IFAD 49th Governing Council Day 1 | 2026 IFAD 49th Governing Council, Rome, Italy. Tuesday 10th February 2026.
Tuesday 10th February was the official opening of the 49th Governing Council meeting. The overarching theme of the IFAD’s 49th Governing Council centered in “From Farm to Market: Investing with Young Entrepreneurs.” The meeting was attended by most of IFAD’s 180 member states. The IFAD President, Mr. Alvaro Lario, welcomed all member states and distinguished guest to the 49th Governing Council. In Mr. President’s opening statement, he reiterated the fact that “geopolitical landscape is as complex as it has been known in decades, alliances are evolving, relationships are being recalibrated, and the multilateral system is adapting to new realities.” Given that, Mr. President further stated that IFAD had moved to strengthen its financial architecture, sharpened its operating model, and focused on partnerships with the private sector that bring additional capital and expertise. This call for urgent action which urged IFAD to modernize how it works and deliver its mandate with greater scale, speed and impact.
More specifically, Mr. President highlighted that IFAD continues to focus on sustaining investment in food security and stability, and it will require IFAD to navigate in a more pragmatic, interest-driven global environment. He stated that IFAD’s task is to stay on course, to accelerate and to double down on what works for its member states.
One of the highlights in the 49th Governing Council is the establishment of the IFAD14 Replenishment Consultation which provide a forum for Governors to share their insights on priority areas for strategic action in the next IFAD14 replenishment.
The Member States were also invited to provide inputs, during the two Leader’s dialogue sessions on (1) International Financing Institutions (IFIs) with Financing Rural Development and (2) Investing in Water Security.
CEO Kilisitina provided insights from Tonga’s perspective on the IFIs dialogue. She underlined the importance for the IFIs to explore innovative models beyond traditional boundaries of credit and project finance. This means IFIs should be able to redefine risks and unlock rural potential funding, better model for accessibility to finance by investing at the first mile to reach the last mile via digital transformation, micro insurance, rural infrastructure, and youth focused mechanisms, enhanced climate resilient rural economies, and partnership for development.
During the Leader’s dialogue on Investing in Water Security, CEO Kilisitina also highlighted the importance of connecting water security from Farms to Market (agricultural chain). She stated that this can be done through focusing on investments in climate resilient water infrastructure, integrated water governance, and market linked water mechanisms for small developing island countries like Tonga.
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