00:00 | Rome (Italy), Feb. 12.
The Government of Peru and the
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are strengthening their strategic partnership to boost new investment projects in support of rural development,
Economy and Finance Minister Denisse Miralles stated.
During the gathering, the Ministry of Economy and Finance's (MEF) head stressed that IFAD is a key partner for channeling resources to rural populations and territories facing the widest gaps.
The Cabinet member added that Peru has maintained uninterrupted participation in IFAD since 1981, consolidating 44 years of institutional ties that have enabled the financing of nearly US$200 million in projects targeting "first-mile" populations, particularly small farmers.
In this regard, the minister highlighted the results of the Avanzar (Advance) Rural program, financed by IFAD, which has benefited more than 20,000 producers and enabled the financing of 1,205 sustainable and inclusive business plans across five Peruvian regions.
Furthermore, she announced that priority will be given to finalizing the MERCAGRO program, aimed at providing more than 70,000 family farming producers with access to productive development services and inclusive value chains across eight regions.
In turn, the IFAD president highlighted the participation of Peru's economy minister in this high-level forum alongside global leaders.
Similarly, he welcomed the recent approval of the MERCAGRO project for the country, an initiative that—he stressed—will contribute to rural development and whose swift implementation the organization is looking forward to.
Lario said the Governing Council, which brings together its 180 member countries, provided a forum to discuss and strengthen investment in rural youth, prioritizing their access to markets, financing, infrastructure, and policies that foster the growth of entrepreneurship in rural areas, particularly in developing countries.
At the meeting, Minister Miralles confirmed Peru's participation in technical working groups for the 14th replenishment of IFAD resources, through the Peruvian Ambassador to Italy, Manuel Cacho-Sousa.
"In this new replenishment, we hope that together with IFAD we can expand strategic partnerships with multilateral institutions to finance logistics and infrastructure processes, with a vision of developing the second mile, through programs such as AgriConnect of the World Bank, which will strengthen the benefits already achieved in the first mile," Economy and Finance Minister Denisse Miralles underscored.
Participation
Minister Miralles played a prominent role at the 2026 Governing Council of IFAD, which brought together governors, State ministers, ambassadors, and global leaders in rural development.
The government official positioned Peru as a regional benchmark in youth entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the session "Young Entrepreneurs at the Heart of Transformation: From Vision to Impact," she stressed that 54.3% of Peru's entrepreneurs are young people, well above the regional average, driving local economies and rural employment.
During the "Leaders' Dialogue – New Frontiers for International Financial Institutions," the Cabinet member reaffirmed the International Fund for Agricultural Development as a strategic partner of Peru in financing rural development projects.
Her agenda included the session "From Farm to Market: Investing in Water Security," where she warned about the effects of climate change on water resources and food security, as well as the ceremony marking the "Tenth Anniversary of the International Day of Family Remittances."
There, the minister emphasized that remittances, which reached $4.934 billion in 2024, are key to household well-being and that their productive use can strengthen investment and reduce poverty.
At IFAD's 2026 Governing Council, Peru has taken a decisive step by consolidating strategic partnerships, mobilizing concessional financing, and positioning itself as a regional benchmark in the promotion of innovative policies for inclusive, sustainable rural development with tangible impact on the most vulnerable populations.
Published: 2/11/2026