Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt – 10 May 2024 — Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, the Government of Japan, and UNDP inaugurated a new training programme aimed at strengthening community and agricultural food system resilience under the project “Making Egypt’s Communities & AgriFood Systems Resilient.” The event was attended by Major General Dr. Alaa Abdel Moety, Governor of Kafr El Sheikh, representatives from the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development & International Cooperation, UNDP Egypt, officials from the Agricultural Directorate, and a significant number of farmers benefiting from the initiative.

The governor expressed his sincere appreciation to Dr. Rania Al-Mashat for her unwavering support and ongoing efforts in advancing sustainable development projects within the governorate. He highlighted the importance of collaborative initiatives like this in fostering resilience and sustainable growth at the community level.

In his remarks, the governor emphasized the importance of strengthening local agricultural capacity and expressed optimism about the positive impacts of this programme on rural livelihoods and food security.

In the framework of this partnership, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, UNDP Egypt, and the Government of Japan have collaborated to implement this capacity-building initiative, which focuses on training and empowering farmers to adapt to climate change and improve sustainable agricultural practices.

The training targets 100 farmers, with a focus on supporting approximately 80% women farmers, to enhance their ability to respond to environmental challenges. The programme aims to strengthen local food systems, improve the quality of agricultural products, develop skills among agricultural workers, promote water conservation methods, and implement sustainable resource management practices. These efforts contribute directly to Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting food security, rural development, and improved living standards.

A large number of farmers from various districts across the governorate are expected to participate, with coordination between the governorate and the Agricultural Directorate to optimize the impact and reach.

Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, underscored the critical role of capacity-building efforts in achieving rural development, enhancing food security, and fostering resilience among smallholder farmers. She reiterated Egypt’s commitment to integrating climate-smart solutions into agricultural practices to address the increasing impacts of climate change.