Context
Recently, India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) jointly launched an eight-year Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) for 2026–2033 aimed at strengthening rural development and resilience.
About International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialised UN agency and international financial institution established in 1977 after the 1974 World Food Conference to reduce poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries.
- It provides low-interest loans and grants for agriculture, food security and rural livelihood projects, especially for small farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk and rural entrepreneurs.
- IFAD promotes technology transfer, disaster preparedness, climate-resilient development and better market participation for vulnerable rural communities.
- India is a founding member of IFAD, which currently has 180 member countries, and its headquarters is located in Rome.
- The organisation also publishes the Rural Development Report on global rural development issues.
Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP)
- The Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) is an eight-year framework for 2026–2033 aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods and improving income opportunities in India.
- It focuses on enhancing the social, economic and climate resilience of rural communities.
- The programme also seeks to strengthen knowledge systems for scaling successful rural development models across India and other countries of the Global South.
