IDB-SDC-ICBA Joint Event "More Food with Less Water"

As the general theme for 43rd Annual Meeting of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group) is about “Partnerships”, the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), IsDB and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) will co-organize a seminar titled More Food with Less Water: Partnership for efficient water use for food security.

Background

The Board of Governors of the IsDB Group holds its annual meetings to discuss development issues and institutional matters. The meeting offers an ideal platform for decision makers to discuss challenges and explore opportunities facing its 57 member countries. The meeting and accompanying side-events attract over 2000 participants from the public and private sectors as well as academia and civil society. The side-events are open to all registered participants and are designed to generate discussion and debate as well as promote partnerships. 

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 aims to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030. It commits to universal access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. This requires sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices. Water is key to food security; agriculture requires large quantities of water for irrigation and the various production processes. Water however, is becoming increasingly scarce. This is certainly the case in many IsDB member countries. This side-event aims to look at innovations that boost agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ livelihoods while increasing water efficiency.

Expected Outcomes

The aim of this event is to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, i.e. to share innovative solutions, good practices and success stories that have the potential to be replicated and scaled up by the IsDB or individual member states. The objectives of the side-event include:

• To identify innovations that boost agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ livelihoods while increasing water use efficiency.
• To develop appropriate partnerships for bringing the innovative solutions to scale and sustain impacts at the farm level.

To determine strategies for strengthening human and institutional capacities (including policy reforms required) to adapt and scale up the innovations to country and region specific needs.