ICARDA Celebrates IDFRL Project Closing in Egypt
Start Date
March 26, 2026
End Date
March 26, 2026
Type
General event
Location
Cairo, Egypt
IDFRL Closing Ceremony Announcement.jpg
Integrated Desert Farming for Resilient Livelihoods (IDFRL) Egypt is gaining momentum as a practical solution to strengthen climate-resilient livelihoods in dryland areas. ICARDA will celebrate the closing of the IDFRL project on March 26, 2026, marking over two years of collaboration, innovation, and field-based learning.
Supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) in Egypt, the project has worked closely with national partners to establish demonstration sites across five governorates in Upper Egypt. These sites were used to showcase integrated desert farming solutions designed to strengthen rural livelihoods and improve resource efficiency in some of Egypt’s most climate-vulnerable landscapes.
Since its official launch in February 2024, the project has been implemented in partnership with key national institutions, including the Agricultural Research Center (ARC), the Desert Research Center, and the National Water Research Center (NWRC). Through this collaboration, partners have promoted farming systems that integrate different farming dynamics—such as crop production, livestock rearing, aquaculture, and resource management—within one interconnected system so that each component supports the others. The goal is to maximize productivity, reduce waste, and use resources like water, land, and energy more efficiently.
Beyond the promotion of technological solutions, the project has also prioritized strengthening local capacities and expanding opportunities for rural communities. By engaging farmers, technicians, extension agents, and researchers – the project has fostered knowledge exchange, capacity building, and the packaging of practical solutions tailored to local conditions.
The closing workshop will bring together project partners and decision-makers to reflect on key achievements and lessons learned and explore opportunities for scaling integrated desert farming approaches across Egypt and other dryland regions.
As climate pressures intensify across drylands, initiatives such as IDFRL demonstrate how integrated, resource-efficient farming systems can contribute to more resilient livelihoods while safeguarding water, land, and food security
