Group Moves to Reduce Hunger, Poverty among Rural Dwellers

At a time when hunger is on the rise due to conflict and climate change, the 176 Member States of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Monday announced a target for contributions that will support a US$3.5 billion programme of loans and grants, reducing poverty and hunger for tens of millions of rural people in developing countries around the world.

The target, announced during the final consultation of the eleventh replenishment of the fund, will enable IFAD to expand the size of its programme of loans and grants by 10 per cent, while deepening and improving its operations over a three-year period from 2019 to 2021.

During that time, IFAD estimates the projects and programmes it supports will help 47 million smallholder farmers increase their production through access to technology, finance and knowledge, while improving access to markets for 46 million.

Additionally, 24 million people will be enabled to develop greater resilience to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, 12 million people will see improvement in their nutrition, and 44 million people will experience better economic status.

“To achieve these goals, IFAD will intensify its work on climate, nutrition and gender – the key focus areas which will be mainstreamed across our portfolio,” IFAD President, Gilbert F. Houngbo, explained in a report.

“We will also sharpen our focus on youth employment in order to meet one of the most pressing challenges faced by the world today.”

Houngbo said the renewed commitment from Member States comes at a critical moment.

Last September, newly released figures showed that hunger increased for the first time in 10 years affecting 815 million people in 2016, up 38 million from 2015 because of climate change and protracted crises. As world leaders set their sights on ending hunger and poverty by 2030 as part of their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Houngbo said it’s never been more important to scale up ef- forts and to invest in long-term development.

“We believe that IFAD has a unique role to play, not only as an investor but as a trusted broker, an assembler of development finance, and a proven innovator sharing its knowledge and expertise,” he added.