IPS in partnership with Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) worked with 21 journalists this week in Rome with a training event to coincide with IFAD’s General Council (GC) meeting. Journalists from all over the world joined the training, including participation from Nepal, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal and Burkina Faso.

This training is part of a year-long series organised by TRF and IPS for IFAD about smallholder farmers and climate change and follows events with journalists in Cairo, Rio de Janeiro and Arusha. The journalists were able to meet and interview leading experts in Rome for the IFAD GC and the associated Indigenous Peoples Forum as well as working sessions with trainers from IPS and TRF.

At the IFAD GC there was a strong emphasis on the power of partnerships to support small farmers worldwide. Kanayo F. Nwanze from Nigeria was appointed by acclamation for a second four year term as IFAD President.

Read reporting from the IPS global network about food and agriculture here.