Cornelia Richter is Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. She gives strategic direction to the institution, and promotes corporate approaches and solutions. She has direct oversight of the budget, quality assurance and ethics offices.

Before joining IFAD, Richter was Managing Director at GIZ, the German development agency. She brings extensive experience acquired in different fields of international cooperation through assignments such as Advisor for Planning and Research and Multilateral Institutions at the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation, Macroeconomic Advisor in Africa, and several managerial positions at GIZ, including Director General for Asia and the Pacific, and Director General for Global and Sectoral Issues.

Richter holds a degree in economics and social science from the University of Göttingen. She completed postgraduate studies in systemic management at the University of St Gallen, Switzerland, and in organizational development at Columbia University in the United States. She is a member of several advisory boards, including the German Asia-Pacific Business Association, the Latin American Association for German Companies, the German Development Institute, the European Interuniversity Association, the Foundation for Peace and Development and the NGO Child Aid.