Qatar Calls for Launch of Global Dry Land Alliance in 2012

Online, March 12, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Qatar is urging the creation of an innovative Global Dry Land Alliance (GDLA). Members of the prospective Alliance would take collective actions to improve prevention of and response to food security crises.

Qatar is investing heavily in developing new food security solutions, and aims to address the problem on both a national and an international basis. Qatar's own National Food Security Programme is an initiative established by His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Heir Apparent of the State of Qatar, which is putting in place a food security master plan for the country.

As part of its broad commitment to supporting international approaches to relieving stresses on food production, Qatar is set to host the 18th session of the Conference of Parties (COP18) of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change from the 26 November to the 7 December 2012. During its presidency, Qatar will be working to build on the success that was achieved in Durban last December and to help all parties address key questions concerning the Kyoto Protocol, the Long-Term Cooperative Action, the Durban Platform, and the Green Climate Fund, among other efforts. Qatar will work closely with all parties to build an agenda that will produce concrete outcomes in Doha.

"Qatar's role as host this year's climate change meeting will be a wonderful opportunity to launch the Global Dry Land Alliance on the world stage," said Mr. Al-Attiya.

Mr. Al-Attiya explained that the Global Dry Land Alliance would be a collaborative undertaking by a group of dry land countries most severely affected by challenges to food security and committed to investing in new responses. New research and technical innovation supported by the GDLA would be targeted to the specific conditions of the members; the knowledge and best practices developed in this way could then be shared widely with dry land countries around the world, particularly those suffering from poverty and hunger. Members of the GDLA would be dry land countries facing similar challenges. The GDLA would be open to partnerships with other interested countries and with multilateral institutions.

"The GDLA will represent a new approach to solving food security problems, driven by the countries which are experiencing these problems, and based on cutting-edge innovation," Mr. Al-Attiya said. He added that "by joining together in an alliance, countries can help each other put in place the best possible policies to prevent food crises and respond to those that are unfortunately likely to occur in our futures."

Mr. Al-Attiya emphasized that the GDLA would be supportive of country-led strategies for ensuring food security. Climate change will make food security especially difficult to achieve, and the challenge will be most acute for arid and semi-arid countries. The GDLA will complement other existing multilateral frameworks and initiatives for addressing food security related problems such as desertification, land degradation, and water mismanagement.

While in Rabat, Mr. Al-Attiya will be discussing the GDLA initiative with Moroccan authorities. Former Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos, who is accompanying Mr. Al-Attiya in Rabat, has joined Qatar's efforts to support the Alliance's launch.

About the Qatar National Food Security Programme (QNFSP): More information about QNFSP is available at www.qnfsp.gov.qa

For further information please contact QNFSP Communications Specialist:

Sidi Cherif
Rabat, mobile +212.635.184.217
Doha mobile : +974.5508.7560
E-mail: [email protected]