Virtual signing ceremony, 5 May 2026 – The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on sustainable land management, drought resilience and ecosystem restoration across the Americas. The agreement was signed by Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim, IICA Director General, and Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of UNCCD.
This partnership establishes a framework for collaboration in areas including sustainable land management, drought preparedness, soil health, water resilience, knowledge sharing, policy alignment and investment mobilization. Through this cooperation, IICA and UNCCD will work together to help countries translate global commitments into practical actions that strengthen agricultural systems, restore degraded lands and improve rural livelihoods.
Highlighting the importance of the agreement, Dr. Ibrahim emphasized the close relationship between agriculture and land restoration. “This collaboration is not just strategic, it’s necessary because farmers and ranchers are on the frontlines of land degradation. And agriculture, when done right, is one of the most powerful tools and solutions for restoration,” he said.
IICA Canada played an important role in advancing the partnership through its work as the institutional focal point between IICA and UNCCD. Dr. Jean-Charles Le Vallée, IICA Canada Country Representative and focal point to UNCCD, participated in the signing ceremony and reaffirmed IICA’s commitment to building stronger connections between international frameworks and practical solutions for farmers, ranchers and rural communities throughout the hemisphere.
Contact
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
Delegation in Canada | 1002 – 130 Albert Street, Ottawa ON K1P 5G4 – Canada
Phone: (+1) 613-230-1044 | e-mail: iica.ca@iica.int
