ICARDA Signs MoU with GGGI to Strengthen Green Growth and Climate-Smart Agriculture
Seoul, Republic of Korea | 27-31 October 2025 – ICARDA marked a milestone in its commitment to sustainable development and climate-smart agriculture with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) during the Global Green Growth Week (GGGWeek).
GGGWeek, held from 27-31 October 2025 under the theme “Scaling Climate Action through Partnerships and Innovation,” is GGGI’s flagship annual event that brings together policymakers, development partners, financiers, and technical experts to advance dialogue and partnerships on green growth and climate resilience.
The 2025 edition featured high-level panels, ministerial sessions, and thematic discussions on adaptation, sustainable finance, and climate-smart solutions where ICARDA played an active and visible role, showcasing its expertise and forging new collaborations.
A Partnership for Climate-Smart Futures
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration between ICARDA and GGGI, aiming to advance climate-smart and regenerative agriculture, enhance rural livelihoods, and promote sustainable landscapes and resource-efficient agri-businesses.
The partnership will leverage the complementary strengths of both organizations to support developing and emerging economies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Climate Agreement objectives.
“Together we can take proven innovations from lab to landscape improving water productivity, restoring ecosystems, and building resilient livelihoods in some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions,” said Mr. Aly Abousabaa, Director General, ICARDA.
The cooperation will include strengthening governance and financing frameworks for green growth, scaling up the adoption of new technologies and practices, promoting green investments, and building knowledge-sharing channels. Joint initiatives will also include capacity-building programs, technical assistance, publications, conferences, and staff exchanges.
“By pairing ICARDA’s science with GGGI’s expertise on policy and finance, we can turn climate‑smart agriculture into investable, job‑creating projects that boost rural incomes and resilience across the world’s drylands,” said Mr. Sang-Hyup Kim, Director General, GGGI.
ICARDA at GGGWeek 2025
As part of the Adaptation and Resilience Day at GGGWeek 2025, ICARDA joined international partners to discuss pathways for sustainable green development and climate adaptation. ICARDA’s Director General, Aly Abousabaa, contributed to a high-level panel on desertification, underscoring the urgent need to restore degraded drylands and strengthen food security through science-based solutions. Dr. Vinay Nangia, Research Team Leader for Soil, Water, and Agronomy, spoke in a session on scaling nature-based solutions and climate adaptation through GGGI’s value chain, emphasizing the importance of empowering national research systems to drive innovation and sustainable livelihoods.
ICARDA’s delegation also engaged with strategic partners, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the Rural Development Administration (RDA), to:
Showcase ICARDA’s innovations in climate-smart agriculture, dryland resilience, and food systems transformation.
Discuss ongoing concept notes and identify new opportunities in underserved regions.
Re-establish collaboration with KOICA and RDA on research, technology exchange, and capacity building.
Build on the new MoU with GGGI and explore joint resource mobilization.
- Mr. Aly Abousabaa, Director General
- Dr. Vinay Nangia, Research Team Leader – Soil, Water, and Agronomy
- Mr. John Lindon, Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization