Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP)

About Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP)

About

• It is an initiative to empower rural communities, scaling proven development models, and strengthening grassroots institutions.
• Launched by: It has been launched by the Government of India, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
• It was launched during the IFAD–India Partnership for Rural Prosperity event at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

Aim

• It aimed at enhancing rural incomes, strengthening resilience, and scaling sustainable livelihood opportunities across the country.
  • It also seeks to establish India as a global knowledge hub in rural development by sharing successful models of inclusive rural finance, cooperative governance, digital agriculture services, and climate-resilient value chains.
  • Through this initiative, India aims to strengthen partnerships and exchange best practices with countries across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
• Duration: It is an eight-year programme for the period 2026–2033.

Features

• It is aligned with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision and focuses on two major priorities:
  • Enhancing the social, economic and climate resilience of rural communities
  • Strengthening knowledge systems to scale successful development models across India and other countries of the Global South.
• It places strong emphasis on strengthening grassroots institutions such as Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and cooperatives, which serve as key platforms connecting finance, technology, infrastructure, and markets.
• India’s Partnership with IFAD:
  • IFAD and NABARD signed a strategic partnership agreement to further strengthen rural finance systems and support innovation in agricultural and allied sectors.
  • India’s partnership with IFAD spans nearly five decades, with 35 rural development projects implemented across multiple states, supporting millions of rural households and contributing significantly to inclusive growth.

About International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

About

• The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized agency of the United Nations.
• Establishment: It was established in 1977 and is one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference.
• Headquarters: It is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
• Governing body: Member States govern through the Governing Council and the Executive Board. These two bodies make all major decisions, including policy, finance and membership.

Role

• It invests in rural people by empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience.
  • It provides low-interest loans and grants to developing countries to finance innovative agricultural and rural development programmes and projects.
• Coverage: It spans 4 regions and operates in 92 countries.
• Report: It brings out the Rural Development Report every year. 

Membership

• Any country that is a member of the United Nations, its specialised agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency can become an IFAD Member State.
• It has membership of 180 countries, categorised into three lists:
  • Member States on List A are primarily high-income countries that contribute to IFAD’s resources.
  • Those on List B also contribute to IFAD’s resources, with some eligible for IFAD financing and services.
  • Those on List C are primarily developing countries that receive IFAD financing and services, and also contribute to IFAD resources.
  • India is a founding member of the IFAD.