Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Dr Rania Al-Mashat, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to strengthen climate-resilient agricultural and rural development under Egypt’s National Platform for the “NWFE” (Nexus of Water, Food and Energy) Programme.
The agreement was signed by Regine Qualmann, Country Director of GIZ Egypt, and Dr Mohamed Abdel-Qader, Country Director and Head of IFAD’s Multi-Country Regional Office, in the presence of Holger Eily, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Cairo.
The partnership aims to enhance technical and financial cooperation to support climate adaptation, sustainable livelihoods, and resilience among smallholder farmers and rural communities. It will build on joint interventions within key NWFE food and water projects, including the Climate-Resilient Water Management in the Nile Valley (CROWN) project, the Sustainable Transformation for Agricultural Resilience in Upper Egypt (STAR) project, and the Agricultural Innovation and Biodiversity (AIB) project implemented by GIZ.
Dr Al-Mashat said the agreement reflects Egypt’s commitment to integrating water, food, and energy projects and aligning international technical expertise with development finance to maximise climate resilience and sustainable rural livelihoods. She stressed that the cooperation supports Egypt’s comprehensive development narrative, which places human development, social justice, and sustainable income generation at the heart of economic transformation.
She praised IFAD as a key partner in the food pillar of the NWFE platform for its long-standing role in promoting sustainable rural development, and highlighted Germany’s strategic support to Egypt, particularly in the energy pillar, noting the importance of combining technical know-how with financial instruments to deliver high-impact climate-resilient interventions.
Holger Eily said Germany was among the first supporters of the NWFE programme, initially focusing on the energy pillar, and is now strengthening its commitment by supporting food security and sustainable agriculture as core elements of Egypt’s climate agenda and its strategic partnership with Germany.
Regine Qualmann underlined GIZ’s role as a committed partner in Egypt’s climate adaptation and resilience efforts, especially in the food and water sectors, adding that combining GIZ’s technical cooperation with IFAD’s financial capacity would generate sustainable impact for small farmers and rural communities.
Dr Mohamed Abdel-Qader stated that the MoU builds on a strong institutional foundation and a shared vision for rural transformation, enabling the expansion of climate-smart solutions, stronger agricultural value chains, and improved incomes for smallholder farmers.
The agreement will enhance coordination between German technical assistance and IFAD’s financial support on the ground, strengthening sustainability and development impact in targeted governorates. It also reflects Germany’s comprehensive support for Egypt’s NWFE agenda, linking climate adaptation, resilience building, and mitigation efforts, including financing through KfW Development Bank.
Areas of cooperation include environmentally friendly farming practices, soil fertility improvement, climate-resilient crop varieties, modern irrigation and cultivation techniques, digital agriculture and digital literacy, market access and value-chain development, farmer organisation empowerment, and financial inclusion for smallholders.
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