitted 263,835 project participants. On top of this, more than 50,000 students received nutrition education, improved school meals and hands-on gardening experience. Continue reading at bit.ly/4bnCkPO @EspenBarthEide @AsmundAukrust

Over nearly two decades, undernourishment in the #DominicanRepublic has plummeted from 21.3% to 3.6%, largely thanks to small producers who supply up to 80% of the country's food. IFAD Country Director Isabel de la Peña explains how IFAD’s work through rural investment plans are strengthening key value chains in the country, alongside initiatives that boost economic mobility for young rural people. Read the blog at bit.ly/3PakLva

Achieving lasting rural impact requires direct investment in small and medium-sized enterprises. This empowers the private sector to drive economic growth and transform rural lives. Accounting for over 90% of global agrifood activities, the private sector complements public investment with essential technology, market access and logistics that help small farms, rural entrepreneurs, and agri-food businesses thrive. IFAD partners across the entire agrifood ecosystem – from SMEs and local banks to multinational buyers – aligning market incentives with development goals to unlock co-investments that multiply impact. The evidence is clear: 58 impact assessments show projects with strong private sector engagement boosted rural incomes by 64% – nearly double the 33% gains from limited engagement. Discover IFAD's private sector approach to rural transformation at bit.ly/4sJ8GM3

IFAD, the European Union (#EU) and Hamkorbank, one of #Uzbekistan’s leading banks, today launched a landmark programme to boost rural entrepreneurship and expand financial inclusion. The programme, targeting nearly 4,000 remittance-receiving households and return migrants in #Uzbekistan, introduces a credit scoring model that allows remittances and returnees' savings to be recognized as proof of repayment capacity. The new scoring system helps overcome barriers that have kept many rural people out of the formal banking system, turning remittance income and savings into productive investments, sustainable businesses and resilient livelihoods for rural families. “Through this partnership with Hamkorbank, we are piloting an innovative solution within the Central Bank’s regulatory sandbox that can serve as a model not only for Uzbekistan, but for the wider region,” said Pedro De Vasconcelos, Manager of the Financing Facility for Remittances (@FFRemittances) at IFAD. "The European Union is proud to support efforts that make financial systems more inclusive and responsive to the realities of migrant families,” said Christos Marazopoulos, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation European Union Uzbekistan (@EU_Tashkent). “As one of Uzbekistan’s leading banks serving remittance clients, we see first-hand the potential of migrant families to become rural entrepreneurs if they are given access to the right financial tools,” said Hikmatullo Alikhonov, Chief Risk Officer, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Hamkorbank. Continue reading at bit.ly/4lk5GDp

Rural women are central to agrifood systems, yet many still face barriers to land, finance and markets. Through targeted investments and partnerships, IFAD works to expand their access to resources, opportunities and leadership. On #IWD26, explore key facts on women farmers ⬇️

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

The foundations of global stability and prosperity cannot be achieved without fully harnessing women’s potential as key contributors to the global economy. To mark #IWD2026, IFAD Vice-President @g_mukeshimana explains why. Learn more at bit.ly/4cxlq3r

Women play a vital role in rural economies, yet often have limited access to resources and opportunities. Data show that focused investments could raise incomes for 58 million people and strengthen the resilience of 235 million. This #IWD2026, IFAD underscores how supporting women across rural value chains, from production to processing and marketing, drives measurable progress and inclusive rural transformation. Learn more at bit.ly/3OR63cq

Women’s unpaid care work limits economic participation, costing the global economy nearly US$11T. Loise Maina, IFAD Lead Technical Specialist on Gender & Social Inclusion, explains how IFAD’s investments boost women’s incomes, market access, and strengthen rural communities. #IWD26

