Rome, 4 July 2022 – The UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will appoint its next President on 7 July, choosing new leadership at a dire time when millions more rural people are being pushed into hunger and poverty due to the compounding effects of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and record-level commodity prices triggered by the conflict in Ukraine.

The President will lead IFAD, a specialized United Nations agency and international finance institution with 177 Member States, for the next four years. IFAD plays a crucial role in the fight against hunger and poverty and the transformation of food systems through its investments in rural populations and small-scale farmers.

Those small-scale farmers produce one-third of the world’s food and are essential to global food security. Yet, their capacity to produce food for their communities and countries is threatened by climate change and a lack of access to seeds, fertilizers, technology, knowledge and markets. The current price hikes for food, energy and fertilizer are now threatening their ability to feed their families. This crisis comes at a time when vulnerable rural populations are reeling from the value chain disruptions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between 2019 and 2021, IFAD helped 77 million people improve their income, 67 million people improve their access to markets, and 62 million people increase their production.

What: Hybrid press conference with IFAD’s President-elect. Registration is required for attendance in person or virtually.

When: 7 July 2022, Time TBD – Members of the media who have registered to attend will be alerted by email 30 minutes in advance of the start of the press conference.

Where: In-person attendance: IFAD headquarters, Via Paolo di Dono, 44 – Rome. Virtual attendance: a Zoom link will be provided to registered media.

The election starts at 9:30 am and takes place behind closed doors. After the results are announced to IFAD Member States, the new President’s acceptance speech and press conference will be accessible to registered media through a link to be provided.

For more information, please see our event website: Appointment of IFAD President

ACCREDITATION:

Media accreditation to attend IFAD premises or participate in the online press conference must be completed by Tuesday 5 July 2022, COB.

Please send your request to Vincent Sineau at v.sineau@ifad.org and include “Press Accreditation” in the subject line, along with:

• Indication on whether attendance is in person or online
• A copy of a valid press card or letter of assignment on company stationery
• A copy of a valid ID (passport, national identity card)

Please have the above ID material with you to gain access to IFAD premises.

Due to COVID-19 protective measures, journalists attending in person will be required to submit a health questionnaire at least 24h prior to the event and to follow COVID-19 hygiene measures on-site.

For further information, contact Caroline Chaumont: c.chaumont@ifad.org, IFAD, mobile: +39 3496620155

IFAD is an international financial institution and a United Nations specialized agency. Based in Rome – the United Nations food and agriculture hub – IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided more than US$23.2 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries. Last year, IFAD-supported projects reached an estimated 130 million people.