Rome, 19 October 2018 – IFAD has added its name to the “Charter of Lisbon for the Strengthening of Family Farming,” to promote public policies that will strengthen smallholder farming and advance the 2030 Agenda.

It joins other key stakeholders, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the nine Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) Member States.

The Charter positions IFAD as a strategic partner to CPLP Member States and furthers its contribution towards the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals through broader collaboration, in particular with SDG 1 and 2 – which target the eradication of poverty and zero hunger.

"The signing of the Charter may generate visible and influential momentum in strengthening our collaboration with Portuguese speaking Member States, civil society, private sector and academia," said IFAD Director, Partnership and Resource Mobilization, Luis Jiménez-McInnis.

In 2019, IFAD and FAO will mark the Decade of Family Farming – with the goal of drawing attention to the people who produce around 80 per cent of the planet's food and are often the most vulnerable to hunger.