Zambia has weighed its support towards the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD14), multilateral banks and other players’ economic transformation agenda on the continent with a call to scaled-up investment in climate resilience, financial inclusion, agriculture, rural transformation, and food systems development across Africa to champion food security.

agriculture, rural transformation,

investment in Zambia also encouraged stronger collaboration between IFAD, Multilateral Development Banks, cooperating partners, and the private sector in mobilizing blended and catalytic financing solutions.

This is deemed as being capable of narrowing Africa’s growing agricultural financing gap and supporting sustainable rural investment.

Zambia is one of the countries attending the IFAD14 discussions, being hosted in Brazzaville by during the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group with a call for the financial institution to sustain support towards African countries to bolster economic growth.

Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Investment at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Mulele Mulele, in reaffirming the country’s resolve to scale up food security and rural development, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to support agriculture.

The support was cardinal as it acted as a catalyst for employment, poverty reduction, economic resilience, food security and long term inclusive growth across the continent.

The Permanent Secretary, speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Wednesday, reaffirmed the importance of expanding support toward the “first mile” of agricultural production and rural development. He notes that it was where the majority smallholder farmers, women, youth, and vulnerable rural communities continue to access finance, technology, infrastructure, productive assets, and reliable markets and need support.

Mr. Mulele 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 recently approved US$50 million Financial Inclusion for Resilience and Innovation Project (FIRIP), was an impetus towards strengthening rural financial inclusion, agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and economic opportunities for women and young people in rural communities.

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.

FIRIP, is touted as an 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 envisions sustained 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.

Unwavering support toward IFAD’s ideals, represents not only development cooperation, but also a strategic investment in global food security, economic resilience, social stability, and inclusive growth.

The Permanent Secretary appealed to 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.

During the same meeting IFAD Vice President Geraldine Mukeshima stated that the IFAD14 initiative illustrates the call for investment in rural people as it was not charity, but smart economic strategy.

“Rural investment strengthens food security, creates jobs, reduces poverty, builds resilience, and unlocks long-term growth, particularly for Africa’s youth and small-holder farmers,” he said.

Zambia was represented during the IFAD14 discussions by Secretary to the Treasury Felix Nkulukusa, Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor – Operations Dr. Francis Chipimo and Central Bank’s Director of Research Dr. Jonathan Chipili.

The IFAD14 Consultation and replenishment discussions officially convened in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, taking place on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group. It runs from May 25–29.

The meeting focused chiefly on securing a robust Fourteenth Replenishment of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to fund programming for 2028-2030.

The meeting focused on scaled-up investments in agricultural productivity, rural transformation, financial inclusion, and climate resilience for small-holder farmers and Africa’s youth.

The IFAD leadership and member state delegates wholesomely emphasized the need to support rural investments and help strengthen food security and preventing economic shocks.

It attracted delegatess from over 100 countries, all seeking to endorse the strategic directions of the fund. The funds if secured will directly target the most vulnerable rural populations, including women and indigenous communities.

Arguably IFAD has a deliberate policy against climate change describing it an existential threat to global food security and views small-scale farmers as vital environmental stewards.

Its strategy heavily prioritizes climate adaptation over mitigation—dedicating over 90% of its funding to helping vulnerable rural populations build resilience against climate-related shocks.

To counter the crisis, IFAD seeks to empower smallholder farmers through sustainable agricultural practices and better land management, these farmers, if supported, can boost food production while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and acting as carbon sinks

The lender believes that small-scale producers are part of the climate solution. A major pillar of IFAD’s strategy is securing dedicated climate finance for remote rural communities that are usually overlooked.

It runs the Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP)—the largest global multi-donor fund specifically dedicated to helping smallholder farmers build climate resilience.

IFAD calls for rural communities’ access to climate information through accessible weather tracking, early warning systems, and climate-informed advisory services so they can make autonomous, real-time decisions about their farming practices.

IFAD partners with major global mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund to scale up green value chains, integrate ecosystems, and transform food systems.

Rwandan leader Paul Kagame met with IFAD president Álvaro Lario. They discussed ongoing cooperation between Rwanda and IFAD, particularly in advancing rural development, agricultural transformation, and resilience for smallholder farmers.