ALGIERS, Algeria

Efforts to bolster food security and economic resilience in developing nations are increasingly focusing on rural transformation, with over half of the workforce in many countries engaged in food production, according to the president of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

“Rural transformation is the cornerstone of economic diversification, social inclusion and climate resilience," said Alvaro Lario, speaking at a general meeting of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) in the Algerian capital Algiers.

Lario highlighted that with poverty heavily concentrated in rural areas, mobilizing investments and innovative program designs remains critical to addressing these global challenges.

Recent initiatives are addressing not only food production but also distribution, marketing and export, creating opportunities in agriculture-heavy economies, he stressed.

Recalling that the IsDB backed a $500 million investment in special agro-processing zones in Nigeria, he said this effort aims to create jobs in high-potential agricultural sectors while tackling drivers of fragility, food insecurity and climate vulnerability.

Development finance institutions, including the IsDB, are prioritizing youth employment and economic diversification, he underlined.

He said that 80% of poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and targeted job creation and sustainable development efforts are needed.

Fragile and conflict-affected countries, which account for a third of some development portfolios, require agile and responsive approaches, he added.