Ahead of International Women's Day, IFAD, @FAO and @WFP hosted a joint event focused on strengthening women farmers’ access and opportunities across agrifood systems. “Evidence consistently shows that, when rural women have equal access to opportunities in agrifood systems, their productivity increases, incomes rise, and resilience strengthens. This translates into more active rural economies overall,” said Gérardine Mukeshimana, Vice-President of IFAD. “Let us reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that women and girls can participate fully in economic life.” The event brought together governments, women farmers and development practitioners to discuss the persistent barriers women face – from access to land and finance to services and social protection – while highlighting practical solutions and community-driven initiatives. Continue reading at bit.ly/4rg8JxQ #YearOfTheWomanFarmer #IWD26 | @g_mukeshimana

IFAD has joined partners including the @WorldBankGroup, the @AIIB_Official and the @IFC_org to launch the #AgriConnect action plan in #PapuaNewGuinea. AgriConnect aims to transform small-scale farming into a driver of growth, jobs and food security by linking farmers and agribusinesses to stronger value chains and markets. “IFAD has extensive experience in connecting small-scale farmers to markets and strengthening food value chains that lead to increased yields and higher incomes. We value our partnership with the World Bank Group to support these goals and together broaden and deepen the impact of our two institutions," said Reehana Raza, IFAD Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific during the launch. The initiative supports Papua New Guinea’s goal to create 1 million rural jobs by 2033 by strengthening digital agriculture, aggregation models between small-scale farmers and agribusinesses, de-risking financial instruments and policy enhancements to reduce the cost of investments. Continue reading at bit.ly/4l736Ag @WBG_AgriFood

IFAD and the Kingdom of #Tonga have signed a US$5.3 million six-year initiative to strengthen climate resilience, improve food security and expand economic opportunities for nearly 35,000 people – more than one-third of Tonga’s population. “We are moving beyond local development to confront the defining challenges of our time - from climate change and eroding biodiversity to rural youth unemployment - to ensure rural communities cannot just withstand future shocks, but also thrive,” said Reehana Raza, IFAD Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. Building on earlier phases, the initiative will support diversified crops, climate-resilient farming practices and cluster farming models that help small-scale farmers pool resources and reach markets. The project will also focus on youth employment, innovation and sustainable solutions such as mechanisation services, greenhouses, drip irrigation and digital tools. This new phase comes at a critical time for Tonga, where rural communities face increasing climate risks and geographic constraints. By linking farmers to markets and investing in innovation, the programme aims to strengthen livelihoods while helping communities better withstand future shocks. Continue reading at bit.ly/4cmluTJ

IFAD has been recognized as the Best Issuer for ESG-Linked Medium Term Notes (MTNs) at the Global Capital MTN Awards ceremony in London yesterday. The recognition underscores IFAD’s success in positioning itself as a new ESG issuer mobilizing private capital at scale to advance sustainable development outcomes for rural populations. The @GlobalCapNews MTN Awards are the only comprehensive awards dedicated to the #MTN market, with winners voted by market participants. This year’s award reflects the industry’s recognition of IFAD’s commitment to impact and transparency in issuing ESG‑linked MTNs that channel private capital from impact investors into measurable development results. “Being recognized as the Best Issuer for ESG‑linked MTNs in 2025 is an extraordinary honour for IFAD which entered #capitalmarkets only recently. The recognition is even more meaningful by being included alongside seasoned institutions such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration,” said Diane Menville, Associate Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer at IFAD. Since entering capital markets in 2022, IFAD has successfully engaged with private asset managers as well as public investors such as central banks, mutual insurance companies and publicly supported pension funds which all have strong ESG profiles. The strength of IFAD’s credit rating - AA+ credit from Fitch and AA+ with positive outlook from S&P - has been a key factor in ensuring highest quality issuance. IFAD issues only “use of proceed” bonds, as all the funds raised from capital markets are directed towards high-impact investments in smallholder farmers, rural communities, and local agribusinesses across developing countries. Since its inaugural issuance, IFAD issued thirteen bonds for a total of US$1.1 billion. Read more at bit.ly/46z7O42 #GlobalCapitalAwards © 2026 - ASV Photography Ltd.