Driving inclusive, climate-smart agri-food transformation
NIRAS partners with governments, donors, and the private sector to design and deliver sustainable, inclusive, and climate-smart agri-food systems that strengthen rural economies, enhance food security, and improve livelihoods at scale. With more than five decades of global experience, we combine deep technical expertise with practical, market-oriented solutions across the entire agri-food value chain — from production and natural resource management to markets,finance, and policy reform. Our integrated approach helps countries move beyond subsistence agriculture towards resilient, productive, and competitive food systems that work for people and the planet.
Our value proposition
The world must double food production by 2050 to meet growing demand, but factors such as climate change, conflict, global health emergencies, and limited government resources make this an ever-challenging target to reach. Many of the poorest people depend on farming for income yet they lack access to markets, appropriate skills and technology, and financing to support their livelihoods. Access to nutritious and healthy food is also decreasing due to rising prices and disruptions in supply chains. Inclusive, climate-smart food systems with stronger markets and upskilled agricultural businesses, underpinned by adapted financing, can boost farmers' incomes and help to reduce poverty in rural areas.
We help our partners translate ambitious development goals into bankable programmes, implementable reforms, and measurable results by:
- Designing evidence-based strategies grounded in local realities;
- Blending policy, institutional, and market systems approaches;
- Mobilising finance and private sector engagement; and
- Embedding inclusion, climate resilience, and nutrition outcomes across interventions.
Since the 1970s, we have implemented 1,000+ agriculture and rural development interventions worldwide that increase productivity and incomes, strengthen value chains and market access, improve climate resilience and natural resource stewardship, and advance inclusive growth and gender equality. Our portfolio spans fragile and conflict-affected contexts, emerging markets, and middle-income countries.
The result? Practical solutions that deliver lasting impact for smallholder farmers, agri-businesses, and rural communities.
We support the full programme cycle — from analysis and design to implementation, monitoring, and learning — across the following core capability areas:
