ADB and IFAD Sign MOU to Enhance Law and Policy Collaboration in Forestry, Food, and Agriculture Sectors

On 3 September 2024, on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting of IFI General Counsels in Montevideo, Uruguay, the Asian Development Bank General Counsel Thomas M. Clark and the International Fund for Agricultural Development General Counsel Katherine Meighan signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance collaboration in legal and policy development in the forestry, food, and agriculture sectors, as well as their shared interest in advancing environmental rule of law.

A key objective is to facilitate knowledge sharing and joint capacity building activities on the Model Forest Act Initiativeand increasing access to finance for smallholder farmers, which initiatives are supported under ADB’s Law and Policy Reform Program.

The MOU marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between ADB and IFAD legal departments and demonstrates their shared commitment to drive legal innovations to advance inclusive and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific region.