Egypt seeks to strengthen collaboration with UN agencies in agricultural development – Daily News Egypt
Egypt seeks to strengthen collaboration with UN agencies in agricultural development Daily News Egypt
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Alaa Farouk, Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, meets with UN Resident Coordinator to enhance cooperation in agricultural development
Alaa Farouk, Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, met with Elena Panova, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, to discuss expanding cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and UN agencies involved in the agricultural sector. The meeting, which was also attended by Saad Moussa, Supervisor of External Agricultural Relations, focused on exploring ways to enhance joint efforts in agricultural development.
Collaboration with UN agencies in agricultural development
Minister Farouk highlighted the successful and productive collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and various UN-affiliated organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). These partnerships have played a vital role in supporting agricultural and rural development across Egypt and advancing food system sustainability.
Positive impact on small-scale farmers, rural women, and youth
The minister commended the outcomes of joint projects in Egyptian villages and agricultural sectors, emphasizing their positive impact on small-scale farmers, rural women, and youth. He expressed a strong desire to expand these collaborations further, particularly in fostering inclusive agricultural growth and promoting rural empowerment.
Involvement of private sector and efforts for sustainable development
Farouk also underscored the importance of involving both the private sector in Egypt and across Africa to boost trade, investment, and food security on the continent. He outlined the Egyptian government’s efforts to improve the investment climate, including in agriculture, to support sustainable development.
UN’s cooperation framework and commitment to sustainable agricultural development
In response, the UN Resident Coordinator detailed the UN’s cooperation framework with Egypt, which spans five key areas: climate and resource sustainability, education, health, migration, and more. This framework guides UN agencies’ actions in Egypt from 2023 to 2027. Panova expressed her commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture to promote sustainable agricultural development and food security in Egypt.
Ministerial-level discussions with African nations and sharing of expertise
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to plan ministerial-level discussions with African nations under the leadership of Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture. These meetings will involve relevant UN agencies and private sector representatives from selected African countries. The aim is to establish new mechanisms for cooperation and encourage private sector investment, in line with Egypt’s broader efforts to foster stronger ties with African nations. Additionally, Egypt reiterated its readiness to share agricultural research expertise with African countries, with the support of UN agencies active in these regions.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance, and natural resources, in accordance with national laws | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South, and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology, and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, particularly at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism | Not mentioned in the article |
Source: dailynewsegypt.com
