Enika Basu has been appointed IFAD country director for Viet Nam and will lead a project portfolio worth nearly US$200 million to advance sustainable rural transformation.
On 30 July in Ha Noi, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) announced the appointment of Ms. Enika Basu as its new Country Director for Viet Nam and Head of the IFAD Multi-Country Office in Ha Noi. On the same day, she presented her Letter of Credence to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang.
Speaking upon assuming her new role, Ms. Basu said she was honoured to lead IFAD's work in Viet Nam at a time when the country is pursuing a vision of sustainable, climate-resilient and inclusive rural development, while remaining committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Ms. Enika Basu presents her Letter of Credence to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang following her appointment as IFAD Country Director for Viet Nam. Photo: IFAD.Ms. Basu reaffirmed IFAD's commitment to working closely with the Government of Viet Nam, provincial authorities, development partners, the private sector and rural communities to promote greener agriculture and food systems, while expanding economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and rural populations. She also highlighted IFAD's commitment to supporting Viet Nam in sharing its successful development models and experiences with other developing countries through South-South cooperation.
Ms. Basu brings nearly 20 years of experience in international development, with expertise in rural transformation, inclusive economic development and partnership building across the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to her appointment, she served as Senior Advisor to the Associate Vice-President of the Department for Country Operations at IFAD headquarters in Rome, Italy. In that role, she helped shape strategic partnerships with multilateral development banks and global financing mechanisms, while providing strategic guidance for IFAD's country portfolio.
Before joining IFAD, Ms. Basu worked at a Rome-based research institute, supporting European Commission programmes on labour market integration across the European Union. She also held positions at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and with several civil society organisations, where she supported the development of micro and small rural enterprises and designed microinsurance solutions for workers in the informal economy.
Overview of the meeting between Ms. Enika Basu and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang. Photo: IFAD.Over more than three decades of partnership with Viet Nam, IFAD has provided US$537 million in direct financing for 19 projects, leveraging a total investment of US$918 million. These projects have directly benefited more than 1.4 million rural households, improving livelihoods and increasing rural incomes.
One of IFAD's most notable achievements is the recently completed Smallholder Commodity Agriculture Support Project in Bac Kan and Cao Bang provinces, which achieved a nearly 40% reduction in multidimensional poverty, significantly exceeding its original target of 25%.
IFAD is currently implementing two projects in Viet Nam with a combined value of nearly US$200 million, focusing on strengthening climate adaptation, enhancing the resilience of rural communities and supporting the country's Vision 2045 development agenda.
IFAD is the world's only international financial institution dedicated exclusively to rural transformation. Globally, together with its partners, the Fund is implementing programmes with a total investment of nearly US$23 billion to transform agrifood systems, create jobs, foster sustainable economic growth and improve the livelihoods of rural people.
$ 1 = VND 26,510 - Source: Vietcombank.