IFAD and Rabobank Webinar: Unite to Unlock Inclusive Finance: A Shared Commitment to Transform Food Systems

Unite to Unlock Inclusive Finance: A Shared Commitment to Transform Food Systems

November 12, 2025 | Utrecht, Netherlands

As part of its core mission of knowledge sharing, the AgriPDB Platform shared to its global network of National Public Development Banks the invitation to participate in the recent webinar, Unite to Unlock Inclusive Finance. The event, organized under IFAD’s Inclusive Financial Ecosystem for Food Systems Transformation (IFEFST) program and executed by Rabo Partnerships, brought together more than 65 organizations worldwide and presented innovative solutions developed by 6 National PDBs for advancing financial inclusion in agriculture. This event reflects a shared commitment to building resilient food systems and empowering smallholder farmers—an objective central to the AgriPDB Platform’s mandate.

Why This Matters

National Public Development Banks (PDBs) are uniquely positioned to drive inclusive finance. With their dual mandate: combining banking functions with development objectives. They can design financial ecosystems that respond to farmers’ realities, bridging gaps in knowledge, technology, and access to capital.

The webinar confirmed the relevance of approaches that have long been championed by the AgriPDB Platform—placing knowledge sharing, inclusive instruments, and partnerships at the centre of rural finance strategies.

The webinar was not just a discussion: it was a showcase of concrete solutions and tools  that National Development Banks across Asia and Latin America are deploying to transform rural finance. These solutions combine both financial instruments and non-financial enablers, illustrating how innovation and collaboration can accelerate progress

Financial Instruments:

• Concessional Loans: Designed with flexible terms and seasonal repayment schedules to match crop cycles, reducing the burden on farmers.
• Credit Guarantees: Mechanisms like FIRA’s FONAGA in Mexico and FINAGRO’s guarantee schemes in Colombia help de-risk lending and crowd in private capital.
• Insurance Products: Weather-index and crop insurance solutions protect farmers against climate shocks, reducing default risk and improving resilience.

Non-Financial Instruments

• Digital Platforms: Tools like FINAGRO’s DECISIÓN streamline loan applications and credit scoring, while FIRA’s AgriTech Nexus connects farmers to markets and advisory services.
• Technical Assistance (TA): Programs such as LandBank’s ASCEND in the Philippines combine financial literacy with agronomic training, ensuring loans translate into productivity gains.
• Climate Advisory Services: BDP Bolivia’s integration of weather alerts into its credit offering helps farmers plan and mitigate risks.

Country Examples:

• LandBank Philippines: AgriSenso Plus and ASCEND—simplifying loan processes and offering blended financing with insurance components to reach small farmers and fishers.

• Agribank Vietnam: Group lending models that reduce collateral barriers and strengthen community-based repayment.
• FINAGRO Colombia: DECISIÓN, a digital tool streamlining loan applications and improving access for small-scale farmers.
• FIRA Mexico: FONAGA, a guaranteed mechanism that expands credit availability for rural producers.
• BDP Bolivia: Integrating digital weather alerts with technical assistance to help farmers manage climate risks.

The dialogue highlighted diverse innovations but also reinforced a fundamental truth: Public Development Banks remain indispensable for achieving inclusive finance at scale. Drawing on insights from the webinar, three strategic priorities emerge for scaling impact:

1. Integrate Finance and Knowledge
   Bundle financial instruments with technical assistance and climate advisory services to enhance productivity and repayment capacity.
2. Leverage Digital Innovation
   Invest in digital platforms for loan origination, farmer profiling, and market linkages to reduce transaction costs and expand outreach.
3. Promote Risk-Sharing Mechanisms
   Expand credit guarantees and insurance schemes to de-risk lending and attract private investment into rural markets.

Our collaboration with Rabo Partnerships will enable us to showcase and disseminate the innovative solutions developed by National Development Banks and highlighted through Rabo Partnerships’ work. Where relevant, these solutions may be replicated or adapted in other country contexts. To support this objective, we will organize dedicated learning activities to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and the sharing of best practices among .

About Rabo Partnerships:

Rabo Partnerships is part of Rabobank; a leading international cooperative bank headquartered in the Netherlands. Rabobank specializes in food and agriculture financing and works globally to promote sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. Through Rabo Partnerships, the bank collaborates with financial institutions, development organizations, and governments to design innovative financial solutions, strengthen rural finance systems, and support food systems transformation.

Missed the live sessions? Watch the full webinar recordings here:

Webinar Unite to Unlock Inclusive Finance – morning session

Webinar Unite to Unlock Inclusive Finance – afternoon session