A Turning Point for Rural Development: IFAD’s Vision at the Global Land Forum 2025

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has reaffirmed a bold, transformative message at the Global Land Forum 2025 in Bogotá, Colombia: rural populations can drive agri-food system transformation—if their land tenure is secure. The conference, hosted by a broad coalition including the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the International Land Coalition (ILC), the European Union, and Cinep/PPP, brings together an alliance of stakeholders committed to land rights, sustainable development, and rural peace.

The Importance of Secure Land Tenure

Juan Carlos Mendoza, Director of IFAD’s Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division, emphasized the central role of land access and governance in fostering inclusive rural development. “Access and fair and transparent governance of land are key components to have rural development that is truly inclusive and that puts rural communities at the centre of management decision-making,” he stated, underlining the importance of empowering indigenous peoples, women, and youth.

According to IFAD, legal land tenure is fundamental to the success of sustainable agriculture. The ability of rural farmers to plan long-term, adopt climate-adaptive practices, and improve soil health depends on the certainty that their lands are protected from forced evictions or legal insecurity.

This approach aligns with the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, a framework adopted by UN Member States in 2021 that reinforces the importance of land rights for food security.

IFAD and ILC: A Strategic Alliance for Equity

At the Forum, IFAD spotlighted its strategic partnership with the International Land Coalition (ILC), where it serves as both a founding member and co-chair. This collaboration underscores a shared goal: promoting equitable land governance as a foundation for peace, prosperity, and environmental stewardship. Mendoza described the Forum as “a demonstration of the will to act together,” highlighting its potential to foster solutions for global land challenges.

Broad Coalition in Bogotá

The Global Land Forum has convened a diverse array of participants, including government delegates, social movements, civil society organizations, international development agencies, and scholars. Together, they are discussing ways to guarantee legal security of tenure, fair access to natural resources, and protection against forced displacement—the cornerstones for meaningful and sustainable investments in rural productivity.

By advocating for policies that protect rural landholders, the Forum aims to support agricultural innovation, economic resilience, and a dignified life for rural families.

Celebrating Grassroots Innovation: “Economies for Life” Side Event

As part of the Forum, IFAD, in collaboration with Colombia’s Ministry of Agriculture and AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation), hosted a side event titled “Economies for Life: Strengthening Peasant, Family, Ethnic, and Community Agriculture for Agrarian Reform and Peace.” This event spotlighted local innovations and grassroots success stories in rural Colombia.

Representatives from organizations such as ASOJE, ASOPROSAN, and the Asociación de Mujeres Productoras de Plantas Aromáticas Amazónicas shared firsthand how participation in IFAD-led programs has catalyzed change in their communities. These programs, which form part of the Ministry's broader rural development efforts, have enabled farmers and producers to scale sustainable practices, access new markets, and enhance their livelihoods through capacity building and inclusion.

These organizations exemplify the power of community-led development and the potential of land-secure farmers to transform rural economies and contribute meaningfully to national peacebuilding and agri-food system reforms.

The Global Land Forum 2025 makes one message clear: when rural people are given the right to their land, they gain the power to shape their future. Through legal land rights, inclusive governance, and strategic international cooperation, IFAD and its partners are building the foundation for a food-secure and equitable world.