Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, Togo's former prime minister, has been appointed as the new president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Houngbo beat seven other candidates, including three women, to emerge as president and will lead the U.N. rural poverty agency in making investment decisions that address critical challenges affecting rural livelihoods and development issues in developing countries.
IFAD's role in ensuring adequate attention is given to agricultural and rural development programs is seen by many observers as key in helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of ending poverty and hunger in the world. Facilitating more investment in the world's rural areas is aimed at meeting a growing demand for food security, reducing migration and recurring conflicts.
About the author
Jennifer Piettedisgeneration
Jennifer Ehidiamen is a Nigerian writer who is passionate about communications and journalism. She has worked as a reporter and communications consultant for different organizations in Nigeria and overseas. She has an undergraduate degree in mass communication from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, and M.A. in business and economics from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York. In 2014, she founded Rural Reporters (www.ruralreporters.com) with the goal of amplifying underreported news and issues affecting rural communities.
