Jeddah, KSA, 17.02. 2013- The IDB and the Global Dry Land Alliance (GDLA) will hold an Experts Group Meeting at the IDB Headquarters in Jeddah during 18-20 February to address the challenges facing dry land countries. Key speakers and dignitaries expected at the EGM include the Executive Director of GDLA, Ambassador Bader Al-Dafa, and renowned US scholar and development expert Professor Jeffery Sachs. Ahead of the meeting, Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, Chairman, IDB Group who will preside over the EGM
said “the Global Dry Land Alliance presents an excellent opportunity for countries suffering from the problems of dry lands to come together, share ideas and take practical steps towards boosting food security.
According to Ambassador Bader Al-Dafa “ the issues we face are daunting especially in the wake of land degradation due to population growth and environmental conditions and require immediate scientific and sustainable solution. The EGM is expected to identify a practical framework and develop solutions that would help boost food security”.
Representatives from the World Bank, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nation Development Programme, Food and Agricultural Organization and other multilateral development institutions are expected to attend the meeting. The GDLA is an initiative of the Qatari government with the support of the United Nations to provide a global mechanism to ensure sustainable solidarity among the countries that suffer from dry lands. At the moment, the GDLA comprises countries in the
Middle East and North Africa region, as well as Mexico, Kazakhstan, South Africa and Namibia.