Strengthening collaboration to drive transformative agrifood systems

The UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) in Ethiopia Ozonnia Ojielo held meetings with the leadership and staff of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), reaffirming the UN’s commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s ambitious development agenda through more coherent, scalable, and investment-driven approaches.

The meetings marked an important step in strengthening collaboration across the UN system and aligning support with national priorities, particularly in agriculture, food systems, rural transformation, and resilience.

A Call for Scale, Integration, and Transformation

Across both meetings, the RC/HC emphasized that the UN in Ethiopia is at a critical juncture. While acknowledging the strong contributions of FAO and IFAD, he underscored the need for the UN system to move toward integrated, large-scale solutions that match Ethiopia’s national ambitions. 

“The question is no longer what we are doing, but how our work translates into systems-level change at scale,” he stated, highlighting the importance of designing interventions that can be adopted and expanded by government, the private sector, and financial institutions.

He also stressed the need to emphasize investment cases that mobilize diverse partners, including development banks, private investors, and government stakeholders around shared priorities. 

FAO: Advancing Agrifood Systems and Investment Solutions

FAO presented a comprehensive overview of Ethiopia’s agrifood systems, highlighting agriculture’s central role in the economy, contributing around one-third of GDP, the majority of export revenues, and employing about 70 percent of the population. 

The discussion focused on key challenges, including limited access to finance, underdeveloped value chains, nutrition gaps, and constraints in infrastructure, markets, and diversification. 

The RC/HC encouraged FAO to leverage its strong analytical and technical expertise to bridge the gap between knowledge and implementation, particularly by developing investment cases for nutrition, irrigation, and agrifood transformation; strengthening partnerships with financial institutions and the private sector; and supporting integrated approaches that link humanitarian needs with long-term development solutions.

He emphasized that FAO’s convening power positions it uniquely to connect government, investors, and partners to unlock systemic change. 

IFAD: Catalysing Finance for Rural Transformation

IFAD’s presentation highlighted its growing role as an “assembler of development finance,” leveraging its resources to attract co-financing from multilateral institutions, climate funds, and private sector actors. 

With a cumulative portfolio reaching approximately 11.6 million people and a total programme value of about USD 1.2 billion, IFAD plays a critical role in advancing rural livelihoods, climate resilience, and financial inclusion. 

Key programmes include:

• Climate-smart agriculture and rural transformation initiatives
• The Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project supporting pastoral communities
• A nationwide rural financial intermediation programme
• Upcoming investments in irrigation and climate resilience

The RC/HC commended IFAD’s financing model and its ability to operate at scale, noting that such approaches are essential as traditional development financing declines. 

Strengthening Data, Evidence, and Coordination

Both meetings highlighted the importance of robust data and joint analysis to guide programming and policy decisions. 

The RC/HC emphasized that a more accurate and evidence-based understanding of food systems, including production, access, markets, and logistics is essential for addressing food insecurity effectively. 

Driving UN Reform and Collective Impact

The discussions also underscored a broader shift in the UN’s development approach in Ethiopia. The RC/HC called for greater alignment with national priorities and government leadership; stronger coherence across UN agencies and clearer focus on comparative advantage and mandates.

He stressed that participation in joint initiatives must be strategic and value-driven, ensuring that each agency contributes where it has the strongest expertise.

Looking Ahead

Both FAO and IFAD welcomed the RC/HC’s vision and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration within the UN system and with national partners.

The meetings concluded with a shared understanding that Ethiopia’s scale and potential require a step change in how development partners operate - moving toward integrated, investment-oriented, and results-driven approaches that can deliver lasting impact for millions of people.