Reehana Rifat Raza, Regional Director for the Asia and the Pacific Division at the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), completed a five-day visit to mark the 45th anniversary of the partnership between IFAD and the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB). During her visit she was impressed with the results that IFAD and Bhutan have been able to achieve.
"Bhutan's commitment to sustainable development is inspiring. We are committed to supporting Bhutan's path towards a resilient and prosperous future," she said.
"IFAD is eager to keep working with the RGoB in transforming smallholder agriculture while building inclusive, sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. By enhancing productivity, improving access to markets, and fostering private sector enterprises, we aim to build a robust agricultural sector that can thrive even amid climate challenges," added Raza.
During her visit, Raza met with Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho, Bhutan's Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, and Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, Minister of Finance, to align IFAD's work for the period 2025-2027 with Bhutan's 3rd Five-Year Plan, where IFAD is a key partner as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2024-2028). This collaboration aims to reduce poverty and contribute to Bhutan's vision of sustainable and diversified economic growth.
"The longstanding collaboration between IFAD and Bhutan has been crucial in transforming our agricultural sector. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts to achieve sustainable development and reduce poverty," said Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, Bhutan's Minister of Finance.
Karla Robin Hershey, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bhutan, said: "As an important member of the United Nations in Bhutan, IFAD's partnership is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing rural challenges. IFAD's support to transforming agriculture and fostering private sector growth can make a significant contribution to tackling nutrition issues and advancing Bhutan's pursuit of the 3rd Five-Year Plan and High-Income status by 2034."
IFAD's Regional Director also toured the Centenary Farmers' Market and other marketing centres in Thimphu, observing the tangible impacts of IFAD-supported projects. Raza emphasized RGoB's forthcoming contribution to IFAD's next three-year (2025-2027) replenishment of funds, known as IFAD13. IFAD aims to mobilize US$2 billion in new funding to support a US$10 billion programme of work, and impact over 100 million rural people worldwide.
IFAD's investments in Bhutan for the next three-year cycle will focus on transforming smallholder agriculture through climate-smart practices and fostering private sector development.
Key projects such as the Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Program (CARLEP), with US$40.37 million in funding since 2015, and Building Resilient Commercial Smallholder Agriculture (BRECSA), valued at US$30.94 million, have had a positive impact on smallholder farmers by developing agriculture value chains, improving market access, promoting sustainable farming practices, and enhancing food security. BRECSA also benefits from US$2.6 million provided by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP), which are managed by the World Food programme (WFP) for technical assistance and implementation support.
IFAD has invested US$80.62 million in 9 projects in Bhutan, benefiting 121,035 households. These initiatives have strengthened smallholder farming, promoted sustainable agriculture, and created opportunities for youth, aligning with Bhutan's development goals and improving rural livelihoods.
