February 11-12, 2020, the 43rd session of the IFAD Governing Council was held in Rome at the headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Russian delegation was headed by the Permanent Representative of Russia to the FAO and other UN Agencies in Rome V.L.Vasiliev.

IFAD President J.Houngbo, FAO Director General Qu Dongyu and WFP Deputy Executive Director A.Abdulla addressed the participants with a welcoming speeches.

The President of the Republic of Mali, H.E. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the Minister of Agriculture of Tanzania H.E. Japhet Hasunga, the Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance of Italy, Roberto Gualtieri, delivered their statements as honorary guests of the session.

The main theme of the event “Investing in sustainable food systems to eradicate hunger by 2030” led the participants to extensive discussion on ways to increase international assistance to countries in need, especially the least developed ones in Africa, through IFAD to achieve the 2nd Sustainable Development Goal (zero hunger) through the development of sustainable agricultural production, adaptation of the agricultural sector to climate change and stimulation of the socio-economic development of rural areas, including the creation of stable jobs for youth and women, as well as infrastructure. Special attention was paid to the preparation of the Fund's participation in the Summit on Sustainable Food Systems, scheduled for 2021.

The Board of Governors approved the consolidated financial report on the Fund's work in 2018, the program of work and the regular budget for 2020, reports on the IFAD's work under the Poor Countries Debt Relief Initiative and on the progress of the Fund's replenishment within the eleventh cycle (IFAD-11), covering 2019-2021. In addition, the Council launched the negotiations as part of the 12th Replenishment cycle. The first round will be held in Rome on February 13-14.

The 44th session of the IFAD Governing Council is scheduled for February 2021.