Events

As part of the activities of the “Strengthening the Roles of NGOs in Sustainable Development and Climate Action at the Local Level – Sustainable Empowerment” project, implemented in partnership with the Misr El Kheir Foundation and funded by the European Union, a roundtable discussion was held today under the title “Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in Supporting the Transition to Climate-Smart Agriculture in Beni Suef Governorate in Light of the Environmental, Economic, and Social Situation Assessment.”

The roundtable brought together representatives from government entities, civil society organizations, the agricultural sector, as well as experts and specialists in sustainable development and climate action.

The roundtable was held as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of local communities to adapt to climate change and support the transition toward more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices. These efforts were informed by the findings of the environmental, economic, and social situation assessment conducted in Beni Suef Governorate, which highlighted several challenges related to natural resource management, rising agricultural production costs, and the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity.

Participants discussed the role of civil society organizations in promoting the concept of climate-smart agriculture, raising farmers’ awareness of sustainable agricultural practices, and supporting the adoption of modern technologies that contribute to more efficient water use, improved agricultural waste management, and increased resilience to climate-related risks.

The roundtable addressed several key topics, including:

• Environmental and economic challenges affecting the agricultural sector in Beni Suef Governorate.
• The role of civil society in supporting climate change adaptation.
• Mechanisms for promoting and implementing climate-smart agricultural practices.
• Strengthening partnerships among government entities, the private sector, and civil society organizations to support sustainable agricultural development.
• Funding opportunities and technical support for agricultural and climate-related initiatives.

Key Recommendations

The roundtable concluded with a number of recommendations, most notably:

1. Strengthening awareness and agricultural extension programs related to climate-smart agriculture.
2. Supporting farmers in adopting modern irrigation technologies and improving water resource efficiency.
3. Expanding initiatives for recycling agricultural waste and creating economic value from it.
4. Building the capacities of civil society organizations and agricultural sector workers in climate adaptation and risk management.
5. Strengthening partnerships and coordination among all relevant stakeholders to achieve sustainable agricultural development.
6. Utilizing the findings of community-based studies when designing development interventions and initiatives related to the agricultural sector.

The roundtable concluded by emphasizing the importance of integrating the efforts of all local stakeholders to support the transition toward more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. This will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt’s Vision 2030, while strengthening Beni Suef Governorate’s capacity to address future climate and economic challenges.

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