Lord Bates, the newly appointed Minister of State for the Department for International Development (DfID) and Dr Kanayo F. Nwanze, the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will give keynote speeches this month, at an event hosted by the University of Warwick in its new London office.

Taking place on December 8, it will feature IFAD’s Rural Development Report 2016, focussing on the importance of investment in rural communities as part of the international development agenda - and will feature a panel of international development experts.

IFAD’s report highlights the centrality of rural and agricultural development to overall economic growth, and concludes that targeted policies focused on rural people will eliminate poverty in developing countries.

The event is part of a wider collaboration between IFAD and the University of Warwick’s Policy Lab – a partnership which creates opportunities for research student placements, and closer working between international development academics and practitioners. The collaboration will be of mutual benefit and should result in new and exciting outcomes.

International development is one of Warwick’s Global Research Priorities. This year the University also launched a new Global Sustainable Development Degree which is proving to be extremely popular.

The Rural Development Report is IFAD’s flagship publication. It brings together leading thinkers and presents analyses of rural development in over 60 countries. Set in the context of a rapidly changing world with growing demand for food, increased migration to cities and the impact of climate change and environmental degradation, the report provides insight into regional and country-specific challenges and historical legacies and how factors like employment, youth populations, rights to land, access to finance, gender equality and social protection influence successful interventions.

“Rural transformation is not automatic. It is a choice,” said Dr Nwanze prior to the London event. “The choices made by governments and development practitioners have an enormous impact on the lives of people and nations, which is why we’re so pleased to present and discuss its findings with colleagues at the University of Warwick.”

Dr Kayano F. Nwanze and the University of Warwick foster strong ties: he became a Warwick Honorary Graduate in January 2015, and has spoken at the University on multiple occasions.

ENDS

The event will start at 10.00 taking place at Stanley Building, 7 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG. Nearest tube is King’s Cross

Notes to Editors

Warwick in London and the Warwick Policy Lab.

The University of Warwick is a leading Higher Education Institution whose research and scholarly achievements are internationally acclaimed. It is a member of the UK’s prestigious “Russell Group” of universities. Based in Pancras Square, with neighbours that include the British Library and Google, Warwick’s new London hub provides a central HQ for all of the University’s research and teaching activity across the city. It is also the new home of the University’s “Warwick Policy Lab” which facilitates discussion and collaboration between academics and policy makers.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided about US$18 billion in grants and low-interest loans to projects that have reached some 462 million people. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency based in Rome – the UN’s food and agriculture hub. For more information visit www.ifad.org

Dr Nwanze, the President of IFAD, was awarded an honorary degree by Warwick University in 2015 and the collaboration between IFAD and Warwick has developed since then. The collaboration has already delivered research student placements as well as joint working on major conferences and events. It should also lead to innovative research and evaluation projects that have real and measurable impact.

December 7, 2016

To attend, contact Siobhan Benita s dot benita at warwick dot ac dot uk or +44 7876 877900

For media, contact: Luke Walton, International Press Officer at the University of Warwick L dot Walton dot 1 at warwick dot ac dot uk /

Tel +44 (0) 7824 540 863