Ministerial conference calls for struggle against poverty, desertification

A ministerial conference on opportunities for sustainable investment in rainfed areas in western Asia and Northern Africa called for struggle against poverty and desert encroachment and for speeding up economic growth and enhancing food security.

The conference held in Rabat June 25-26 adopted a declaration, dubbed the Rabat Declaration, whereby the western Asian and North African countries and donor agencies agreed to forge a partnership that will focus on the overall sustainable development of dry lands in the region.

They emphasized their long-term commitment to reduce poverty, stop desertification, enhance socio-economic growth and diversify economic opportunities in these areas and to support the implementation of the UN convention to combat desertification.

They also pledged to inject funds in rainfed areas and stressed the need to develop appropriate policies and integrated drought management strategies, develop and implement a regional approach to drought preparedness, encourage rural communities to adopt environment friendly practices to fight desertification and resources degradation.

Participants also called to strengthen institutional arrangements and mechanisms for a more effective participation of local communities and civil society in defining priorities for investment and agreed to trade information and know-how

Ministers of agriculture, finance and environment from Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen and delegates of some 25 donor institutions took part in the conference.

The conference was sponsored by the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the Arab fund for economic and social development and other organizations and funds dealing with agriculture, development and struggle against desert encroachment.