Media Update-2: United Nations Pakistan, 19 June 2022

IFAD

PRESS RELEASE

IFAD and Govt of Pakistan invest in rural transformation

Skardu, 19 June 2023: With the goal to foster sustainable and inclusive rural development, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Pakistan organised a two-day workshop in Ghanche, Gilgit-Baltistan recently (16-17 June 2023).

Held on 16-17 June, the workshop reviewed and assessed the progress and impacts of ongoing IFAD/GoP-financed projects and discussed implementation challenges. Participants included Arnoud Hameleers, IFAD Country Director for Pakistan, the IFAD country team, government representatives, implementing partners and project management staff. Participants from across Pakistan identified how these interventions could be scaled-up and better integrate nutrition, youth, gender, as well as the impacts of climate change into project, aligned to IFAD’s mainstreaming themes and national priorities.

The workshop also discussed the potential of rural transformation as an effective means of addressing rural poverty and building the resilience of small-scale farmers, rural women and youth, and the landless.

"Expanding successful models through improved project monitoring and evaluation, with a specific emphasis on nutrition, food security, and climate change, is crucial," said Arnoud Hameleers, IFAD Country Director for Pakistan in his closing remarks. He also emphasised  the importance of evidence-based policymaking and getting more involved at the provincial level. Lauding the longstanding collaboration of IFAD and Pakistan, he also said, “Innovation and private sector engagement should be promoted and interventions with expected outcomes should be replicated to ensure the economic transformation of rural Pakistan.”

Workshop participants visited different project sites of the Economic Transformation Initiative-Gilgit Baltistan (ETI-GB), a programme co-financed by IFAD and Italian International Development Corporation Agency (AICS). The Village Agriculture Cooperative Societies (VACs) established through ETI-GB  also showcased their agriculture products during the visit.

Including ETI-GB, IFAD’s current portfolio in Pakistan is comprised five projects across the country that aim to support vulnerable groups to access housing and asset security, as well as resources and capacity building   financial services, and to develop value chain and enterprises. 

Read more about IFAD’s work in Pakistan.

Contact:

Sumaira Sumaira

Email: s.sumaira@ifad.org

Tel: +92 307 0953426

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$24 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries.