Najib bin Yahya Al Beloushi, Ambassador of Oman to Qatar, signed the Convention permitting Oman to join the GDA.
Speaking on the occasion, HE Ambassador Bader Al Dafa, Executive Director of the Global Dryland Alliance (GDA), welcomed the Omani Ambassador and praised Oman's strong support for the initiative to establish the Alliance, highlighting that the joining of Oman is an added value to the organization.
Ambassador HE Al Dafa pointed out the opportunities for cooperation between GDA and Oman in view of its pioneering experience in addressing climate change and enhancing its food security, not to mention its port and storage logistics facilities that can be put at the disposal of the Alliance to intervene in Member States in the event of food crises.
HE Al Dafa reiterated that the joining of Oman to the Global Dryland Alliance has come weeks after GDA has acquired its observer status at the United Nations, which comes as a recognition from the international community that GDA can play a vital role in the achievement of sustainable development goals, mainly eradicating poverty and hunger and enhancing peace and security in the world.
GDA Executive Director added that GCC countries were among the first countries to support the organization as they fully appreciate the importance of finding common solutions to the common challenges in the field of food and water security and utilizing renewable energy to serve sustainable development.
Global Dryland Alliance, which was formed four years back, states as its vision to make dryland countries food secure and contribute to stability and peace in the world. Its mission is to work with local, regional, and international partners to identify, disseminate, and implement solutions for agricultural, water, and energy challenges of dryland countries.
GDA’s founding members are Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Mali, Morocco, Qatar, Senegal, Tanzania, and Tunisia.
