Dr. Khaled Fahmy, Executive Director Cedare – Centre for Environment & Development for the Arab Region & Europe and Cedare staff, were delighted to welcome the visit of Mr. Nabil ben Khatra, Executive Secretary of Sahara and Sahel Observatory – OSS, at Cedare’s headquarters in Cairo-Egypt, on 10 February 2025. Also attending the meeting was Prof. Samy Al-Said Aly, from the Desert Research Center, (OSS focal point in Egypt).
The objective of the meeting was to strengthen collaboration between both organizations across many areas, particularly in areas related to: land and desertification, water, climate change, and biodiversity. Cedare staff presented an overview on Cedare’s Main programmes (Water Resources Management, Knowledge Management, Land Management, Environmental Governance Programme, and the Sustainable Growth Programme).
Mr. Nabil ben Khatra, Executive Secretary of OSS, proposed that Cedare and OSS collaborate together in Africa and the Arab region at large, to implement regional projects as well as a south-south knowledge transfer approach.
Dr. Khaled Fahmy suggested that CEDARE and OSS sign a general MOU, to cooperate in areas of mutual concern including sharing consultant pools, to enrich both organizations in their work in the African and Arab regions.
Mr. Khatra also invited CEDARE to participate in the high-level roundtable on water issues that will be held back-to-back with its upcoming Board meeting, 22-24 April 2025, and proposed that both organizations cooperate on issues related to conducting strategic studies, outlook reports, and advocacy. Dr. Khaled Fahmy nominated Dr. Hossam Allam, Cedare’s Regional Director for Sustainable Growth, to be the focal point for cooperation with OSS.
