Building the Future of Commodity Value Chains: Inside CFC 2.0

/ Wed, 03/25/2026 - 13:00

Amsterdam, Netherlands — 25 March 2026 — The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) today presented its renewed strategic direction, “CFC 2.0,” at a high-level session during the Annual Meetings. The initiative marks a shift toward a more agile, catalytic, and impact-driven approach to financing commodity value chains.

Opening the session, Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC, framed CFC 2.0 as a necessary evolution in response to growing global challenges. He emphasized that the Fund is strengthening its role not only as a financier, but as a long-term partner committed to delivering practical solutions where they are most needed.

At a time of increasing global volatility—driven by climate change, price shocks, and persistent financing gaps for smallholders and SMEs—CFC 2.0 aims to accelerate access to blended finance and scale investment in sustainable commodity production.

“CFC 2.0 reflects our commitment to evolve and respond to today’s challenges with greater speed, flexibility, and ambition. We are strengthening our ability to take on risk, mobilize partners, and deliver measurable impact where it is most needed,” said Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal.

Under this renewed approach, CFC will:

Streamline approval processes to deploy capital more quickly
Expand the use of blended finance to crowd in private investment
Strengthen technical assistance to improve project bankability
Focus on scalable, high-impact interventions across commodity sectors

Throughout the day, participants were introduced to the CFC’s operational instruments and financing windows through presentations by CFC experts. These included the core loan portfolio presented by Mr. Nicolaus Cromme, Chief Operations Officer, the UK FCDO Trust Fund by Mr. Ernesto Daza Lacouture, Impact Investment Manager, and the ACT Fund by Mr. Michael van den Berg, ACT Fund Director.

Further insights were provided on the Technical Assistance Facility by Ms. Eva Johansson, Senior TA Facility Manager, as well as on external climate-related partnerships, including CAFI, presented by Mr. Peter Nielsen, Impact Investment Manager.

The event also underscored the CFC’s expanding role in sustainability and impact measurement. Presentations on the Fund’s environmental and social management systems (SEMS) and impact measurement were delivered by Mr. Mathias Cooman, Impact Strategy Officer, while opportunities under the CFC Call for Proposals were outlined by Mr. Chris Rallis, Impact Investment Manager.

In addition, Mr. Andrey Khulesov, Chief Strategy Officer presented its Strategic Framework 2025–2035, outlining a clear roadmap to scale impact and deepen collaboration with Member States and partners. A central theme of the session was the need to “humanize value chains,” ensuring that farmers and producers receive a fairer share of value. Innovative approaches such as micro-repatriation and digital tipping were highlighted as emerging tools to strengthen direct income flows and improve livelihoods at the grassroots level.

Discussions throughout the day focused on how national commodity strategies can be reinforced through enhanced access to finance, stronger partnerships, and improved market connectivity. The session concluded with a call for renewed political commitment, expanded partnerships, and increased contributions to amplify the CFC’s global impact.

The event reaffirmed the CFC’s role as a trusted partner in advancing inclusive and sustainable commodity development. As CFC 2.0 moves forward, the institution stands ready to mobilize resources, deepen collaboration, and scale practical solutions that deliver lasting impact for smallholders, SMEs, and commodity-dependent economies worldwide.

The event brought together representatives from Member States, participating both in person and virtually.

The event concluded with an engaging and interactive Q&A session, fostering the exchange of insights and deeper discussion of key issues, while reaffirming a shared commitment to alleviating poverty through innovative approaches such as humanizing value chains and addressing the financing needs of the “missing middle.”

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