10-11 February 2026 | Rome, Italy
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The overarching theme of IFAD’s 49th Governing Council is “From Farm to Market: Investing with Young Entrepreneurs.”
Today, the world is home to 1.3 billion young people—the largest generation in history—with nearly half living in rural areas. IFAD recognizes that young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but key actors today. Investing in their entrepreneurial potential can open new employment opportunities and help transform rural areas into dynamic hubs of stability, prosperity and sustainable growth.
This session also coincides with the launch of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, proclaimed to acknowledge the vital role women farmers play in global agrifood systems and their contributions to food security, nutrition and poverty reduction.
Women represent more than half of IFAD’s project participants, and over 60 per cent of IFAD’s active project portfolio is youth-sensitive, reaching more than 12 million young people worldwide. IFAD firmly believes that supporting youth and women entrepreneurs to establish and scale agribusinesses is a powerful driver of economic development and lasting positive change.
The 49th Governing Council will also mark the launch of the IFAD14 Consultation, offering a platform for Governors to exchange perspectives on key priorities for future strategic action.
