Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will meet with high-ranking officials of the Mexican government on 24 November to discuss IFAD’s support of Mexico’s agenda on rural poverty reduction, as well as its roadmap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals within the 2030 Agenda.

This is Houngbo’s first official visit to the country since taking office at IFAD earlier this year. This mission, as part of a larger trip to the Latin American and Caribbean region with visits to Argentina, Brazil and the Dominican Republic, highlights the important role that IFAD – a specialized United Nations agency and international financial institution – can play in Upper Middle Income Countries.

“Mexico and IFAD have built a strong partnership over the years, helping the poorest rural people participate more actively in the rural economy. IFAD-supported projects connect rural people to markets and services. They work to transform rural communities economically and socially, and promote inclusiveness. It is an agenda that we are trying to scale up in the region through investment loans, grants for applied research and policy dialogue,” said Houngbo.

IFAD has a long-standing partnership with Mexico, most recently supporting the country’s agenda on productive inclusion which focuses on social protection programs, and in particular, conditional cash transfers, for the extreme poor. Currently IFAD is using Mexico’s experience as an example of an innovative approach for the region. Over the years, Mexico’s role in international cooperation for development has been evolving, as both a recipient of assistance as well as a donor.

While in Mexico, Houngbo will meet with Miguel Ruiz Cabañas, Under Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, to discuss an upcoming evaluation of IFAD’s Country Programme Strategy in Mexico, to be conducted by IFAD’s Independent Office of Evaluation in 2018. The active participation of Mexico in South-South and Triangular Cooperation initiatives will also be a discussion topic during this meeting.

Houngbo will also meet with senior officials of the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit, to analyse the role of IFAD as an international financial institution focused on combating rural poverty.

During a meeting with Luis Enrique Miranda, Secretary of Social Development (SEDESOL), Houngbo will discuss a forthcoming IFAD-funded project that focuses on social economy and productive inclusion, which will be implemented by the National Institute of Social Economy (INAES) led by Narcedalia Ramírez. This project will be particularly beneficial for the people of Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla and Chiapas, states gravely affected by the hurricanes and earthquakes suffered in the past months.

The support that countries require in reaching their development goals often goes beyond financing and includes technical expertise, policy engagement, analysis and advice. In this regard, Houngbo will meet with Jose Calzada, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), to discuss IFAD’s role in reducing development gaps in rural areas as well as helping smallholder farmers build resilience to climate change.

Since 1980, IFAD has invested a total of US$185.2 million in 10 programmes and projects related to agricultural development in Mexico, benefiting 143,205 households.