UAE strengthens its partnership with FAO at Expo 2020 Dubai on World Food Day

The UAE has strengthened its strategic partnership with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through two strategic agreements: the first concerning the project ‘Hand-in-Hand Zimbabwe- Smallholder Horticulture Recovery & Inclusion Project (SHRIP)’ and the second involving renewing the Credit Fund for the Sub-regional Coordinator for the GCC and Yemen.

Signed at Expo 2020 Dubai on World Food Day, which is celebrated each year on October 16, the agreements form part of the UAE’s leading efforts to promote world food security, strengthen food systems, and contribute to eliminating hunger worldwide.

The two agreements were signed in the presence of Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, with their terms aiming to strengthen the collaboration between the UAE and FAO by effectively facilitating bi-lateral involvement in projects that are dedicated towards ensuring the availability of sustainable food in global areas affected by poverty.

"Led by a visionary leadership, the UAE strives to strengthen its strategic partnerships with international entities that work to support food security, establish sustainable food systems and tackle the most pressing global challenges, including hunger, poverty and climate change. To achieve this, the UAE follows the highest sustainability standards and implements environment-friendly solutions as part of international-based support programmes coordinated by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. These efforts have resulted in numerous partnerships, such as the one we celebrate today with FAO - one of our most significant partners regionally and internationally," said Almheiri.

"We are excited about this collaboration as it supports the efforts of the Sub-regional Coordinator for the GCC and Yemen, as well as their ambitious projects and initiatives, through which we aim to achieve a better future for the food-related sectors and sustainable development in the UAE and the region. It is also our pleasure to sign the agreement supporting the SHRIP – as this reflects the UAE's commitment to establishing collaborations across different areas of the world and enabling smallholder farmers to improve their lives, income, and economic status. At the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment we are committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the project and are delighted to have the opportunity to complement the sterling work of the FAO," she added.

"One of the most important mechanisms for implementing UAE foreign aid is strengthening international partnerships and working with international partners, especially international organizations such as the FAO for its leading role in implementing projects aimed at eliminating hunger in developing countries. Today, we are pleased to cooperate with FAO in the implementation of a development project in one of the friendly African countries, ‘Zimbabwe’, as the project aims to improve family income levels in rural areas, and aligns with the UAE foreign aid policy towards supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals in beneficiary countries," said Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

"The UAE has been one of our most important partners in the region. It has made numerous contributions to our efforts to provide urgent solutions to boost long-term food security in areas with the greatest need, both regionally and globally. I am delighted about the UAE continuing its annual financial support to the region's Sub-Regional Coordinator Office and contributing to the success of the ‘Hand-in-Hand Zimbabwe-Smallholder Horticulture Recovery and Inclusion Project," said Abulhakim Elwaer, FAO’s Assistant-Director General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa.

"We are committed to strengthening our collaboration with the UAE and other countries in the region to develop effective solutions for food challenges and invest the FAO's technical experiences in helping these countries enhance food security by following the best and latest solutions internationally," Elwaer added.

The agreement for the project ‘Hand-in-Hand Zimbabwe- Smallholder Horticulture Recovery & Inclusion Project [SHRIP]’ was signed in the presence of Mariam Almheiri; Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi; AbdulHakim Elwaer, FAO’s Assistant Director – General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa; and Dr. Dino Franciscoti Motis; FAO’s Sub-Regional Coordinator for the GCC and Yemen; Lovemore Mazemo, Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe to the UAE, at a special event on the sideline of World Food Day celebrations.

As per the agreement, the UAE will financially support the project in Zimbabwe, which aims to reduce hunger and poverty among smallholder farmers by effectively engaging them in the markets. The FAO will implement the project as per certain standards, including the fulfillment of technical procedures and terms with the aim of achieving the highest benefit from available financial support. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment will oversee and ensurethe project’s implementation in the best manner and in line with the UAE's development goals.

The second agreement regarding renewal of the Organisation's Credit Fund was signed in the presence of H.E Mariam Almheiri, H.E Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, and H.E Dino Franciscoti Motis.