The first days of 2026 have already shown that the global economic outlook remains uncertain. In rural areas, small-scale farmers and producers continue to face a lack of capital, climate shocks, regional fragility and limited access to markets.

These rural areas also present one of the world’s greatest opportunities. Rural communities are key to global stability, underpinning food security, resilience and productivity – and IFAD’s investments demonstrate that they can become engines of economic growth.