The University of Warwick and the United Nations’ agency, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have signed a Statement of Intent which enables both parties to collaborate for mutual benefit on a number of objectives. The partnership will be co-ordinated through Warwick in London.

IFAD is a specialised agency of the United Nations established in 1977. It is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries. Seventy-five per cent of the world's poorest people - 1.4 billion women, children and men - live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and related activities for their livelihoods. It has staff working on the ground in countries around the world. The partnership will facilitate cooperation in several areas including: research collaboration and dissemination, training, student experience and career opportunities as well as wider outreach activities.

Opportunities

In terms of research opportunities, the range of topics in which IFAD colleagues have significant experience and expertise include : rural development, rural finance, food security, gender and women’s empowerment, youth engagement and trade. Collaboration on these topics could, for example, include IFAD being involved as a powerful impact partner on large research grant applications as well as access to fieldwork opportunities and new data.

Warwick in London colleagues are also in conversation with IFAD about the possibility of Warwick academics providing training and short courses to their staff as part of the Agency’s learning and development agenda.

The collaboration will also benefit Warwick students through internship and placement opportunities at IFAD. These will typically take place at IFAD’s headquarters in Rome but might also include periods in developing countries. Several Warwick postgraduates students have already taken up these opportunities.

IFAD has also chosen to host several major events in partnership with Warwick in London, including using our London base to launch its Rural Development Report in January 2017. The event attracted an audience of academics, students and policy makers from across the country, reflecting the value of our London space for outreach and engagement activities.

Siobhan Benita, Chief Strategy Officer of Warwick in London, said:

This is an exciting development for Warwick, and we are looking forward to seeing the tangible impact and benefits of this fruitful collaboration.”

Find out more

If you are interested in finding out more about this partnership and, in particular, are working on related research areas, then please contact Siobhan Benita at s dot benita at warwick dot ac dot uk.