Category: Press Release

Climate Smart Agriculture for Life Project (CSA4L) Successfully Navigates Challenges of Climate Change in Egypt

Post author By Dalia Mohamed
Post date 13 December، 2023

Engaging Civil Society and Youth: Closing Event Highlights Impactful Strategies

In a world grappling with the far-reaching consequences of climate change, CARE Egypt’s Climate Smart Agriculture for Life Project (CSA4L) emerges as a beacon of hope. The project, aimed at supporting small-scale farmers in adaptation to and mitigating the effects of climate change, has not only navigated the complexities of environmental challenges but has also empowered vulnerable communities in Egypt.

The closing conference, held on December 13, 2023, at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Maadi, Cairo, marked the culmination of CSA4L. This event brought together key stakeholders, experts, and influencers to reflect on the achievements, methodologies, and the broader impact of the project.

Speakers’ Insights:

The conference opened with a warm welcome from Ms. Nihal El Quwisny, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at CARE Egypt. Dr. Hazem Fahmy, the Executive Director, provided insights into the journey of CSA4L, highlighting its significance in the context of Egypt’s environmental challenges. Ms. Anne Kofoed, Head of Social Inclusion and Governance Sector, shared her perspective on the project’s role in fostering inclusivity and resilience.

Overview and Impact:

Howaida Nagy, the Project Manager, presented a comprehensive overview of CSA4L, showcasing results, methodologies, and the vulnerability assessment results conducted by AHDO. Dr. Mamdouh Eissa, Managing Director at AHDO, El Sayed Sabry, CEO of ECCSCO, and Dr. Samir Massoud, Professor at Al-Azhar University, provided their insights into the project’s impact on small-scale farmers.

Dr. Iman Abdul-Azim, a Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Expert, delved into the innovative technologies employed in the project, highlighting the use of solar-powered irrigation and early warning systems.

Panel Discussions:

The conference featured engaging panel discussions, bringing together experts and practitioners. Dr. Seham Kamel led discussions on community-based monitoring models as tools for engaging youth in climate change adaptation. Isaac Zaki discussed the role of climate-smart organizations in contributing to a sustainable future. Prof. Dr. Zakaria Fouad shared insights on the results, best practices, and sustainability of Climate Smart Agriculture.

Closing and Key Takeaways:

Ms. Marwa Hussein, Program Director of the Agriculture and Natural Resources program, concluded the event by summarizing key takeaways. She emphasized the importance of community engagement, youth involvement, and innovative approaches in addressing climate challenges.

Project Aims and Achievements:

The CSA4L project, funded by the European Union, aimed to support small-scale farmers in adapting to climate change and mitigating its adverse effects. By introducing climate-smart agricultural practices, the project has empowered over 7,788 beneficiaries, including 2,688 female farmers, and 5,100 male farmers.

Key achievements include the use of agricultural waste for composting, cultivation of climate-resistant crops, solar-powered irrigation, and the establishment of early warning systems. Notably, the project’s success has garnered international recognition, with participation in prestigious conferences such as COP26, COP27, and COP28, where CARE Egypt was commended for its leadership in climate action.

As the closing event concluded, it became evident that CSA4L has not only addressed the immediate challenges posed by climate change but has also set a precedent for sustainable, community-driven solutions. The collaborative efforts of CARE Egypt, its partners, and the dedication of the project team have created a blueprint for climate resilience in the agricultural sector.

CARE Egypt launches the CSOs readiness for the Green Climate Fund (GCF)- Focusing on Africa project

Post author By lana
Post date 3 January، 2022
No Comments on CARE Egypt launches the CSOs readiness for the Green Climate Fund (GCF)- Focusing on Africa project

Cairo-January 3rd,2022

CARE Egypt Foundation (CEF) organizes a conference to launch its project “The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) readiness for the Green Climate Fund (GCF)- Focusing on Africa” today in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment.

On top of the attendees came Dr. Hoda El-Shawatfy, Assistant of the Minister of Environment for Eco-Tourism Affairs. The conference is also attended by a group of high-level government officials, including Dr. Ahmed Saada, Associate Minister of Social Solidarity for Civil Society Support and Health Affairs, and Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, Head of Climate, Environment and Sustainable Development Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is in addition to Dr. Sherif Daoud, Representative of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Ahmed Fathy, Regional Coordinator of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and Dr. Talaat Abdel Qawi, President of the General Federation of NGOs and Institutions related to Climate Change.

The event aims to enrich the participants’ awareness of the Green Climate Fund’s unique role and the importance of the broad CSO’s engagement and ways to share climate change best practices.

Today, Dr. Mohamed Bayoumi, Deputy Resident Director of Environment and Climate Projects at the United Nations Development Program moderates one of the sessions tackling the role of the Green Climate Fund. Mr. Tarek Shalaby, Director of the General Department of Risks and Adaptation in the Central Administration for Climate Change defined climate change and its case of Egypt. Another session will present the current projects of the Green Climate Fund implemented in Egypt and will be moderated by Dr. Ahmed Mahina, First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity in Egypt. One of the projects that are showcased is “Enhancing adaptation to climate change in the North Coast and Nile Delta” by Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Ali, Executive Director of the project at the United Nations Development Program.

