Objective:

IFAD is a UN agency, which aims to provide funding for the agricultural and rural development projects in the developing countries with the purpose of supporting rural development and eradicating hunger. IFAD also contributes to the preparation process of national strategic plans and implements agricultural projects itself.

Date of Establishment:

The Founding Agreement entered into effect on 30 November 1977 and the Fund started its operations on December 1977.

Headquarters:

Rome, Italy

President:

Alvaro Lario (Spain)

Member States:

IFAD has 178 member states.

Türkiye’s Candidacy

Türkiye is a member of IFAD since 1982.

Background

The organization of IFAD was proposed at the UN World Food Conference in 1974. Following this proposal, UN General Assembly adopted the Resolution 3503, dated 15 December 1975, to facilitate the necessary procedures. In line with this Resolution, IFAD was established at an international conference in Rome on 10-13 July 1976. The Founding Agreement of IFAD was opened for signature on 20 December 1976 and entered into effect on 30 November 1977. The fund started its operations on December 1977. The headquarters is in Rome.

IFAD is a specialized UN agency with an international personality. Its objective is to increase agricultural production and combat rural poverty in the developing countries. IFAD, in this context, supports projects focusing on agricultural production, social development, gender equality, nutrition, environmental sustainability and effective governance through means of low interest loans and grants. IFAD also contributes to the preparation process of national strategic plans and implements projects itself.

IFAD pays particular attention to increasing food production in the least developed countries, capacity building in the food sector of the developing countries and uplift the life standards and nutrition levels of the poor in these countries.

Since the year 1978, the Fund’s operations initiated, it sustained low interest loans and grants to many projects that worth 24 billion USD.

Türkiye’s Relations with IFAD

Türkiye and IFAD enjoy good relations. With the intention of actively taking part in the activities of IFAD, Türkiye regularly participates in the meetings of the Governing Council and Executive Board, which are the decision-making and executive bodies of the Organization. Türkiye contributes to the Organization’s budget for the 13^th Replenishment Period (2025-2027) with an increase of 20%.

“Host Country Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on the Establishment of IFAD’s Country Office – Eastern Europe & Central Asia Hub” was signed on 5 November 2018 in Ankara.

IFAD Projects in Türkiye

IFAD has implemented 11 projects in Türkiye and the sum of loans approved for Türkiye’s utilization has amounted to 251 million USD since 1982. Nine of these projects were completed while three of them are still ongoing.

- Göksu Taşeli Watershed Development Project

Project duration: 2015-2025

- Uplands Rural Development Programme

Project duration: 2017-2027

On the other hand, Euphretes River Watershed Rehabilitation Project (Project duration: 2024-2031) has been approved.