The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Bangladesh, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, government of Bangladesh, successfully concluded a two-day Annual Portfolio Review Workshop held on Monday and Tuesday at The Westin Dhaka.
The workshop brought together approximately 100 participants, including government officials, development partners, implementing agencies, technical specialists and Ifad country and regional teams.
The primary focus was to evaluate the performance of IFAD's investments in Bangladesh, particularly aligning the Ifad Country Strategic Opportunities Program (2023–2028) with government priorities and assessing its relevance in the current socio-economic and political context.
Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, said: “IFAD has long been a trusted partner of Bangladesh and we share a common commitment to improving the livelihoods of rural communities. Initiatives such as this workshop provide a valuable opportunity for a comprehensive review of our mutual commitments."
"This enables us to evaluate successes and identify areas requiring focused interventions. Such collaborative exercises further strengthen our partnership with Ifad allowing us to effectively leverage resources for sustained impact,” he said.
The workshop served as an engaging platform for in-depth discussions and critical assessments of ongoing IFAD-financed projects in Bangladesh.
Participants reviewed key indicators, analyzed progress and evaluated performance while emphasizing cross-cutting themes such as nutrition, monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management and social, environmental and climate assessment procedures.
“Despite our many successes, challenges remain. This workshop offers a valuable opportunity to share ideas, learn from one another, and identify practical ways to make a greater impact on the lives of the people we serve,” said Valantine Achancho, IFAD country director for Bangladesh.
“This portfolio review is an opportunity for Ifad and the Government to reflect on past achievements and plan for future goals under Ifad's strategic framework. Over the past year, we have made significant progress in enhancing food production, improving market access, building climate resilience and promoting inclusion in rural Bangladesh,” he added.
The workshop sessions included insightful presentations highlighting the accomplishments of 2024 and collaborative discussions to shape strategic plans for 2025, aimed at delivering meaningful outcomes for rural communities.
Development partners and co-financiers also engaged in discussions on resource mobilization and enhancing cooperation to unlock further opportunities for rural development projects.
Reehana Raza, IFAD's regional director for Asia and the Pacific, addressed the participants virtually, emphasizing the importance of continuous dialogue and collaboration to enhance the development impact of IFAD-financed projects in Bangladesh.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks and a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to work collaboratively towards achieving the 2025 goals and beyond, with a steadfast focus on keeping rural people at the centre of all Ifad-led investments and initiatives.
