Common Fund for Commodities Concludes Thirty-Seventh Governing Council Annual Meeting in The Hague
The Hague, 10 December 2025 – The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) successfully concluded the Thirty-Seventh Meeting of its Governing Council, held from 9 to 10 December 2025 in The Hague, The Netherlands. The session brought together delegations from 76 countries, with 38 Member States delivering national statements and five regional groups intervening, reflecting broad engagement and strong collective ownership of the Fund’s strategic direction.
A defining outcome of the Thirty-Seventh Meeting of the Governing Council of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) was the landmark decision to activate the amended Agreement Establishing the Common Fund for Commodities. Adopted without opposition, the decision brings into effect the amendments approved by the Board of Governors in 2014, marking the long-awaited entry into force of the Agreement after eleven years. It reflects a decisive collective commitment by Member States to strengthen the Fund’s governance, modernize its institutional framework, and enhance its capacity to deliver development impact.
Opening of the Session
The meeting was opened by H.E. Ms. Mirjam Blaak Sow, Alternate Governor of the CFC for the Republic of Uganda and Chairperson of the Governing Council, who welcomed participants and reaffirmed the CFC’s mandate to empower commodity-dependent communities and advance inclusive and sustainable development across global value chains.
Keynote Addresses and Leadership Statements
The session featured a series of high-level addresses, beginning with remarks by Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of the Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department at the African Development Bank, representing the Chief Guest and keynote speaker, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group.
This was followed by a keynote video address from Ms. Maryam Bukar Hassan, United Nations Global Advocate for Peace, whose message underscored the importance of placing people and communities at the centre of development efforts.
The programme also included the annual statement of Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC, who highlighted the Fund’s progress during 2025 and reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and people-centred commodity value chains—an approach he described as “humanizing the value chains.”
Operational Highlights from 2025
The Governing Council reviewed the Fund’s operational performance and noted significant achievements during the reporting year, including:
- 496 projects financed to date, with a total project value of USD 357.21 million, delivered through a mix of grants, loans, and equity investments, including participation in nine agricultural sector-focused impact investment funds.
- 21 new projects approved in 2025 under the Twenty-Fifth and Twenty-Sixth Open Calls for Proposals, representing a total project value of USD 161.3 million, with USD 21.02 million financed directly by the CFC, complemented by administrative and legal support.
These results reaffirm the CFC’s role as a catalytic financier supporting value creation, resilience, and inclusive growth in commodity-dependent economies.
Governance, Financial Oversight and Institutional Appointments
The Governing Council approved key financial and administrative matters essential to maintaining the Fund’s strong governance and operational stability.
The meeting unanimously elected H.E. Caroline Kitana Chipeta, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as Chairperson of the Governing Council for the forthcoming term, reflecting the confidence of Member States in her leadership and the continued spirit of consensus guiding the work of the Council.
The Governing Council also approved, by consensus, the Strategic Framework 2025–2035, providing the Common Fund for Commodities with a clear and forward-looking charter for the decade ahead. The Framework is the outcome of extensive and inclusive deliberations by Member States through the Open-Ended Working Group, led by Chair Mr. Tom Fabozzi of Ireland and Vice-Chair, H.E. Ambassador Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba of Botswana. It reflects a shared vision to guide the CFC’s strategic priorities, operational focus, and institutional evolution in response to emerging global development challenges.
The Council further confirmed appointments of Executive Directors, Alternate Executive Directors, and Vice-Chairpersons of the Governing Council, underscoring Member States’ shared commitment to collaborative leadership and effective stewardship of the Fund’s mandate.
Looking Ahead
The Governing Council agreed that its Thirty-Eighth Meeting will be held in The Hague on 2–3 December 2026, while welcoming expressions of interest from Member States wishing to host future sessions.
The meeting concluded with closing remarks by H.E. Ms. Mirjam Blaak Sow, followed by expressions of appreciation from Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, who thanked delegations for their constructive engagement, substantive contributions, and spirit of cooperation throughout the session.
The Common Fund for Commodities reaffirmed its commitment to supporting commodity-dependent communities and advancing sustainable, inclusive development across global value chains.
About the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)
The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) is an intergovernmental financial institution established within the United Nations system, headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its mandate is to support commodity-dependent developing countries by financing and promoting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient commodity value chains.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]