Donor Platform Announces 2026 Annual General Assembly in Dublin: Return on Investment for Agrifood Systems as the central theme

The Global Donor Platform for Rural Development (GDPRD) will convene its flagship Annual General Assembly (AGA) on 2 December in Dublin, generously hosted by the Government of Ireland. The event is officially recognized as an Associated Presidency Event under Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.

This year’s theme “Mutual Benefits: Unpacking the strategic return on investment potential from agrifood systems” reflects a challenging global context marked by rising food insecurity, climate shocks, tighter budgets and geopolitical uncertainty. The framing will highlight both the value-for-money and the strategic and political importance of investing in resilient agrifood systems. It broadens the conversation beyond technical return for investment (ROI) metrics, positioning agrifood systems as a shared global priority with benefits that extend across sectors.

The AGA will link the ROI theme with the full range of the Platform’s priority workstreams — multilateral policy engagement, blended finance, and AI and data for decision making. Contributions from the thematic working groups will bring practical insights and emerging donor priorities. The event will also engage stakeholders beyond the traditional agrifood community, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of today’s agrifood systems challenges.

As an Associated Presidency Event, the AGA supports Ireland’s EU Presidency by advancing policy dialogue on poverty reduction and global resilience. Insights will feed into donor reflections during the design window of the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Global Europe Instruments (GEI), a key moment for shaping future financing for sustainable agriculture and rural development.

A GDPRD Board meeting will take place back‑to‑back on 1 December. The Secretariat and Ireland look forward to welcoming participants to the 2026 AGA. More information will be available in due course.

Ireland Board Member: Mark Montgomery, Deputy Director, Policy Unit Food Policy Lead, Ireland – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade