FAO and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) have formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). FAO Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu and BADEA Director-General, Mr Sidi Ould Tah signed the MoU in a virtual ceremony on the margins of the ‘High-Level Dialogue on Feeding Africa: Leadership to Scale-up Successful Innovations’ Event. The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) co-hosted the event.

FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu said he was pleased to sign the MoU with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa. He added that the agreement was “timely” because of the need to “build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Africa is a top priority for FAO and we are working with Africa and BADEA for the modernization of agriculture. We offer support to transform agri-food systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable for better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life, leaving no one behind.”
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General.

Moreover. FAO Director-General QU concluded by underlining that he “looked forward to working together, with BADEA hand in hand.”

On his part, BADEA Director-General Mr Sidi Ould Tah highlighted that the signing of the MoU with FAO clearly shows BADEA’s commitment to leverage partnership synergy to meet beneficiaries’ national priorities. He also expressed their commitments to the Global Development Agenda 2030 and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

Background of Partnership

FAO and BADEA began working together in 1975 and have previously collaborated on projects in several African countries. This includes recent assessment studies to prepare for large investments in Mali’s cotton value chain. They also piloted a project in Niger for integrated support to pastoralism. The new MoU will scale up the partnership even further.

BADEA is a multilateral development bank owned by 18 Arab countries, members of the League of Arab States. It works to promote economic development in Africa and also foster cooperation between the beneficiary countries and the Arab World through investment and trade.

The Food and Agriculture Organization is the specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. The organization work to ensure that people have access to high-quality diets and achieve food security for all. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active healthy lives.

FAO and BADEA have a common interest in promoting agricultural development and food security. Thus, both parties have agreed through the MoU to further intensify their collaboration to strengthen the effectiveness, impact and sustainability of their development work. The signed memorandum covers several areas of future collaboration, including agricultural infrastructure development, private sector engagement in agriculture. Other areas include market information, agricultural value-chains development, skills development for women and youth, scaling up production and productivity for pastoralists. Furthermore, both parties seek to boost Climate-Smart Agriculture.