CSOs Readiness for the Green Climate Fund project is funded by the German Ministry of Environment through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and implemented by Germanwatch, CARE International in Germany, and CARE Egypt Foundation. The project aims to support broader African civil society participation in the early implementation phase of the Green Climate Fund through the development of readiness support materials that facilitate the participation of CSOs in key African countries and the exchange of experiences at the regional and global levels to expand the participation of those organizations in Africa and beyond.

The GCF project is implemented in 10 African Countries Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Egypt, Madagascar, Senegal, Morocco, Namibia, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire. CARE Egypt Foundation (CEF) acts as the national partner responsible for coordinating the implementation of GCF activities in Egypt in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment in Egypt as it acts as the main partner and focal point of contact with the Green Climate Fund which ensures that the GCF activities are aligned with the goals and strategic national priorities of Egypt.

CARE Egypt Foundation also supports civil society organizations in Egypt and the Middle East and North Africa region to participate in discussions and operations of the Green Climate Fund through knowledge exchange, as CARE Egypt has extensive experience in building trust with civil society and networking with various agencies and ministries concerned in this regard.
Dr. Hazem Fahmy, Chairman of CEF Board of Trustees says: “We are honored by the new partnership with the Ministry of Environment as climate change is at the top priorities of the Egyptian government and worldwide. This event is of special significance as it is a strong prelude to the Climate Summit COP 27 which will be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in 2022.”

Green Climate Fund’s mission is to shift towards low carbon emissions, sustainable economies, and societies that are resilient to climate change. Over the past years, the GCF became the most important multilateral instrument in climate finance worldwide, supporting developing countries in scaling up and realizing their nationally determined contributions (NDC) ambitions toward low-emission, climate-resilient pathways. Therefore, the project seeks to enhance civil society readiness in existing and new countries by strengthening the capacities of existing CSOs to advocate for ambitious proposals in the areas of mitigation and adaptation/disaster risk reduction through gaining broader societal support and greater accountability of national-level power holders by strengthening participatory evaluation mechanisms.

About CARE Egypt Foundation:
CARE Egypt Foundation (CEF) fights poverty and improves the quality of life, in partnership with marginalized groups and civil society institutions as well as government authorities. CARE Egypt Foundation’s work revolves around empowering women, providing quality education, and supporting small-scale farmers. CEF addresses the underlying causes of poverty and social injustice to bring sustainable change to the lives of the poor and vulnerable groups on all levels.
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Tags Green Climate Fund

Signing cooperation agreements with 11 civil society associations

Post author By mohammed
Post date 9 September، 2021
No Comments on Signing cooperation agreements with 11 civil society associations

Cairo- September 9, 2021

CSA4L project targets five thousand farmers, 25% of whom are women, to spread climate-smart agriculture systems Care Egypt Foundation held a ceremony to distribute agreements for funded projects with partner associations in the governorates of Beni Suef and Assiut on September 7 and 8, as part of the activities of the Climate-Smart Agriculture for Life project in partnership with the European Union. A number of executives, representatives of partner associations, representatives of the directorates of agriculture and social solidarity in the two governorates and representatives of the Department of International Cooperation in the governorate’s general office participated in the celebration, as well as the participation of heads of boards of directors of partner societies in each governorate. Care Egypt Foundation had launched its first project on climate change “Climate-Smart Agriculture for Life” in partnership with the European Union, which aims to support the participation of civil society and youth in adapting to climate change and mitigating its effects in Egypt, with a funding of 1 million euros and aims to: Work at the community level to implement community-led interventions that encourage climate-smart agricultural practices by engaging civil society organizations, agricultural cooperatives, and youth with a focus on women’s participation in these interventions. The project adopted a participatory planning strategy, where the current situation of the candidate communities was studied and the target community was involved in identifying needs and preparing financing proposals based on the community needs that were identified in a participatory manner. Climate and participatory planning methodology and how to write proposals according to the scenario planning methodology, passing through a number of steps and stages before the final selection of projects to be funded through the grant program. Through the grant program of the “Climate-Smart Agriculture for Life” project, 11 civil society organizations in Beni Suef and Assiut will implement 11 community development initiatives aimed at raising farmers’ and society’s awareness of climate change concepts and building their capacity to address the crises resulting from this phenomenon. And the shift from traditional practices in agriculture or agricultural production processes to climate-smart farming practices, which would have a direct positive impact on the productivity of small farmers and women farmers and improve their living conditions. Among the applications of modern agricultural practices, the use of solar energy in irrigation machines and rationalization of irrigation through lining watering cans, establishing early warning systems, working to improve soil properties, safe disposal of agricultural and animal residues and reusing them in the form of feed and organic fertilizers, making indicative models, distributing production requirements and planting varieties Of the seeds that withstand difficult climatic conditions and enhance the added value through the recycling of agricultural products. The project targets approximately 5,000 farmers, at least 25% of whom are women. Community initiatives will be implemented in the Beni Suef governorate in a number of communities in the centers of Al-Fashn, Beba, Beni Suef, and Ihnasiya, while the implementation will be carried out in the centers of Sahel Saleem, Manfalut, Al-Duwer, Abnoub, Al-Qusiya and Al-Badari in Assiut. The project adopts mechanisms of control and social accountability, as it works in each governorate through the Association of Specific Union for the Protection and Improvement of the Environment in Beni Suef and the Egyptian Agricultural Association in Assiut to involve young people in monitoring projects and applying tools and mechanisms of control and social accountability within the project.

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