Our Structure
Donors debate with development partners
40 member organisations of the Platform - ranging from bilateral development agencies, international finance institutions, multi-lateral development organisations and foundations created a space for debate about new directions in development support by ODA, modern and market-based financing instruments with the private sector and new business models in support of agricultural and rural development.
The Platform facilitates discussion and debate, where members can address the rapidly changing economic, social and environmental conditions of least-developed countries and the emergence of middle income countries. These developments profoundly changed the frame conditions for food security and poverty reduction policies and reaffirmed the call for a different debate on international cooperation. The Platform has identified its Strategic Initiative Agenda 2030 – New Momentum for Rural Transformation to look at the rural development in a broader way and to discuss donors’ and IFIs reactions to the new challenges in terms of programming, financing instruments and business models.
Platform Governance
Members
The Platform is a network of 40 international multi- and bilateral organisations for strategic debate on ways and means to achieve the common goal to increase investments into agriculture and rural development for economic growth, sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction in developing countries. Membership in the Platform is informal creating a space for knowledge exchange, strategic outreach and networking.
Focal Points
Each member appoints a contact point to represent the respective organisation at Platform meetings and keep colleagues in their organisations and their NGO/private sector constituencies informed about new developments in the international community and the Platform outcomes. Contact points actively participate in the formulation of joint Platform policies and work programmes. They may speak on behalf the Platform at international events. The work streams of the Platform involve a great number of representatives of member organisations who are not the contact points.
Co-chairs
The Platform’s two co-chairs are elected ad personam by the board members and serve for two years. The Platform co-chairs are also chairing the board.
Board
The Board is the Platform’s main decision-making body and comprises the contact points of all Platform members who pay an agreed annual membership contribution. Unless otherwise specified, decisions are taken by two-thirds majority vote. Physical board meetings are convened at least once a year following the Annual General Assembly in January/February of each year and one virtual board meeting in June of each year.
Partners
The Platform enters into partnerships with research institutions, farmers’ organisations, civil society organisations, global and regional networks and global initiatives and private sector networks which share a common interest in agriculture and rural development. Each partner organisation nominates a contact person to serve as the official link to the Platform. Representatives from partner organisations are invited to engage in the work streams of the Platform and attend Platform meetings.
Secretariat
The secretariat is the management unit of the Platform to support the implementation of the annual work programme, for which it has executive authority.
The Platform secretariat is empowered to act within the framework of the agreed annual work plan with executive authority according to the Strategic Plan 2016 – 2020. The Platform secretariat’s principal task is to support the Platform membership in carrying out the three principal function of the Platform, namely knowledge sharing, strategic influencing and networking. The secretariat works very closely with the Co-Chairs on strategic directions of the Platform and supports the working groups of the Platform on specific themes of common interest and engagement in international events.
The secretariat has been hosted by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany and administered by the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) in Bonn/Germany from 2003 to 2019. Starting from 2020, the secretariat has been hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome/Italy.