27/05/2026
ZAMBIA BACKS STRONG IFAD14 REPLENISHMENT, CALLS FOR SCALED-UP INVESTMENT IN RURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND RESILIENCE
The Government of the Republic of Zambia has reaffirmed strong support for the Fourteenth Replenishment of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD14), emphasizing the need for scaled-up investment in agriculture, rural transformation, climate resilience, financial inclusion, and food systems development across Africa.
Meanwhile IFAD Vice President GERALDINE MUKESHIMANA says the IFAD14 demonstrates that investing in rural people is not charity, but smart economic strategy. “Rural investment strengthens food security, creates jobs, reduces poverty, builds resilience, and unlocks long-tern growth, particularly for Africa’s youth and small-holder farmers,” he said.
Zambia was represented during the IFAD14 discussions, held on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group in Brazzaville, by Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Investment at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, MULELE MAKETO MULELE.
The Zambian delegation to the AFDB Annual Meetings is led by Secretary to the Treasury FELIX NKULUKUSA. Others in the delegation are Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor – Operations Dr. FRANCIS CHIPIMO, and Bank of Zambia Director of Research Dr. JONATHAN CHIPILI.
Speaking during the discussions, Mr. MULELE noted that agriculture remains central to employment creation, poverty reduction, economic resilience, food security, and long-term inclusive growth across the continent.
He welcomed the strong and forward-looking IFAD14 framework, particularly its focus on the strategic pillars of markets, rural employment, and resilience, supported by key enablers such as private sector participation, innovation, and investment mobilization.
The Permanent Secretary further emphasized the importance of expanding support toward the “first mile” of agricultural production and rural development, where many smallholder farmers, women, youth, and vulnerable rural communities continue to face constraints related to access to finance, technology, infrastructure, productive assets, and reliable markets.
Mr. MULELE highlighted the recently approved Financial Inclusion for Resilience and Innovation Project (FIRIP), valued at approximately US$50 million, as an important step toward strengthening rural financial inclusion, agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and economic opportunities for women and young people in rural communities.
As stated by the Permanent Secretary, initiatives such as FIRIP demonstrate the important catalytic role IFAD continues to play in helping countries transition rural communities from subsistence-oriented activity toward more productive, market-linked, and resilient livelihoods.
Zambia also encouraged stronger collaboration between IFAD, Multilateral Development Banks, cooperating partners, and the private sector in mobilizing blended and catalytic financing solutions capable of narrowing Africa’s growing agricultural financing gap and supporting sustainable rural investment.
During the meeting, the Government further acknowledged IFAD’s strong financing multiplier effect under IFAD13, where every US$1 contributed by Member States helped mobilize approximately US$60 toward investments in rural transformation, resilience-building, and food systems development.
He stressed that support toward IFAD represents not only development cooperation, but also a strategic investment in global food security, economic resilience, social stability, and inclusive growth.
Mr. MULELE took the opportunity to call on Member States and development partners to support a strong and ambitious IFAD14 replenishment capable of expanding IFAD’s development impact across Africa and other developing regions.
