IFAD supports Viet Nam to realize commitment to inclusive, climate-resilient rural transformation

The event marked an important milestone in the Independent Office of Evaluation of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Viet Nam's long-standing cooperation, as representatives from government, development partners, provincial authorities, and local communities gathered to review the results of IFAD-supported programs from 2012-2024 and to define new directions for inclusive and climate-resilient rural development.

The independent evaluation confirms that IFAD's investments have made a lasting impact on rural livelihoods, helping smallholder farmers boost productivity, diversify incomes, and strengthen their resilience to climate and market shocks.

Paolo Silveri, Lead Evaluation Officer of the Independent Office of Evaluation at IFAD said that "the next phase will focus on scaling up what works—climate resilience, digital transformation, and inclusive value chains—while ensuring that women, youth, and ethnic minorities continue to be central to change."

At the Roundtable, the Government of Viet Nam reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with IFAD and maximizing the effectiveness of its investments.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Quoc Phuong said, the IFAD has been a trusted partner in Viet Nam's rural transformation for more than 30 years. Its projects have demonstrated that the right investments, when strategically targeted and locally owned, can deliver outsized impact.

"Our shared goal now is to replicate and scale up these successful models—mobilizing additional resources for innovation, climate adaptation, and rural competitiveness, so that rural people can thrive in a changing world", he added.

The Roundtable brought together over 100 participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, provincial people's committees, mass organizations, and development partners. Discussions focused on sustaining IFAD's impact by aligning with Viet Nam's national strategies for green growth, digital transformation, and rural modernization.

The findings also emphasize Viet Nam's growing role as a leader in sharing knowledge and experience on rural transformation. IFAD's support has helped the country translate lessons from local projects into national policies, while encouraging cross-provincial collaboration and regional learning./.