BANGKOK PRESS BRIEFING BY UN IFAD'S ASSISTANT PRESIDENT

FCCT, BANGKOK, SEPTEMBER 27TH

Post-Johannesburg, IFADs Poverty Strategy for Asia Unveiled

Bangkok (United Nations information Services) --- The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Rome-based United Nations agency specifically mandated for poverty reduction, will launch its Strategy for Poverty Eradication in Asia and the Pacific in Indonesia this week.

The issue of indigenous populations living lives of hardship and misery in marginal areas; women's rights to land and control of assets and reforming property and tenurial rights of marginalized minorities will be on top of the agenda.

Mr Roy will give a special briefing to the Bangkok media on IFAD's latest strategy at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on September 27th at 2.30 p.m.

" Now more than ever it is crucial that the international community continues to work toward sustainable development but also be actively 'pro-poor' in its policies," said Mr Phrang Roy, IFAD's Assistant-President.

" The Fund's strategy for rural poverty reduction in the region emphasises the importance of focusing on Less Favoured Areas, including remote uplands and mountains, marginal coastal areas and insufficiently watered drylands. Fundamental to poverty reduction in the region is assisting the rural poor to increase their capabilities through greater access to self-help, new skills and technologies," added Mr Roy.

The Indonesian Symposium, September 25-26th, will bring together representatives of civil society, academics, donor representatives, senior Indonesian Government officials and IFAD officials both from its Rome headquarters and from countries in the Asia and the Pacific region.

Note to Editors: Press briefing on 27 September 2002, at 2.30 p.m., FCCT, Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building, 518/5 Plenchit Rd, Phatumwan, Bangkok, Tel: 02-652-0580/Fax: 02-652-0582. Refreshments will be served.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD is a UN specialized agency. Since 1978 IFAD has financed 603 projects in 115 recipient countries and in the West Bank and Gaza for a total commitment of approximately USD 7.3 billion in loans and grants. Through these projects, about 250 million rural people have had a chance to move out of poverty. IFAD makes the greater part of its resources available to low income countries on very favourable terms.

For further details: Ms Farhana Haque Rahman, Coordinator, Communications Special Programmes Unit, IFAD, Rome, Italy
Tel: 39 06 5459 2485; Email: f.haquerahman@ifad.org
Internet: http://www.ifad.org/

* *** *