SPECIAL FEATURE ...develop


The OPEC Fund is helping to...


...improve


infrastructure in rural areas


water supply and irrigation schemes


...empower women and youth in agriculture


...fund


facilities to store and


commercialize produce


...promote trade of agricultural goods


...mitigate


...finance training,


capacity and institution building


that will connect farmers to markets, development of production and storage facilities, trade in agricultural goods, but also training, capacity and institution building. While the commitment to agriculture


stands at the cradle of the OPEC Fund, the nature of engagement has changed: “Our approach has evolved over the years”, Taylhardat says. “The OPEC Fund’s financing initially was very traditional, just focusing on grassroots institutions to provide better seeds and enhanced production in terms of quantity and quality. Over time, aligned with the needs of our partner countries, we introduced more diversified investments.” Also the range of eligible investment


projects grew over the years in line with demand: “We are helping to build rural feeder roads, water supply and irrigation schemes, fund facilities to store and commercialize produce, provide policy- based loans, enable trade, and finance softer skills, for instance with trainings for farmers. We are also increasingly focusing on the empowerment of women and youth in agriculture, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies”, says Taylhardat.


PHOTOS (clockwise from top left): Maciej Czekajewski/Shutterstock. com; BOULENGER Xavier/ Shutterstock.com; i_am_ zews/Shutterstock.com; Swardian/Shutterstock.com; Marius Dobilas/Shutterstock. com; Matthew John Photography/Shutterstock. com; Joa Souza/ Shutterstock.com


Agriculture commitments since OPEC Fund inception by region


9% 3% 2%


Africa Asia


19%


Latin America and Carribean Europe Multiregional


67%


Agriculture commitments since OPEC Fund inception by financing window


5% 19% 2%


Public Private Trade Grants


climate change and fund adaptation strategies


74% 9 ILLUSTRATION: Vasya Kobelev/Shutterstock.com


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