Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates,

On behalf of the State of Israel and of MASHAV, Israel’s National Agency for International Development Cooperation, allow me to congratulate the elected president of IFAD and wish him much success in this very important assignment.

We are meeting here today during very worrisome times, in the throes of a global financial crisis that poses enormous challenges for each and every one of us. This is a crisis which we need to address in unison through common efforts.

The economic crisis is a devastating addition to the food crisis, the energy crisis and the climate change crisis. I believe that IFAD should be the organization leading the efforts in alleviating rural poverty by enhancing agricultural development.

I am convinced that the elected president of IFAD will be able to lead the organization to meet these enormous challenges. The fact that the recent replenishment process was extremely successful is encouraging since it is a true expression of the confidence of the member states in the work of IFAD and its ability to be in a leading position in the global effort to meet these challenges.

As part of MASHAV's long tradition of Horizontal Partnership, we are committed to strengthening the cooperation with IFAD and with the newly elected president.

For the past 50 years, Israel has been sharing its know-how with developing countries around the world in order to make a difference.

MASHAV’s extensive development cooperation program is an expression of our commitment to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals by promoting sustainable development, food security, public health programs, community development, gender equality and the empowerment of women throughout the developing world, in particular the African continent.

MASHAV believes in establishing a platform for agro entrepreneurship training.

R&D is a crucial element as well in achieving the above goals. Applied research is essential to achieving agricultural sustainability.

In the area of food security, MASHAV has designed several successful models which could be implemented in cooperation with IFAD. 

Among them, a small-scale drip irrigation system that extends the advantages of sophisticated, water-saving technologies to traditional farmers. The venture – called TIPA, the Technological Innovation for Poverty Alleviation – offers the potential of self-sufficiency to those who normally struggle to survive.

In the area of agro entrepreneurship, MASHAV has developed a comprehensive model of entrepreneurial training for youth called "Business Labs". This model has been successfully implemented all over Latin America and the Caribbean and is being expanded to other developing regions.

Another simple, yet powerful program is titled Farmers for the Future. This program exposes school-age children to modern agricultural techniques and helps to educate and create a new generation of young farmers with the skills to develop sustainable, market-oriented farming techniques.

Israel recognizes the importance of promoting and extending cooperation amongst governments and peoples in the Middle East in order to achieve better understanding and economic prosperity for all.

The ongoing cooperation programs which are taking place in spite of the recent hardships are a ray of hope in the region. We believe that, through cooperation on issues of joint concern, we can achieve understanding and mutual gain. Working together to meet common challenges can contribute significantly to fostering personal and professional ties among neighbors. Israel believes that development cooperation can, and should, be used to forge bonds of peaceful coexistence.  

Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates,

There is no single approach to overcoming the immense challenges before us. But we are proud that our small nation can offer so much to those in need. We remind ourselves that emerging from the past is a journey, not a destination. And achievements along this journey – be them small or large – help us touch the lives of millions of people around the globe.

Development is a partnership that requires the commitment of all.

We strengthen the hands of IFAD in implementing its vision for striving for a better world.

Thank you all.