CFC Calls for SMEs Development to Close Development Gap and Build Resilience
New York, 20 April 2026 — Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), today called for a fundamental shift in development finance—one that works for those at the base of the value chain: smallholder farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Delivering a statement at the Financing for Development Forum in New York, Ambassador Belal emphasized that despite global commitments, financing still fails to reach those who need it most.
“Development finance must work for the small ones—the smallholder farmers, the small businesses,” he said. “In trade is the engine of development, commodities are the fuels of that engine and smallholders and SMEs are in the role of drivers.” Ambassador Belal added.
He noted that the challenge is not only about mobilizing large volumes of capital, but about ensuring that financing is accessible, timely, and tailored to smaller actors who are often excluded from traditional financial systems.
At the CFC, this gap is addressed through targeted support for small-ticket financing—providing resources at a scale that matches the realities of farmers and SMEs, while enabling them to grow, adapt, and build resilience.
He highlighted how the CFC works directly with partners on the ground to ensure that financing translates into real-life impact—supporting livelihoods, strengthening local enterprises, and improving value addition within commodity sectors.
Ambassador Belal also underscored the importance of partnerships in scaling such efforts, particularly the support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which has enabled the CFC to expand its reach and deliver financing where it matters most.
“With the support of partners like the UK FCDO, we are able to bring finance closer to those who are often left behind—turning small investments into meaningful change at the community level,” he said.
He concluded by reiterating that success in development finance should not be measured solely by the size of commitments, but by their ability to reach and empower smallholders and SMEs.
“If finance does not reach the small ones, it does not work,” Ambassador Belal said. “We must ensure that our systems are designed not just for efficiency, but for inclusion and impact.”
About the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)
The CFC is a UN-affiliated international financial institution based in Amsterdam, working in over 100 countries to support inclusive economic development through impact investing in commodity value chains.
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Email: managing.director@common-fund.org