2025-06-20, (Italy)

Rome, 20 June 2025 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA) have recently signed two new Global projects under the FAO–China South–South Cooperation (SSC) Programme to strengthen sustainable soil management and enable development of  water roadmaps for countries in the Global South. 

The projects aim to support developing countries in enhancing natural resource governance, agricultural productivity, and resilience to climate change in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Supporting Sustainable Soil Management
The soil project focuses on building capacity for sustainable soil management in black, red, salt-affected, and paddy soils—with particular focus on four host countries: Cambodia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. 

With a budget of USD 2 million, the project will enhance national capacities in soil mapping and laboratory services, foster South-South technical cooperation with Chinese institutions, and promote coordinated regional actions to restore soil health and combat degradation. It builds on China’s extensive experience in addressing soil challenges through science-based policies and field-tested solutions.

Advancing National Water Roadmaps
The water project will assist countries in developing National Water Roadmaps to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6 and water-related targets—with a focus on seven host countries: Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

With a budget of USD 1.5 million, the project draws on China’s achievements in efficient water use, irrigation modernization and ecosystem restoration to provide technical assistance and share best practices tailored to national contexts. It will support intersectoral National Water Dialogues to guide evidence-based policymaking and strategic investment, particularly in regions facing increasing water stress.

Strengthening South–South Cooperation
Both initiatives are implemented by FAO’s Land and Water Division (NSL), with support from the South–South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST). They reflect FAO and China’s shared commitment to leveraging South–South Cooperation as a powerful mechanism to share policies, knowledge and expertise among developing countries.

The FAO divisions will further collaborate with the donors and relevant FAO country offices, as well as with the 11 host governments, to operationally start the projects with key technical activities, demonstrations and knowledge exchanges. Both project activities at global level will also support a number of other developing countries facing similar challenges to ensure global-level technical support and impact. 

Since its inception in 2009, the FAO–China SSC Programme has supported over 40 projects through knowledge transfer, technical assistance and field-based cooperation, strengthening national, regional and global capacities to achieve food security and sustainable rural development.

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