Gilbert F. Houngbo
President
International Fund for Agricultural Development
Gilbert F. Houngbo is the President of the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD), an organization dedicated to eradicating rural poverty
in developing countries and ensuring that agriculture is a central part of the
international development agenda. Born and raised in rural Togo, Houngbo
has spent more than 30 years working to improve the lives of some of the
world’s most vulnerable people, with extensive experience in political affairs,
international development, diplomacy and financial management. Prior to his
appointment as IFAD President, Houngbo was the Deputy Director-General of
the International Labour Organization (ILO) where he led field operations in
more than 100 countries and managed bilateral and multilateral partnerships.
He served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Togo from 2008 to 2012,
where he introduced economic reforms and enhanced the rule of law and civil
liberties. From 1996 to 2008, he undertook a number of roles at the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) including Chief of Staff and Assistant
Secretary-General – Africa Regional Director, where he led poverty alleviation
programmes in 45 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to this, he spent a decade
in the private sector, including at Price Waterhouse, Canada, where he worked
in Audit and Financial Advisory Services. Houngbo has a
Maîtrise en gestion
d’entreprise
from the University of Lomé, Togo, and a
Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures
Spécialisées
in Specialised Accounting from the University of Québec, Canada. He is
a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.