Egypt, IFAD Discuss Future Areas of Cooperation

Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Rania Al-Mashat met with a high-level delegation from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to review the results of the visit to Egypt running from 23-30 October, and to follow up on ongoing projects with the IFAD that come within the framework of its joint relation with Egypt.

It also aimed to discuss future areas of cooperation, especially in light of the “Decent Life” presidential initiative, in addition to means of enhancing private sector’s engagement.

The IFAD’s delegation included the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Nigeria to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Yaya Olaniran; Ambassador Permanent Representative of the Republic of Argentina to FAO, Carlos Bernardo; Associate Vice President of Programme Management Department at the IFAD, Donal Brown; the Regional Director of the Near East, North Africa and Europe Division (NEN) in IFAD, Dina Saleh; Director of the Independent Office of Evaluation at the IFAD, Indran Naidoo; and several Executive Board members and senior staff of the IFAD.

During the meeting, they discussed the Government of Egypt’s efforts to achieve food security, and to rapidly respond to the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic that directly impacts countries’ food production and agriculture, which requires consolidation of sustainable and smart agriculture practices.

They further delved into areas of future cooperation between Egypt and the IFAD, within the framework of achieving rural development through the “Decent Life” presidential initiative; this is in addition to enhancing private sector’s engagement in development efforts through bolstering international partnerships.

For her part, Minister Al-Mashat affirmed the strategic partnership with the IFAD, that works towards widening the scope of joint cooperation with development partners through pushing forward food security, which has become an indispensable goal for the world in light of the negative repercussions of the pandemic and climate change.

H.E. further added that the cooperation with the IFAD has achieved integration with the government’s efforts to develop the capabilities of small-scale farmers; improve their access to knowledge and markets; and boost smart agricultural practices; pushing forward the agriculture sector sustainability to adapt to climate change; expressing her aspiration to further joint cooperation with the IFAD in light of the global efforts to develop effective plans for climate action and responding to its negative repercussions.

H.E. also referred to Egypt’s endeavors to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27), and to increase financing allocated to climate action.

The IFAD is one of the United Nations specialized agencies, founded in 1977 and headquartered in Rome, Italy. The IFAD works to address poverty and hunger in rural areas, as well as to promote social development and achieve gender equality; food security; and sustainable environmental development.

The development cooperation portfolio with the IFAD amounts to $1.1 billion, as it contributed in providing development financing to 14 projects, in cooperation with several development partners, where the IFAD’s financing contribution amounted to $520 million.

These projects managed to achieve sustainable agricultural development, to raise the income level of small-scale farmers. The development cooperation portfolio also encompasses financing 3 projects, including the Sustainable Agricultural Investment and Improvement of Livelihoods (SAIL) project; the project to enhance the marketing capabilities of small farmers in the Egyptian countryside (Prime); and the project to enhance adaptation in desert environments (Pride) in Matrouh Governorate