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Canada Increases Pledge to UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development to Support Small-Scale Farmers Amid Climate Crisis

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Small-scale farmers in developing countries are on the front lines of climate adaptation, yet they receive less than 2% of climate financing worldwide. The increasing frequency and severity of floods, droughts, wildfires, and other damaging events, as well as the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, have made them particularly vulnerable, leading to food insecurity and rural poverty. In a move to support these farmers, Canada has increased its pledge to the UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to $112.5 million over three years (2022 to 2024), a 50% increase over its previous pledge. This commitment will help small-scale farmers, at least half of whom are women, adapt to climate change, especially in the context of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

  • Canada's pledge to IFAD of $112.5 million over three years represents a 50% increase over its previous pledge.
  • At least half of small-scale farmers supported by Canada's pledge are women, who play a central role in building climate-resilient food systems despite facing persistent gender inequality.
  • IFAD is Canada's main multilateral partner for supporting small-scale farmers, particularly women, and for improving the climate resilience of disadvantaged people living in rural areas.
  • Canada's contribution to IFAD will help support small-scale farmers in recovering from climate shocks and preparing them for future ones.
  • Nearly 1 in 3 people were food insecure in 2020, an increase of almost 320 million people in just one year.
  • IFAD has made almost 50% of its new program and project designs and 100% of its new country strategic opportunity programs nutrition-sensitive.

Statistics:

  • 2%: The proportion of climate financing that small-scale farmers receive worldwide.
  • $70 million: Canada's previous pledge to IFAD before the recent increase.
  • $112.5 million: Canada's new pledge to IFAD over three years (2022 to 2024).
  • 50%: The increase in Canada's pledge to IFAD.
  • 1 in 3: The proportion of people who were food insecure in 2020, an increase of almost 320 million people in just one year.
  • 320 million: The increase in the number of people who were food insecure between 2019 and 2020.

Sources:

  • "Canada and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Celebrate Five Years of Partnership, Supporting Rural Women and Children to Achieve Better Lives," news article, Contify, 2021.
  • "Nourishing Change: The Power of Women and Climate-Resilient Agriculture," report, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), 2020.
  • "Canada Supports Small-Scale Farmers in Developing Countries," news release, Global Affairs Canada, 2022.

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