Calling for greater global ambition for rural transformation…
By Staff Reporter
·
Published on September 25, 2026
·
4 min read
As compounding energy, climate and conflict shocks put renewed pressure on small-scale farmers and food systems, ten African countries announced they are increasing their contributions to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and calling on international partners to match their ambition to accelerate rural transformation.
With their new pledges to IFAD – announced during the High-level Meetings of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly – Burundi, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe sent a strong signal that investing in agrifood systems must be a strategic global priority and is central to economic opportunity, food security and stability.
Together, these countries have pledged nearly US$9 million to IFAD’s fourteenth replenishment cycle for 2028-2030 (IFAD14). Several countries have more than tripled their commitments, with the largest increases reaching nearly ten times their previous three-year contributions to IFAD.
These pledges come at a critical moment for the continent. Beyond food security, investment in rural areas is increasingly central to Africa’s economic transformation and to helping communities adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. With the largest generation of young people in its history entering the labour market, investing in rural economies will help shape Africa’s economic trajectory for decades to come.
“African leaders recognize IFAD14 as a critical platform for strengthening the continent’s agrifood systems,” said Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD. “With nearly 60 per cent of IFAD’s portfolio invested in Africa and the Fund’s focus on the ‘first mile’ of food systems, IFAD is uniquely positioned to both channel and catalyze investment to rural areas where the greatest opportunities exist to create jobs, build resilience and accelerate inclusive growth.”
IFAD’s unique financial model delivers greater development impact by combining Member States’ contributions with loan repayments, supplementary funds, borrowed funds and various types of cofinancing with national governments, partner institutions, private-sector actors and small-scale producers.
With an AA+ credit rating and as the only United Nations fund authorized to issue sustainable bonds on capital markets, IFAD is a global leader in innovative, market-based solutions to drive rural transformation, issuing over US$1 billion in sustainable bonds since 2022.
This model allows IFAD to turn every dollar of core contributions into approximately six dollars of investment on the ground, catalyzing investment to small-scale farmers, rural enterprises and climate-resilient food systems.
According to IFAD’s latest development effectiveness report, projects assessed under its most recent replenishment cycle increased rural incomes by an average of 34 per cent, boosted agricultural productive capacity by 35 per cent and improved market access by 34 per cent.
Quotes from African Leaders:
Taye Atske Selassie, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: “Ethiopia’s commitment to IFAD14 reflects a fundamental conviction: food security, economic prosperity, and the future of our youth are inseparable from the success of our smallholders. Transforming Africa’s agriculture from a burden into an engine of growth requires that our continent takes primary responsibility for financing its own rural development”.
William Ruto, President of Republic of Kenya: “Kenya’s 50 per cent increase in its pledge to IFAD is an investment in our rural communities, and especially our young farmers who represent one of Africa’s greatest opportunities for growth and transformation. I join my fellow African leaders in calling on other donors and development partners to match our momentum by increasing their contributions to IFAD14 to drive rural prosperity, strengthen food security and build resilience in Africa and beyond.”
Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone: “Agriculture is the foundation of food security, our livelihood, and our future. If we want to transform food systems and create jobs, we must invest in people who produce our food. IFAD is doing its part, and I invite other partners to do the same.”
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia: “Somalia’s future rests on our ability to build livelihoods that can withstand climate extremes, produce and sell more of the food we consume, and give rural communities a stronger stake in our economy. Through IFAD14, we are driving long-term investments in the farmers, pastoralists and rural businesses who are at the heart of Somalia’s recovery and future prosperity.”
IFAD14 is the Fourteenth Replenishment of IFAD’s resources, through which Member States provide contributions that enable IFAD to invest in rural people, strengthen agrifood systems and support sustainable rural development over the 2028-2030 period.
The commitments of the ten African countries to IFAD14 are:
