Burundi, Bhutan, Haiti, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guinea, Indonesia, Mozambique selected to join 50x2030

The 50x2030 Partnership Council has endorsed eight new countries to partner with the Initiative in 2021-2022: Burundi, Bhutan, and Haiti, which will join in 2021; and Bolivia, El Salvador, Guinea, Indonesia, and Mozambique, which will join in 2022.

Each country submitted a formal application during the February Call for Expression of Interest. Applications required countries to supply detailed information and supporting documentation about their agricultural statistical systems, financial and technical needs, and their commitment to meet the Initiative’s condition of complete country takeover of the survey program within five to eight years.

Masako Hiraga, acting 50x2030 Program Manager reflected, “The quality of the applications and the commitment made by countries was yet further evidence of the priority they place on producing fundamental agricultural and rural survey data.”

“As a program, we were pleased with the level of geographic diversity among the applicants, which hints to the Initiative’s global relevance and reach,” she added.

A committee of representatives from the Initiative’s three implementing agencies – the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, The International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the World Bank – and the 50x2030 Program Management Team reviewed the applications and made a recommendation for endorsement to the 50x2030 Partnership Council.

Country applications were evaluated based on their demonstrated commitment to the principles of the Initiative, had large agricultural sectors that will benefit significantly from 50x2030 support, showed strong potential for funding contribution either from national resources or international development assistance, and those with collaborative opportunities with other donors in related agriculture programs.

Preconditions for eligibility in 50x2030 include: a) income classification (low and lower middle income group); b) regional affiliation (Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East and North Africa; East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia and Central Asia; Latin America and Caribbean); and c) agricultural statistics capacity (medium, low, and very low).

The 50x2030 Program Management Team will be in touch with newly selected countries with details on the process of formally partnering with the Initiative. In July, 50x2030 will issue a new call for expressions of interest from countries. The subsequent window will open in February 2022.