The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)’s ongoing investments reached 92 million people worldwide, raising incomes, production and market access, according to the Fund’s 2025 Annual Report launched today.
“Investment in rural development is one of the most effective and strategic responses to the challenges facing the world today,” said Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD. “When rural people are empowered, the benefits reach far beyond rural communities, strengthening economies, reducing vulnerabilities, and creating opportunities.”
The report details IFAD’s investments and impacts at the “first mile” of food systems, where small-scale producers, rural entrepreneurs and local enterprises form the backbone of resilient economies and produce one-third of the food that feeds the world.
According to the report, IFAD’s global investment portfolio reached US$8,46 billion across 83 countries and more than 170 programmes in 2025. Ongoing IFAD programmes have created nearly 390,000 jobs, constructed 7,300 km of rural roads, and brought 1.9 million hectares of land under climate-resilient management, among other key results.
