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The Tanáiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., has announced his intention to provide €7.5 million over the period 2019-2021 to the International Fund for Agriculture and Development (IFAD), in support of its work eradicating rural poverty in developing countries.  

In a recent meeting with agriculture sector delegates from 11 African Countries Minister Coveney stated that Ireland’s priority in its membership of, and support for, IFAD has been to ensure that ‘the Fund continues to concentrate its work and resources on the poorest and most fragile countries’.  This contribution to IFAD’s work will assist it in that task.

This announcement comes as IFAD’s Governing Council meets in Rome to progress its 2019-2021 plan, which will contribute to the eradication of rural poverty in developing countries, with a particular focus on gender, climate change, nutrition and more recently youth employment.  IFAD’s policies and objectives are closely aligned with Ireland’s international development cooperation programme.

“IFAD and Ireland share a deep commitment to ending global poverty and hunger,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. “IFAD welcomes Ireland’s continued leadership role around the Sustainable Development Goals and its increased support for long-term investments in agriculture and rural transformation that are crucial to reach those goals. IFAD invests in all of Ireland's key partner countries, supporting and empowering the poorest and most marginalized rural people to increase their incomes, food security and resilience."