India Showcases Rural Development Success at IFAD–India Day
The Government of India demonstrated its impressive achievements in rural development, women’s empowerment, and climate-resilient agriculture during the IFAD–India Day event in Rome. This significant gathering highlighted India’s longstanding and successful collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), fostering innovative solutions to enhance rural livelihoods.
Mr. Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD, praised India’s leadership in promoting scalable, community-led rural initiatives. He emphasized that numerous India-IFAD projects have emerged as global benchmarks for rural transformation.
Ms. Anu Mathai, Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs and India’s Alternate Governor at IFAD, addressed attendees about the essence of India’s partnership with IFAD. She pointed out that this collaboration transcends mere financial contributions, focusing instead on shared values of inclusivity, sustainability, and community-led growth.
“Our partnership with IFAD is built on a vision that prioritizes rural communities in the development process. It has been a reliable ally in facilitating innovative and sustainable rural livelihood models,” Ms. Mathai stated.
Over the past 48 years, India and IFAD have partnered on 36 rural development projects, amassing a total investment of $4.4 billion, with IFAD contributing $1.5 billion directly. Currently, six ongoing projects worth $459 million reflect India’s strong commitment, with a co-financing ratio of 2.65, which is notably higher than the global average.
Among the flagship initiatives under the India–IFAD collaboration are key projects aimed at enhancing market access for over 45,000 rural enterprises in Meghalaya, expanding women’s employment opportunities in Maharashtra, improving climate resilience for 300,000 small farmers in Jammu & Kashmir, and supporting income-generation and migration reduction in Uttarakhand.
The event also spotlighted India’s globally recognized women’s collectives, which have evolved from grassroots savings groups into powerful economic institutions, serving as a model for community-driven change worldwide.
In his remarks, Dr. Jujjavarapu Balaji, Alternate Permanent Representative of India to IFAD, reaffirmed India’s dedication to enhancing its partnership with IFAD. He stated, “We look forward to further collaboration to amplify successful strategies and empower rural communities to tackle emerging challenges.”
As a founding member of IFAD and one of its largest contributors, India continues to take a leading role in South-South and Triangular Cooperation, sharing vital expertise in rural institution building, climate-smart agriculture, and value-chain development with nations in the Global South.
Both India and IFAD reiterated their commitment to strengthening rural institutions, improving skills, expanding access to markets and services, and empowering rural populations to thrive in sustainable and resilient ways.
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