49th Governing Council: IFAD highlights young entrepreneurs as leaders of rural transformation

Rome, 10 February 2026 – At a moment of unprecedented geopolitical complexity, the 49^th session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) underlined the critical role of young entrepreneurs in reshaping global food systems and strengthening food security and stability.

“Young entrepreneurs bring energy, digital skills and creativity. IFAD can help turn these strengths into a viable business by investing in training, access to finance, market linkages and the networks that enable rural enterprises to grow,” said Lario. “This is not simply about supporting projects - it is about building rural productivity as a pillar of global food security,” declared Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD, in his opening remarks.

Today, 1.3 billion young people make up the largest generation in history. Half live in rural areas in developing countries where investment gaps have created an “opportunity deficit” that hinders their full economic potential.

Closing that gap is central to producing more food for a growing global population and creating jobs across the entire agricultural value chain, from farming to storage, processing, marketing, and export.

“Investing in young entrepreneurs is therefore not a choice, but a necessity if we are to build sustainable and resilient food systems,” said Lario.

©IFAD/Hannah Kathryn Valles. Download photo and caption here

Guest speaker Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, and prominent African entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, echoed Lario’s message.

“Agriculture is not just a livelihood – it is a strategic resource that feeds our towns and cities, powers rural economies and sustains communities. We cannot grow Africa without power and we cannot grow Africa without food,” said Tony Elumelu. “When we invest in young entrepreneurs, we do not just support individuals – we strengthen communities, reduce poverty, create jobs, and enable rural communities to grow from within.”

About 21 per cent of the 24,000 entrepreneurs that The Tony Elumelu Foundation has empowered operate in agriculture and agribusiness. They have created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs.

“This is a clear proof of the potential of agriculture to uplift communities across Africa,” added Tony Elumelu.

During their fireside chat, Lario and Elumelu discussed Africapitalism – the conviction that Africa’s private sector, led by African entrepreneurs, must drive the continent’s economic and social transformation rather than prolonged dependence on aid.

As the only international finance institution dedicated to investing at the “first mile” of food systems, IFAD transforms every dollar it receives into roughly six dollars of high-impact investment on the ground. Impact-assessment data shows these investments typically raise rural incomes, productive capacity, and market access by more than 30 per cent.

Nearing its 50^th anniversary and on the eve of the launch of the Fund’s fourteenth replenishment consultations, IFAD is renewing its partnerships with rural communities, governments and the private sector to achieve measurable, lasting results.

“We are all invested in this mission, and we will all share its success,” concluded Lario.

Note to editors:

On the second day of the Governing Council, IFAD Member States will establish the consultations for the fourteenth replenishment of the Fund, starting a year-long consultative process to set the Fund’s strategic priorities for the 2028-2030 period and commit new financial contributions to support its work.

The Governing Council is IFAD’s highest decision‑making body, bringing together all its Member States once a year in Rome to set the organization’s overall direction and priorities.

Media contact: Caroline Chaumont | c.chaumont@ifad.org | +39 3496620155

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The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is the only international financial institution exclusively focused on rural transformation. IFAD invests in rural people and their communities, creating jobs, resilient economies, shared prosperity and stability. Today, IFAD and its partners have nearly US$23 billion invested in ongoing projects transforming food systems.

A wide range of high-quality photographs and broadcast-quality video content of IFAD’s work in rural communities are available for download from our DigiHub.

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