Damascus, Syria – 21 January 2026 – His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director-General of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS), and His Excellency Dr. Nasr Eddin Al-Obaid, Director-General of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), today signed a comprehensive Joint Action Plan for 2026-2027 at ACSAD headquarters in Damascus.
The signing ceremony, held on the second day of Ambassador Aryn's official visit to Syria, marks a significant milestone in regional cooperation to address critical food security challenges facing member states in arid and semi-arid regions. The agreement builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two organizations in Tunis in 2022. The ceremony took place in the presence of the Directors of ACSAD's various technical directorates, who delivered comprehensive presentations showcasing the organization's main activities and achievements throughout the Arab world, demonstrating ACSAD's commitment to addressing agricultural and environmental challenges in arid regions.
The Joint Action Plan establishes a framework for collaboration on climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable water management, livestock breeding, soil health, and combating desertification through both country-specific and regional programs across member states.
The collaboration brings together IOFS's experience in food security coordination and ACSAD's research in dryland agriculture to support member states in addressing their food security needs.
