Empowering Public Development Banks in agriculture financing

Closing financial gaps for sustainable food systems

Public development banks (PDBs) account for almost two-thirds of formal agriculture financing, and they can contribute to covering the financial gaps in economic sectors that are not adequately supported by commercial banks. With their current annual investment of nearly $1.4 trillion and their role in public development, PDBs would be ideally situated to direct the world’s financial systems towards addressing the inequities and inefficiencies of our food systems more effectively and sustainably. In order to effectively fulfill their leadership role, most PDBs can support these challenges by continuously adapting their processes and financial service offerings.

Recognizing Public Development Banks vital role

During the first Finance in Common Summit in Paris (FiCS, 2020), PDBs were recognized as playing a critical role in financing and supporting investments that contribute to achieving the 2030 agenda and the Paris Agreement.

Source: Finance In Common
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Formation of
Agricultural PDB Platform

Following this, both the UN Food Systems Summit and the FICS confirmed the interest of implementing a Coalition of PDBs financing agriculture and rural development. It was decided to create an Agricultural PDB Platform to help the members to assess their portfolio quality and climate change impacts, as well as ensure that all projects will progressively be carbon neutral and protect ecosystems.

Fostering Green
and Inclusive Food Systems

The Agricultural Public Development Banks Platform for Green and Inclusive Food Systems (Agri-PDB | Platform) is hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD). The access is free for Public Banks or institutions which have a public mandate to finance agriculture.

  • 1
    1rst FICS Paris 2020
    Ag. Cluster affirmed their commitment to increase investments in sustainable food asystems.
  • 2
    UNFS Summit 2021
    UNFS endorsement to create a robust PDB Platform for Green Inclusive Food Systems.
  • 3
    2nd FICS Rome 2021
    Hosted by CDP, formal launch of the PDB Platform supported by G20.
  • 4
    PDBs leading by IFAD
    IFAD is leading the cluster of agricultural PDBs (about 130 in 98 countries), which is part of the Public Development Banks Coalition (about 530 PDBs) coordinated by the Finance In Common general secreatariat hosted by the AFD.

Agri-PDBs regional Organisations

In 2024, the Agri-PDB coalition counts 134 Agri-PDBs Members and 8 regional Organizations and Networks:

  • AADFI (Association of African Development Finance Institutions)
  • ADFIAP (Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific)
  • ADFIMI (Association of National Development Finance Institutions in Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank)
  • ADFIP (Association of Development Financing Institutions in the Pacific)
  • AFRACA (African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association)
  • ALIDE (Latin American Association of Development Financing Institutions)
  • APRACA (Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association)
  • NENARACA (Near East North Africa Regional Agricultural Credit Association)

Advancing sustainable agriculture in ACP Nations

The European Commission is supporting the platform as part of the “Investing in Livelihood Resilience and Soil Health in ACP countries” program. It will promote agroecology and sustainable agricultural practices aimed at improving and sustaining soil fertility, managing water sustainably, and providing inputs tailored to local conditions to small-scale farmers. Further, the program will foster the main activities of the Platform in selected priority countries.

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To find out more

The European Commission is supporting the platform as part of the “Investing in Livelihood Resilience and Soil Health in ACP countries” programme. It will promote agroecology and sustainable agricultural practices aimed at improving and sustaining soil fertility, managing water sustainably, and providing inputs tailored to local conditions to small-scale farmers. Further, the programme will foster the main activities of the Platform in selected priority countries.