CFC Member States Convene in The Hague for the Second Edition of the “Friends of the CFC”
The Hague, 11 November 2025 - The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), together with the Embassies of Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Tanzania, is pleased to announce the successful convening of the Second Edition of the Friends of the CFC, held on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, at the Embassy of the Philippines in The Hague. This gathering brought together representatives from the Asia and Africa Groups — following the earlier GRULAC edition — to strengthen dialogue, share experiences, and broaden collaboration on sustainable commodity development.
A Joint Initiative of the Asia and Africa Groups
The event was jointly hosted by:
- H.E. Mr. J. Eduardo Malaya, Ambassador of the Philippines & Chair of the CFC Executive Board;
- H.E. Ms. Caroline Kitana Chipeta, Ambassador of Tanzania & Vice Chair of the Africa Group of the CFC Governing Council; and
- H.E. Ms. Rekha Gunasekera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka & Vice Chair of the Asia Group of the CFC Governing Council.
The meeting convened CFC Member States based in The Hague for an open, informal exchange on advancing the Fund’s mandate and amplifying its impact across member countries.
Reinforcing Collective Action at a Time of Global Setbacks
The discussions took place at a moment of profound global concern. With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) significantly off track and poverty rates rising again, Member States underscored the urgent need for renewed collective action. The CFC emphasized its readiness to work closely with Member States to “roll up our sleeves” and intensify efforts to fight poverty and hunger, particularly among the more than three billion smallholders and workers who sustain global commodity markets yet remain the most vulnerable.
Strengthening Momentum Ahead of the 37th Governing Council
The meeting comes as the CFC finalizes preparations for its 37th Governing Council Meeting, to be held on 9–10 December 2025 in The Hague, and advances its Strategic Framework 2025–2035 (SFW).
The SFW charts a clear course for the decade ahead, outlining priorities to support smallholder farmers, SMEs, and commodity-dependent economies through strengthened resilience, inclusive and sustainable value chains, climate-smart investments, and innovative financing mechanisms.
Member States exchanged views on the Fund’s evolving role in confronting climate impacts, commodity price volatility, and structural financing gaps — while aligning with major global policy frameworks such as:
- the Sevilla Commitment (2025) on Financing for Development, calling for fairer value distribution and greater value addition at origin; and
- the ICJ Climate Advisory Opinion (2025), stressing states’ responsibilities to protect vulnerable communities from climate-related harms.
Strategic Briefing and Global Partnerships
The Managing Director briefed participants on:
- new partnerships and funding pathways;
- emerging opportunities for climate-smart, smallholder-driven investment; and
- progress on flagship initiatives including the Agricultural Commodity Transformation (ACT) Fund and the Humanizing the Value Chain (HVC) programme.
In his remarks, the Managing Director paid special tribute to the host country, the Netherlands, and to the United Kingdom, for their enduring generosity and partnership. He also placed on record the CFC’s deep gratitude to Brazil and Spain, who have agreed to jointly co-host the Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty, marking a new frontier in global coalition-building.
He further called on Member States to actively participate in the CFC’s upcoming side event on Best Practices during the Governing Council, noting that The Hague — the City of Peace and Justice — can become a global melting pot of ideas, solutions, and partnerships to fight poverty and hunger worldwide.
A Platform for Solidarity and South–South Cooperation
Launched in 2024, the Friends of the CFC platform reflects the strong determination of Member States — especially from the Global South — to enhance the collective voice of commodity-dependent nations and strengthen ownership of the CFC’s mandate.
By bringing together ambassadors and senior diplomats in The Hague, the platform promotes:
- shared commitment to the CFC’s mission;
- consensus-building on strategic priorities;
- stronger resource mobilization for smallholders and SMEs; and
- unified advocacy for more equitable and sustainable commodity value chains.
A summary note capturing key takeaways and next steps will be circulated to all participating delegations and the CFC Secretariat ahead of the December Governing Council Meeting.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]