CFC Secretariat Welcomes Governing Council Chair H.E. Ambassador Caroline Kitana Chipeta
Amsterdam, 25 February 2026 – The Secretariat of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) warmly welcomed H.E. Ambassador Caroline Kitana Chipeta, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Chair of the CFC Governing Council, to the CFC headquarters in Amsterdam for discussions on the Fund’s strategic direction and engagement with Member States.
Ambassador Chipeta was received by Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC, together with Mr. Nicolaus Cromme, Chief Operations Officer, and Ms. Zahra Kahla, Research and Data Assistant. The visit marked the Chair’s first visit to the Secretariat in her official capacity and provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the Governing Council and the CFC Secretariat.
Ambassador Belal reflected on the historical foundations of the CFC, recalling the vision of the Fund’s founders under the Integrated Programme for Commodities and the ambition expressed at UNCTAD IV in 1976 to establish a strong financial mechanism for commodity development, including a projected credit line of USD 11–13 billion in 1970s. He emphasized the importance of reviving this spirit of ambition in guiding the evolution of the institution.
Ambassador Belal also outlined the strategic direction of “CFC 2.0,” highlighting the institution’s ongoing transformation to better respond to the evolving needs of commodity-dependent economies. He noted that the CFC is strengthening its operational and financial capacity, expanding partnerships, and mobilizing additional resources to scale up its support to small and medium-sized enterprises and producer organizations across commodity sectors.
He emphasized that this renewed approach aims to support fairer and more inclusive participation of commodity producers in global value chains, enabling developing countries to capture greater value from their natural resources. Through a combination of investment financing, technical assistance, analytical work, and strategic partnerships, the CFC is working to strengthen resilient commodity value chains and improve income opportunities for producers.
Ambassador Belal further highlighted the importance of closer engagement with Member States and regional groups as part of the Fund’s evolving role, noting that strengthening dialogue and cooperation is essential to ensuring that the CFC remains responsive to the priorities of commodity-dependent economies.
Mr. Cromme presented the operational and financial aspects of the Fund’s evolving strategy, focusing on external fundraising efforts and strategic partnerships aimed at expanding the CFC’s development impact. He also explained the Fund’s graduation pathway approach, designed to respond to the evolving needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by combining investment financing with targeted technical assistance. He highlighted how this integrated model positions the CFC as a unique international financial institution dedicated to sustainable commodity development.
H.E. Ambassador Caroline Kitana Chipeta reaffirmed her commitment, in her capacity as Chair of the Governing Council, to supporting the CFC’s expanding engagement, visibility, and outreach efforts. She emphasized the importance of strengthening the Fund’s presence in international policy discussions and deepening collaboration with Member States and regional groups. Ambassador Chipeta underscored the need to bring Member States closer to the institution’s work and to enhance awareness of the CFC’s role in supporting commodity-dependent economies through partnerships, analytical work, and strategic dialogue.
The meeting concluded with a brief gathering with the CFC Secretariat team, offering an opportunity for the Chair of the Governing Council to meet colleagues and engage in an open exchange with the staff.
About Common Fund for Commodities
The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) is an intergovernmental financial institution that provides financing for projects in commodity value chains in its Member States, with a focus on sustainable development and poverty reduction.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]