On Monday, Alaa Farouk, Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, held a productive meeting with a delegation from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Cairo. The discussion focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration, particularly in the areas of agricultural transformation and land tenure security for women across the African continent.
Agricultural Transformation and Women’s Empowerment
During the meeting, Minister Farouk outlined Egypt’s ongoing strategies and initiatives aimed at advancing agricultural development and empowering women. He underscored Egypt’s commitment to working with African nations to enhance agricultural value chains, boosting the added value of agriculture, and contributing to the continent’s broader socio-economic transformation.
One of the key initiatives highlighted was Egypt’s “Decent Life” program, a nationwide project designed to enhance over 300 agricultural complexes across 20 governorates. Minister Farouk emphasized that this initiative, which focuses on improving infrastructure, health, education, and gender equality, has the potential to provide valuable insights for other African countries aiming to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Strengthening Collaboration for SDGs and Agenda 2063
Minister Farouk urged the ECA to collaborate with other UN agencies to scale up successful initiatives like Decent Life across Africa. He stressed the importance of such collaborative efforts in accelerating progress toward the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, a blueprint for a prosperous and integrated Africa.
Acknowledging Egypt’s Contributions to African Land Policy
During the meeting, Joan Kagwanja, Chief of the Agribusiness Enabling Environment Section (ABEES) at ECA and Coordinator of the African Land Policy Center (ALPC), acknowledged Egypt’s significant role in shaping the African land policy framework, which was ratified at the 2009 African Union Summit. Kagwanja expressed gratitude for Egypt’s continued leadership in driving agricultural policy reforms across Africa.
ECA’s Support for Climate-Resilient Food Systems
The ECA delegation also included Medhat El-Helepi, who leads efforts to support African nations in building climate-resilient food systems, strengthening regional agricultural value chains, and developing agricultural parks. These initiatives are aimed at ensuring food security and sustainability in the face of climate change challenges.
In conclusion, the meeting between Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and the ECA delegation marked an important step toward fostering collaboration between Egypt and other African nations in the pursuit of agricultural growth, women’s empowerment, and the achievement of the SDGs. Through these collective efforts, Egypt is contributing significantly to shaping Africa’s agricultural future.
