Building resilience today is crucial to helping countries withstand the shocks and crises of tomorrow. That is the message African countries are sending through their support for #IFAD14. 10 African countries have already pledged approximately US$9 million, with several significantly increasing their contributions, despite tight fiscal space, rising input costs, climate pressures and economic uncertainty at home. Their commitments demonstrate strong confidence in @IFAD and in what investment in rural economies can deliver. Greater food security, more jobs, stronger growth and greater stability. Alongside H.E. @TayeAtske, President of Ethiopia, H.E. @julius_maadabio, President of Sierra Leone, H.E. @SalahJama , Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, and @UN Deputy Secretary-General @AminaJMohammed, we are calling for this ambition to be matched internationally. Through IFAD’s 14th Replenishment, we can help countries invest today in the infrastructure, finance, technology and markets that make rural economies more productive, prosperous and resilient to future shocks. Small-scale farmers are at the centre of that transformation. Investing in them is not only an investment in Africa’s future. It is an investment in stronger food systems and greater global stability. Africa’s support for IFAD14 sends a clear signal of confidence in investing in the first mile. Now is the moment to build on that momentum. Read the full press release: ifad.org/en/w/ten-african-co… #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81

At the IFAD14 African Leadership Moment, I announced Sierra Leone’s commitment to the IFAD14 replenishment, pledging to increase our contribution by at least 50 per cent compared with IFAD13, funded through our national budget. For Sierra Leone, agriculture is far more than an economic sector. It is the foundation of our food security, the livelihood of our people and the cornerstone of our future. @IFAD

Ten African countries are increasing their contributions to IFAD, pledging nearly US$9 million to IFAD’s fourteenth replenishment cycle for 2028-2030 (#IFAD14) and calling on international partners to match their ambition to accelerate rural transformation. Burundi, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe announced their commitments during the High-level Meetings of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Several countries have more than tripled their previous contributions, with the largest increases reaching nearly ten times their prior commitments. “African leaders recognize IFAD14 as a critical platform for strengthening the continent’s agrifood systems,” said @IFADPresident. “With nearly 60 per cent of IFAD’s portfolio invested in Africa and the Fund’s focus on the ‘first mile’ of food systems, IFAD is uniquely positioned to both channel and catalyze investment to rural areas where the greatest opportunities exist to create jobs, build resilience and accelerate inclusive growth.” IFAD’s financial model combines Member State contributions with loan repayments, borrowed funds and cofinancing, enabling the Fund to turn every dollar of core contributions into approximately six dollars of investment on the ground. With an AA+ credit rating, IFAD has issued more than US$1 billion in sustainable bonds since 2022, mobilizing additional capital for small-scale farmers, rural enterprises and climate-resilient food systems. Learn more at ifad.org/en/w/ten-african-co… #FinancingTheFirstmile #UNGA81

Kenya is increasing its investment in IFAD with a US$3 million pledge to IFAD’s 14th Replenishment. This pledge represents a 50% increase over Kenya’s previous three-year contribution and reaffirms Kenya’s commitment to increasing youth employment and creating green jobs, investing in rural finance, and securing resilient food systems and market access. Learn more about #IFAD14 at ifad14.ifad.org #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81

Somalia has increased its investment in IFAD with a US$150,000 pledge to IFAD’s 14th Replenishment. The pledge represents a nearly tenfold increase over Somalia’s previous three-year contribution and reaffirms Somalia’s commitment to climate resilience and adaptation to external shocks, productive, inclusive and job-creating agricultural value chains and stronger agricultural and environmental institutions. Learn more about #IFAD14 at ifad14.ifad.org #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81

Ethiopia has increased its investment in IFAD with a US$1,000,000 pledge to IFAD's 14th Replenishment. The pledge represents a nearly tenfold increase over Ethiopia's previous three-year contribution and reaffirms Ethiopia’s firm commitment to supporting agricultural transformation, rural livelihoods and resilient food systems. Learn more about #IFAD14 at ifad14.ifad.org #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81

