The Agency for Agricultural Development (ADA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) signed, Friday in Meknes, a memorandum of understanding on strengthening the ecosystem of youth entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector and the development of initiatives to increase resilience to climate change.
Initialed between the Director General of ADA, El Mahdi Arrifi, and the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, Noëlla Richard, during a ceremony chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohamed Sadiki, on the sidelines of the 16th International Agricultural Show in Morocco (SIAM), this memorandum of understanding is in perfect correlation with the ambitious objectives of the “Green Generation 2020 – 2030” strategy which aims to the emergence of a new generation of young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector and the establishment of a more resilient and eco-efficient agriculture.
It is also part of UNDP’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) linked to the creation of decent jobs, economic growth and the fight against climate change.
Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Arrifi indicated that this partnership aims to stimulate and support entrepreneurship in rural areas, particularly among young people and women, in the field of sustainable agriculture.
For her part, Ms. Richard said she was proud to partner with the ADA to promote innovative, sustainable, resilient and inclusive youth entrepreneurship, in the context of the efforts already undertaken by the Kingdom in favor of its green transition and its transition to a new development model, in accordance with the Paris Agreement and the SDGs.
It is essential for UNDP to support this project focused on green growth, aimed at accelerating access to innovation and mobilizing the resources of the most innovative companies in the country, through a partnership with the “ Danish-Arab Partnership Program,” supported by Denmark, she noted. And to maintain that this partnership reflects a real common desire of the two parties to create an ecosystem conducive to the emergence of green and innovative businesses, to stimulate entrepreneurial dynamics and the self-employment of young people in rural areas, and to promote a sustainable, inclusive and resilient agricultural sector in the face of climate change.
ADA and UNDP envisage enhanced collaboration in various areas, including strengthening the youth entrepreneurship ecosystem through the implementation of several tailored initiatives. Among these are the development of innovative agricultural businesses, the establishment of incubation and acceleration programs, as well as access to suitable financing for young project leaders.
Furthermore, the two entities plan to coordinate their efforts to implement joint actions aimed at strengthening the resilience of small agriculture in the face of climate change. This includes the deployment of sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.
These initiatives will be developed in a concerted manner to ensure a positive impact on the capacity of target rural populations to thrive in an inclusive and resilient environment.
LNT with MAP
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– 2024-04-28 00:52:45
