World Bank and IFAD sign agreement to boost rural investment

The World Bank Group and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have signed a new Co-Financing Framework Agreement in Bangkok, Thailand. The agreement aims to accelerate joint investments in rural transformation, agricultural productivity, food systems, and climate resilience.

This partnership seeks to address rising food insecurity, youth unemployment, and climate-related agricultural pressures. By improving access to finance, technology, and markets, the initiative intends to transform rural economies into engines of sustainable growth. The collaboration builds upon existing programs such as AgriConnect, which targets agricultural transformation for 300 million smallholder farmers by 2030, and Water Forward, which aims to improve water security for one billion people.

Financial cooperation between IFAD and the World Bank’s International Development Association has seen significant growth, increasing from approximately $646 million in 2021 to $1.56 billion in 2025.