IFAD and @the_IDB signed a new co-financing framework agreement to scale up joint investments in rural development, sustainable food systems and climate resilience across Latin America and the Caribbean. “By bringing together our complementary strengths, we can help countries deliver larger, more effective investments that create shared prosperity for rural people and strengthen food systems,” said @IFADPresident Alvaro Lario at the signing ceremony on the margins of #UNGA81. IFAD brings to the partnership specialized technical expertise and five decades of working on the ground with small-scale farmers and producers. Combined with IDB's financial scale, regional reach and convening power, the co-financing framework creates a scalable platform for larger and more integrated across the region. Learn more at ifad.org/en/w/news/idb-and-i… #FinancingTheFirstMile

Sudan has invested in IFAD with a US$232,511 pledge to IFAD’s 14th Replenishment. This marks Sudan’s first pledge in six years and reaffirms Sudan’s dedication to strengthening the resilience of vulnerable rural communities and production systems, agricultural value chains, markets and rural employment, as well as the sustainable use of natural resources, seed systems and inclusive rural finance. Learn more about #IFAD14 at ifad14.ifad.org #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81

Earlier this year, Chad increased its investment in IFAD with a US$500,000 pledge to IFAD’s 14th Replenishment. Marking the first-ever contribution to IFAD14, the pledge represents an 11% increase over Chad’s previous three-year contribution and underscores Chad’s long-standing commitment to agricultural transformation, youth and women entrepreneurship, market access and rural resilience. Learn more about #IFAD14 at ifad14.ifad.org #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81

Zimbabwe has increased its investment in IFAD with a US$1,000,000 pledge to IFAD’s 14th Replenishment. The pledge represents a 400% increase over Zimbabwe’s previous three-year contribution and reaffirms Zimbabwe’s commitment to climate resilient agriculture, agricultural productivity and market-led rural development. Learn more about #IFAD14 at ifad14.ifad.org #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81

My day at #UNGA81, focused on how we turn pressure on food systems into investment in stronger, more resilient rural economies. I began with Norway’s Minister of International Development, @AsmundAukrust. Norway has been an important partner to @IFAD, and our discussion came at a time when higher food, energy and fertilizer costs, conflict and climate shocks continue to put rural communities under pressure. We agreed on the importance of investing before shocks become crises. Well-targeted public finance can reduce risk, strengthen markets and bring in the private capital needed to create jobs, raise incomes and protect development gains. That same question of resilience was central to the @wef Food Stewardship Board. Technology is opening new possibilities for rural communities, from AI-enabled agricultural advice to better climate and market information. But technology only delivers lasting results when it is connected to finance, infrastructure, skills and the people who will use it. At the @nopovertyhunger, with Spain, Brazil, @the_IDB, Germany, Ethiopia, and Haiti, and four years remaining to achieve the #SDGs the focus shifted from solutions to scale. Countries know many of the interventions that work. The challenge is aligning finance and partners behind national priorities and turning those priorities into investable programmes that can reach millions more people. I also joined discussions around IFAD14 and met @Microsoft President @BradSmi. The private sector, technology companies, governments and development finance institutions all have a role in making rural markets more connected, productive and investable. Across these conversations, the direction is clear. Public resources are constrained, but the need for investment is growing. We need to use those resources more strategically to reduce risk, mobilize additional capital and bring innovation closer to the first mile. That is the ambition we are carrying into #IFAD14. Stronger markets, more rural jobs and greater resilience, backed by partnerships capable of delivering investment at scale. #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA

How can early investment ahead of climate shocks help reduce risk, protect rural livelihoods and strengthen food system resilience? As El Niño events – a recurring climate pattern that can disrupt rainfall and temperatures and increase the risk of droughts, floods, and agricultural losses – become a growing source of climate-related risk, IFAD investments highlight the importance of preparedness and anticipatory action. Investments in climate information, resilient agricultural technologies, water management, insurance and income diversification allows small-scale producers to manage risk, protect productive assets and sustain economic activity when shocks occur. By strengthening resilience before crises hit, IFAD’s targeted, proactive investments enable rural communities to absorb shocks, reduce vulnerability and safeguard development gains, while supporting longer-term productivity, economic stability and more sustainable rural economies. Find out more at ifad.org/en/w/explainers/pre… #FinancingTheFirstMile | #ElNino

On the margins of #UNGA81, I joined @IFADPresident and @AndrewZimmern at @GlblCtzn NOW for a discussion on rural food security and transformation. With much of Somalia dependent on agriculture and livestock, climate shocks threaten rural livelihoods and food security. I highlighted the need for greater investment in climate-resilient agriculture, water, livestock and rural value chains, and the importance of a strong @IFAD 14th replenishment.

I just came off the stage at @GlblCtzn NOW, with @andrewzimmern and H.E. @SalahJama, Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, making the case for why investing in rural people matters for stronger economies, food security and a more resilient future. Approximately 3 billion people live in rural areas. They are farmers, entrepreneurs, employers and innovators. They are driving growth and producing much of the food we all depend on. As we discussed on stage, resilience starts with healthy soils and access to water, but also with access to finance, markets and infrastructure. Food systems are not only about production. Storage, distribution and marketing are where much of the value and many of the jobs are created. We also talked about the blue economy, which for @IFAD is a rural economy. As an example, in Zanzibar, seaweed farming supports around 15,000 farmers, 80% of them women. Until recently, almost all of it left the island raw. Together with the Government of Tanzania and Zanzibar, we are supporting women's groups to process seaweed and improve quality, so they earn more from what they grow. And as warmer waters damage seaweed near the shore, we are supporting farmers to farm in deeper water with better seed and techniques. That is what #IFAD14 is about. Investing more in rural economies, reaching communities that are too often overlooked and building stronger food systems for everyone. #FinancingTheFirstMile | #GlobalCitizenNOW | #UNGA81

Guinea increases its investment in IFAD with a US$1 million pledge to IFAD’s 14th Replenishment. The pledge represents a 233% increase over Guinea’s previous three-year contribution and underscores the country’s long-standing commitment to agricultural transformation, improved rural livelihoods and inclusive rural economic growth. Learn more about #IFAD14 at ifad14.ifad.org #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81

Burundi increases its investment in IFAD with a US$300,000 pledge to IFAD’s 14th Replenishment. The pledge represents a 200% increase over Burundi’s previous three-year contribution and reaffirms Burundi’s commitment to supporting rural livelihoods, improving agricultural productivity and building food security and resilience. Learn more about #IFAD14 at ifad14.ifad.org #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81

Rwanda increases its investment in IFAD with a US$900,000 pledge to IFAD’s 14th Replenishment. The pledge represents a 200% increase over Rwanda’s previous three-year contribution and reaffirms Rwanda’s long-standing commitment to rural transformation, improving agricultural productivity, investing in climate resilience and market-oriented value chains. Learn more about #IFAD14 at ifad14.ifad.org #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81

As global leaders gather at UNGA81 this week, the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty continues to provide an important platform to align political leadership, financing and expertise behind country-owned priorities and to help scale proven solutions where they are needed most. This approach is already taking shape. Today, @IFADPresident Alvaro Lario will participate in the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty event at UNGA81, highlighting the importance of country-led implementation, partnerships and investment in the fight against hunger and poverty. Stay tuned for key takeaways from the discussion. Looking ahead, #IFAD14 can provide tools to carry this work forward by investing in rural people, stronger markets, more rural jobs and greater resilience. Watch the live stream at webtv.un.org/en/asset/k17/k1… @nopovertyhunger | @JanjaLula | #FinancingTheFirstMile | #UNGA81