Tanzania and CFC Strengthen Partnership to Empower Smallholders and Humanize Global Value Chains
The Hague, 17 October 2025 – Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Ms. Caroline Kitana Chipeta, Alternate Governor of the CFC for the United Republic of Tanzania and Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between Tanzania and the CFC and explored new avenues to scale up collaboration in advancing inclusive and sustainable commodity value chains.
Ambassador Belal briefed Ambassador Chipeta on the CFC’s expanding portfolio and the growing global demand for its innovative financing and development solutions. He underlined the Fund’s tangible results in reducing poverty, strengthening resilience, and enabling sustainable growth across commodity-dependent developing countries. Calling for collective action, he emphasized that ensuring smallholders receive a fair share of global trade is not only an economic necessity but a moral imperative.
Expressing appreciation for Tanzania’s long-standing engagement and leadership within the CFC, Ambassador Belal highlighted the country’s exemplary progress in promoting agricultural transformation. He underscored opportunities to further strengthen value addition in key commodities—empowering farmers to capture greater value, enhance food security, and boost national economic resilience.
A central topic of their discussion was the Humanizing Value Chains (HVC) initiative—CFC’s flagship effort to make global markets fairer and more sustainable by addressing structural inequities in how value is shared. Ambassador Belal noted that Tanzania’s support for HVC, alongside Peru’s recent endorsement, signals growing international momentum toward transforming value chains from the ground up.
Ambassador Chipeta warmly welcomed the visit and reaffirmed Tanzania’s deep commitment to the CFC’s mission. She commended the Fund’s contribution to inclusive rural development and emphasized Tanzania’s leading role as both a major agricultural producer and one of the top beneficiaries of CFC investment. She expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation beyond financing—particularly in technical assistance, innovation, and capacity building, which are essential to transforming smallholder agriculture.
Ambassador Chipeta also voiced strong support for the Humanizing Value Chains initiative, recognizing its potential to deliver real and lasting impact for farmers and communities. Both Ambassadors exchanged views on new mechanisms to mobilize greater resources for smallholders, including through sovereign guaranteed frameworks and blended finance solutions.
In closing, Ambassador Belal encouraged Tanzania to continue its leadership in championing fairer, more inclusive trade and to deepen its engagement with the CFC as a trusted development partner. Both sides reaffirmed their shared vision to empower farmers, strengthen rural economies, and ensure that no producer is left behind in the global marketplace.
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[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
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