The Government of Egypt and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) signed two agreements aimed at improving water management and supporting climate-resilient agriculture for small-scale farmers, according to IFAD.
The agreements were signed on 2 November 2026, the organizations said. The ceremony was attended by Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates; Hany Sweilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation; and Mostafa Al Sayyad, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation.
Water management project in the Nile Valley
One agreement supports the Climate-Resilient On-Farm Water Management in the Nile Valley (CROWN) project. IFAD said the initiative is backed by US$64.85 million in IFAD financing.
IFAD said CROWN will support around 90,000 rural households and improve water management across 30,000 feddans (about 12,600 hectares) in Beni Suef and Minya. The organization added that the project contributes to Egypt’s Hayah Karima initiative and to the country’s Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE) programme, linking climate priorities to rural livelihoods.
IFAD described the project as combining modern irrigation and drainage infrastructure with climate-smart farming approaches. It said the plan also includes support for stronger farmers’ organizations and improved access to markets and finance. The organization said the approach is intended to help farmers use water more efficiently, raise productivity, and strengthen incomes.
IFAD also stated that women and young people are expected to benefit through increased access to services, technology, skills and employment opportunities.
A grant to expand agricultural resilience and innovation
The second agreement backs the Positioning Egypt for Agricultural Resilience and Leadership (PEARL) project. IFAD said it is supported by a US$470,000 grant.
According to IFAD, PEARL is financed through the China-IFAD South–South and Triangular Cooperation Facility. IFAD said the project will work to strengthen Egypt’s capacity for agricultural innovation and for South–South and Triangular Cooperation, including by revitalizing the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture and modernizing training.
IFAD added that the project will promote climate-smart and digital solutions and is expected to benefit 2,000 people. The organization said regional knowledge exchange and policy dialogue will enable Egypt to share expertise and adapt experiences from other countries in Africa and the Middle East.
IFAD links the deals to broader climate and water challenges
IFAD said the agreements come as climate pressures, scarce water resources and regional uncertainty increase the importance of investing in resilient food systems.
Naoufel Telahigue, IFAD Regional Director for the Near East, North Africa, Europe and Central Asia, said: “Water investments deliver lasting results when farmers also have the knowledge, finance and market opportunities to make their businesses more productive and resilient.” IFAD reported that he added the agreements bring those elements together and enable Egypt to share practical solutions with other countries facing similar challenges.
IFAD said the new agreements build on nearly five decades of partnership with Egypt, noting that Egypt joined IFAD in 1977.
