The government of Djibouti, in collaboration with the FIDA, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other technical and financial partners, has validated the strategic orientations of the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) 2026-2031. This new framework aims to address the main challenges facing the rural sector, including water scarcity, food security, climate resilience, and the development of agro-pastoral activities. The programme seeks to create jobs and income for rural populations.
The validation workshop, held at the Sheraton hotel, brought together representatives from the government, FIDA, FAO, and other stakeholders. The meeting was attended by Minister Delegate for Decentralization Omar Houssein Omar, representatives from government institutions, directors, and officials from the FAO and FIDA. The FIDA Country Director presented the objectives of the meeting, which focused on validating the new programme.
The FAO representative in Djibouti highlighted the importance of the COSOP in accelerating the transformation of agri-food systems, strengthening the resilience of rural communities, and creating economic opportunities for women and youth. He praised the excellent collaboration between the FAO and FIDA in Djibouti, noting that the two institutions share a common vision of sustainable rural transformation.
The Director of the Near East, North Africa, Europe, and Central Asia Division, Naoufel Telahigue, expressed satisfaction with the joint work carried out with the government to prioritize sustainable development and agriculture in the new COSOP. He emphasized the importance of food security and poverty reduction, which are national priorities.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Abdourazak Ahmed Idriss, noted that the workshop aimed to evaluate cooperation with FIDA and develop the new COSOP 2026-2031. He stressed that the programme would focus on resilient food systems, inclusive value chains, market access, and private sector involvement.
Agriculture Minister Radwan Abdillahi Bahdon emphasized the importance of the exercise, which allows for lessons to be drawn from the previous cycle and priorities to be defined for the coming years. He stated that the ambition is to build a more resilient, productive, inclusive, and job-creating rural sector.
The new COSOP will prioritize water and food security, with a focus on innovative and effective approaches to address the country's structural constraints, including water scarcity and recurrent droughts. The programme aims to ensure the sustainability of rural infrastructure and promote agro-pastoral activities.
Key points
- The COSOP 2026-2031 aims to address key challenges in the rural sector, including water scarcity, food security, and climate resilience.
- The programme seeks to create jobs and income for rural populations, with a focus on inclusive value chains and private sector involvement.
- The government of Djibouti is committed to prioritizing sustainable development and agriculture, with a focus on food security and poverty reduction.
