Lebanon Visits CFC to Discuss Sustainable Commodity Development
5 March 2026, Amsterdam – The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) had the honour of welcoming H.E. Mr. Walid Minkara, Ambassador of Lebanon, accompanied by Mrs. Jennifer El Hayek, First Secretary, for a constructive discussion on sustainable commodity development and opportunities for collaboration.
The Lebanese delegation was received by H.E. Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC, together with Ms. Zahra Kahla, Research and Data Assistant. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on the evolving role of the CFC in addressing structural challenges within global commodity value chains, particularly the persistent disparities that leave farmers and producers receiving only a small share of the final value of commodities.
With nearly three billion smallholders worldwide depending on commodity production for their livelihoods, the CFC continues to focus its efforts on supporting inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient value chains that improve incomes and economic opportunities for producers.
During the meeting, Ambassador Belal provided an overview of the evolution of the CFC. He recalled that the Fund’s original credit line of USD 11–13 billion under the 1976 Integrated Programme for Commodities (IPC) would amount to nearly USD 80 billion in today’s value. While the IPC initially focused on buffer stocks for 18 key commodities to stabilize global markets, the CFC has since transformed into a global impact investment fund that supports innovative projects through a competitive call-for-proposals process held every six months.
Today, the CFC operates as an international financial institution dedicated to strengthening commodity-dependent economies, with a mission to support projects that increase value addition, improve sustainability, and empower smallholder farmers and rural communities.
In this context, Ambassador Belal highlighted the growing importance of Humanizing the Value Chains (HVC), a concept promoted by the CFC to address inequities in commodity markets. While global commodity industries generate significant economic value, producers often receive only a fraction of the final retail price. The HVC initiative seeks to bridge this gap by promoting transparency, inclusion, and fairer value distribution along commodity chains.
Through the use of digital tools and innovative mechanisms such as consumer participation platforms, HVC allows consumers to directly support farmers and producers at the origin of commodities. This approach strengthens the connection between producers and end consumers while ensuring that a greater share of value generated along the supply chain reaches those who cultivate and harvest the commodities.
Ambassador Minkara welcomed the opportunity to engage with the Common Fund for Commodities and expressed appreciation for the Fund’s work in advancing sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient commodity value chains. He noted that initiatives promoting sustainable agriculture, transparency in value chains, and improved market linkages are increasingly important in the current global economic environment.
He also conveyed Lebanon’s interest in learning more about the CFC’s activities and exploring ways to strengthen connections with the Fund and its broader network of partners working on commodity development and value chain transformation.
The meeting concluded with a shared interest in maintaining dialogue and exploring opportunities for continued engagement on sustainable and inclusive commodity development.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]