Ties that Bind: The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) and ICARDA

Abstract

The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) share a common mission of alleviating poverty and promoting economic and social development in developing countries. The Arab Fund has, therefore, been a supporter of ICARDA since the Center's inception in 1977, and has continued to support its research and capacity building activities, particularly in Arab countries of the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. Besides its financial support over the past 30 years, the Arab Fund has also contributed to the governance of the Center through its representation on the Board of Trustees of ICARDA. The late Dr Mervat Badawy served as a Board member from 1992 to 1997, and Dr Isamil El-Zabri from 1998 to 2003, and both of them actively contributed to the growth and development of ICARDA.