Egypt is seeking to expand its long-standing partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) as both sides explore new financing frameworks to strengthen food security and support rural livelihoods.
During meetings in Cairo, IFAD Regional Director Naoufel Telahigue held talks with Planning Minister Ahmed Rostom and Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk on scaling joint programmes and aligning international financing with Egypt’s national development priorities.
The partnership already includes joint investments exceeding $1.1 billion, supporting agricultural modernisation, rural infrastructure, and value-chain development aimed at integrating smallholder farmers into more productive systems.
Key initiatives include the $64.5 million Sustainable Transformation for Agricultural Resilience (STAR) programme in Upper Egypt, the $81 million Promoting Resilience in Desert Environments (PRIDE) project in Matrouh, and the Sustainable Agricultural Investments and Livelihoods (SAIL) initiative, which supports irrigation rehabilitation and climate-smart farming.
Officials said discussions also covered new cooperation agreements under preparation to expand rural entrepreneurship, climate-resilient agriculture, and financing for small-scale producers.
