International Fund for Agricultural Development
Dual Delegate General Assembly
ifad@uclamun.org
Committee Summary
Topic A: Indigenous Agri-Food Systems
Topic B: Rural Financing Systems
Committee Summary: The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), established in 1977, is a specialized international financial institution (IFI) within the United Nations that seeks to mitigate poverty and hunger in developing countries. The committee is financed by a variety of mechanisms, including, but not limited to, Member State contributions, concessional loans, and loan repayments. Individual investors have the ability to purchase private placement bonds through IFAD, which, as an IFI, has an AA++ credit rating (indicating very high credit quality). IFAD issues quarterly and yearly reports, including an Investment Portfolio Report, that are aimed at transparency and ensuring investor confidence in the institution.
Specific objectives of IFAD are outlined in the organization’s Sustainability Development Finance Framework. While IFAD is nominally most concerned with SDG 1 (Zero Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), its proceeds are overall used to support sixteen of the Sustainable Development Goals. IFAD maintains principles of environmentalism and equity throughout its projects, which include improving rural infrastructure, restoring natural resources, and increasing agricultural production.
Meet The Staff
Madeline Abellera
Chair
What’s up, delegates?
Welcome to the International Fund for Agricultural Development! My name is Madeline Abellera and I’m so excited to be your chair for LAMUN XXI. I’m a junior at UCLA majoring in Political Science and minoring in Russian Studies. I’m from the east Bay Area (Walnut Creek, anyone?), though I was born in Chicago, and I enjoy drinking coffee, going on adventures with my friends, talking about history, and travelling the world. Other than participating in MUN at UCLA, I’m the editor-in-chief of UCLA’s undergraduate foreign affairs magazine and I’m involved with a student-led AI startup. After I graduate, I plan to go to law school.
As a head delegate and the Director of Training for UCLA’s travel team, I spend probably far too much of my time on this circuit. I’m a big fan of GA—you’ll never catch me in a crisis, regardless of my jealousy for their lack of breakfast meetings. Beyond competing as a delegate, I’m also a two-time chair of BruinMUN, UCLA’s high school conference. Joining Model UN as a freshman was by far the most impactful decision I’ve made at UCLA, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The people I’ve met both on my own team and around the circuit have enriched my life in so many ways; my hope for this committee is that, even though you’re competing, you’ll be able to have fun and make friends. After all, that’s what LAMUN’s all about!
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialized agency within the UN that seeks to address the crucial issue of world hunger. IFAD specifically aims to mitigate rural food insecurity by investing in least developed countries, while also emphasizing sustainability and technology access. This committee is directly focused on uplifting the least fortunate across the globe, highlighting the humanitarian importance of diplomacy; I’ll be interested to see all of your unique solutions to whichever topic is set over the course of the weekend.
Feel free to reach out to me at ifad@uclamun.org with any questions you might have about this committee. I can’t wait to see you all in April at the Biltmore!
Best,
Madeline Abellera
Chair | International Fund for Agricultural Development | LAMUN XXI