Egypt and World Bank partner to advance climate-smart agriculture in country

Cairo – December 11, 2023: Egypt and the World Bank launched a new partnership on Sunday to bolster sustainable agricultural practices and promote innovation in climate-smart agriculture (CSA) within the country.

In a statement by the Ministry of International Cooperation (MoIC), the initiative aims to leverage the success and expertise gained from a project funded by the Korea Green Growth Trust Fund (KGGTF), which centered on localizing technologies and adopting best practices essential for enhancing CSA in Egypt.

The new initiative seeks to develop innovative digital applications tailored to serve Egypt's agricultural sector and extend its impact on regional activities, particularly in Africa.

According to the MoIC statement, the collaboration is in line with the Climate Resilient Agri-Food Transformation (CRAFT) project, a key component of Egypt’s Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy (NWFE) program.

Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat emphasized the integral role of sustainable infrastructure and utilizing resources efficiently to promote green growth.

“A key part of sustainable economic development and green growth is closely related to building sustainable infrastructure and efficient use of resources,” she added, highlighting the alignment of these principles with the joint efforts of the World Bank and the KGGTF.

Martien van Nieuwkoop, Global Director for the Agriculture and Food Global Practice in the World Bank’s Sustainable Development Practice Group, underlined the partnership's commitment to supporting Egypt's green growth path through locally tailored solutions incorporating climate-smart technology.

The collaboration falls under the World Bank's new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Egypt, including a financial commitment of $7 billion dedicated to supporting the bank’s strategy in the country for FY2023 to 2027.

Throughout the year 2022, Egypt has actively engaged with various international entities, signing multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs). These agreements aim to attract foreign investment in green hydrogen, positioning Egypt as a global hub for hydrogen production.