MEMBER STATES’ VOTING RIGHTS

Article 6, Section 3 of the Agreement Establishing IFAD [Arabic] [English] [French] [Spanish] sets out the voting rights of IFAD Member States.

The total number of votes are comprised of Original Votes (1800) and Replenishment Votes. From the fourth replenishment of IFAD’s resources, new votes are created for each replenishment based on the pledges received as at the date 6 months after the adoption of the relevant resolution. The total number of new votes to be created in conjunction with each Replenishment is given by the ratio of 100 votes to the equivalent of US$ 158 million of Replenishment contributions in convertible currencies.

Votes are effective immediately upon the date specified in each respective Replenishment Resolution.

Votes are distributed as:  

•  Membership votes

•  Contribution votes

The voice of developing countries in IFAD's governance is ensured by allocating one-third of votes created to List C countries as Membership votes.

Membership votes are distributed equally among the Fund’s Member States. 

Contribution votes are distributed among Members in accordance with their respective share in paid contributions to a given Replenishment.

The total number of votes created will not change, however the distribution of votes changes. Distribution of membership votes is re-calculated every time there is a change in membership, while the distribution of contribution votes is re-calculated each time there is a change in the status of payments towards any Replenishment.

Voting Rights of IFAD Member States: Voting Rights of IFAD Member States.

DECISION MAKING IN IFAD’s GOVERNING BODIES

While Governors or Executive Board representatives may, at any time, request that a particular item under consideration be put to the vote, decisions in IFAD’s Governing Bodies are usually made by consensus. IFAD’s voting system comes into play on the following occasions:

• Calculation of a quorum necessary to open meetings of the governing bodies and consider items for approval. A quorum for a meeting of the Governing Council or Executive Board is declared when members representing at least two-thirds of the total votes are present.

•  When a decision by the governing body is required before the next scheduled formal session, items may be submitted for decision through a vote by correspondence. Additional details on the vote by correspondence procedure are included in the Rules of Procedure of the Governing Council [Arabic] [English] [French] [Spanish] and Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board [Arabic] [English] [French] [Spanish].

• Appointment of the President in line with IFAD’s basic documents which stipulate that the President of IFAD must be appointed by secret ballot. A two-thirds majority of the total votes is required.