Most of the FAO Investment Centre’s work on private sector investment is with the EBRD. The partnership, going strong since 1997, aims to make agribusiness development in Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean regions greener, more inclusive and resilient.

Activities include facilitating public-private policy dialogues; promoting greener agrifood systems; developing food safety and quality standards and sustainable agritourism; supporting investment in digital solutions; and diversifying exports.

At the end of 2022, the two launched a technical assistance initiative to improve food security in EBRD’s Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and the West Bank and Gaza Strip). It focuses on food security policies, market transparency and diversification, improved grain and oilseed import efficiency and sustainable local production. The initiative stems from a joint study by the two partners on how the war in Ukraine is affecting agrifood trade and food security in import-dependent countries.

FAO has also shared strategic insights in the development of the EBRD’s five-year agribusiness sector strategy (2024-2028). This includes discussions on topics ranging from integrating nature-based solutions into the EBRD’s business model and promoting low-carbon livestock and dairy sector investments, to incentivizing innovation and financing small and medium enterprises. 

The two partners have produced a wealth of joint knowledge products. This includes a high-profile study on carbon neutrality in the agrifood sector and an investment brief on the unprecedented growth of food e-commerce triggered by the pandemic. In 2023, they launched Agtivate, a new knowledge-sharing platform.

Related Links

• EBRD
• Agtivate