Click here to view the full paper

Jun 30, 2026

This paper comes within the publications of the project “Enhancing the Roles of Non-Governmental Organizations in Sustainable Development and Climate Action at the Local Level” - Sustainable Empowerment.

The paper bears the title:
“The Role of NGOs and Cooperatives in Supporting Climate-Smart Agriculture.”

It is a general policy paper that aims to anticipate and enhance the role that NGOs and agricultural cooperatives can play in supporting the shift towards climate-smart agriculture, based on the results of field studies, scientific literature, and analysis of local conditions in the Fayoum governorates, Beni Suef, Luxor, and Aswan, as part of efforts to promote sustainable development and adapt to climate change. The paper is based on a research methodology that combines data analysis, previous studies, and the outcomes of rapid participatory research, reflecting the needs of local communities and their development priorities.

The paper deals with a comprehensive analysis of the climate, economic, and institutional challenges that affect the agricultural sector, and reviews the reality of the performance of civil society organizations and agricultural cooperatives, and the opportunities available to enhance their contribution to spreading climate-smart agricultural practices, building farmers’ capacities, improving natural resource management, and expanding development partnerships, which contributes to enhancing food security and raising the ability of rural communities to adapt. With the effects of climate change. It also provides a comparative analysis of the governorates under study, and reviews successful models and experiences that can be built upon and disseminated.
The paper presents a set of proposed directions and policies that aim to develop the institutional framework for civil society organizations and cooperatives, enhance their role in implementing climate-smart agricultural practices, and support the shift towards more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems, with a package of executive recommendations directed to decision-makers, government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, and development partners, in a way that contributes to achieving the goals of Egypt’s Vision 2030. And the sustainable development goals.

This paper represents a call to strengthen the partnership between the state, civil society organizations, cooperatives, the private sector and international bodies, in order to build an agricultural system more capable of facing climate change, achieving sustainable rural development, and consolidating the role of civil society as an active partner in supporting food security, protecting natural resources, and enhancing the resilience of local communities in the face of future climate challenges.