Bangladesh and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have reviewed the country’s rural development strategy amid changing national priorities, with a focus on linking climate resilience with employment, finance, technology and markets.

The issues were discussed at a workshop on the mid-term review of IFAD’s Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) 2023–2028 in Bangladesh held in Dhaka on Thursday.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Economic Relations Division (ERD) and IFAD, bringing together government representatives, development partners, UN agencies, implementing institutions and rural participants.

The participants reviewed progress since 2023, assessed the continued relevance of the COSOP and discussed adjustments for the remaining period, including a possible extension.

Moslema Nazneen, joint secretary of the ERD, highlighted IFAD’s long-standing contribution to rural development and called for investment in food security, employment, balanced regional development and the restoration of rivers and canals.

“The lessons of the past years are clear: keep project design simple, invest in strong implementing partners, pair infrastructure with production support, and never neglect institutional capacity,” she said.

The review found that the programme was making steady progress, although results varied across areas and stronger monitoring was needed to measure its impact.

So far, the programme has reached 3.58 million rural people, with women accounting for 46 per cent of participants and young people for around 27%.

Improved water systems now serve 86% of the targeted farmland, while the number of community groups managing natural resources has exceeded expectations.

Around 749,000 rural households are producing more crops and other agricultural products, while more than 258,000 households have gained access to financial services, including loans and savings.

“The task is not to redefine the COSOP’s core objectives, but to sharpen implementation and strengthen the thematic emphasis, particularly around youth opportunities, productive employment and inclusive agricultural services,” said Reehana Raza, IFAD Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

She stressed the need to use IFAD financing to mobilise public resources, climate finance and responsible private investment.

UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Carol Flore-Smereczniak highlighted IFAD’s role as both a UN specialised agency and an international financial institution.

“IFAD brings not only a mandate and technical expertise, but long-term investment financing, sovereign lending instruments, and the discipline of an institution that invests alongside Government over many years,” she said.

Valantine Achancho, IFAD Country Director for Bangladesh, said the review had confirmed that the COSOP’s strategic direction remained relevant.

“The results review confirms that the COSOP’s strategic direction remains highly relevant, but relevance must translate into sharper priorities, stronger execution and measurable transformation,” he said.

“We must strengthen the link between what we deliver and what changes because of it.”

The review recommended greater focus on sustainable incomes, youth skills and entrepreneurship, women’s economic empowerment, value addition, private-sector partnerships and consistent measurement of development outcomes.

It also recommended updating the results framework to include new investments, including the Growth for Climate Resilient and Environmental Entrepreneurship and Nutrition Project (GREEN) and the Climate Resilience and Livelihood Enhancement Project (CRALEP).