FAO Investment Centre

About FAO Investment Centre

Since 1964, FAO has helped developing and transition countries invest in agriculture and rural development over the long term to improve the lives and livelihoods of their citizens, especially the rural poor. During this period, FAO has contributed to more than 2 300 investment projects in 170 countries, working with 30 international partners. To date, FAO’s work with international financing institutions has helped leverage investments valued at over USD 146 billion.

FAO provides a wide range of technical assistance and investment support. The majority of this work is carried out by the FAO Investment Centre, where the diversity of its 120 "staff", including 20 in regional and subregional offices is one of its biggest assets. We have experts in economics, agricultural development, agronomy, crop and livestock development, climate change, natural resources management, forestry, irrigation and drainage, land and water development, land tenure, marketing, agribusiness and value chain development, monitoring and evaluation, rural sociology and other disciplines.

FAO’s reputation in investment is due to its responsiveness and flexibility in adapting to global trends and emerging priorities of countries and partner financing institutions, while maintaining its technical rigour and integrity. FAO continues to strengthen its expertise in new areas and to focus on producing results that contribute significantly to improving food and nutrition security, rural incomes and sustainability.

 

FAO Investment Centre Annual Review 2022

In 2022, the Centre helped design 45 IFI-approved public investment projects in 34 countries for a total of USD 8.8 billion in new investment – up 22 percent from the previous year’s USD 7.2 billion. And it provided implementation support to 275 ongoing investment projects representing a portfolio worth over USD 44.5 billion.

Also notable were contributions to 52 agricultural studies, 25 sector studies, 17 policy studies and 6 policy dialogues and the publication of 34 new knowledge products – from a flagship study on carbon neutrality in agrifood systems to investing in youth in Africa, among others.

FAO Investment Centre Annual Review 2021

In 2021, the Centre acted as a bridge between member countries and financing partners to scale up investment for greater impact; support better enabling conditions for policy and investment; and integrate FAO’s vast knowledge and expertise into national investment planning. With ambitions of being the go-to place for sustainable agrifood investment and finance solutions for Member Nations and investors, the Centre aims to intensify its country focus and outreach, strengthen, expand and diversify its partnerships and engage in more strategic collaboration across FAO.

Read the summary “FAO Investment Centre – 2021 at a glance"  in EnglishFrançaisEspañolРусскийالعربية , 中文


FAO Investment Centre Annual Review 2020

Despite a challenging year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre’s global team supported investment-related policy and sector studies to increase policy dialogue and contributed to the design, technical assistance, supervision or evaluation of investment projects in 120 countries. The Centre increasingly linked both its policy work with investment support to scale up impact. And it promoted greater knowledge sharing and innovation, while also helping to strengthen the capacity of people and institutions to make better investment decisions.

 

FAO Investment Centre Annual Review 2019

In 2019, the Investment Centre promoted greater knowledge sharing and innovation, while also helping to strengthen the capacity of people and institutions to make better investment decisions. It continues to remain relevant by adapting its skills and expertise to keep pace with a constantly evolving investment landscape and fast-changing world.

FAO Investment Centre Annual Review 2018

This second annual review shines a light on the work of the Investment Centre and its partners –the international financing institutions - carried out in 2018 to increase the volume and quality of investments in food security, nutrition, agriculture and rural development. During that year, the Centre supported investment-related policy studies and processes to increase policy dialogue and contributed to the design, technical assistance, supervision or evaluation of investment projects in 116 countries. It increasingly linked both its policy work with investment support to scale up impact.

 

FAO Investment Centre Annual Review 2017

FAO’s Investment Centre provides a wide range of investment support services to developing and transition countries. This first annual review shines a light on the work of the Investment Centre and its partners –the international financing institutions - carried out in 2017 to increase the volume and quality of investments in food and agriculture.

 

 

1964-2014 FAO Investment Centre: 50 years of development support


Celebrating the Investment Centre's 50-year milestone, FAO looks back on five decades of support to investment in agriculture and rural development. Featuring personal reminiscences and photos, this is a lively account of the Investment Centre’s evolution - from how it came to be, to what it is now and where it hopes to go in the future. It also reveals the shifting landscape of development practice.

 

 

 

 

Video animation: FAO Investment Centre - 50 Years of Promoting Investment in Agriculture.