Ashraf AboArafe
With the esteemed presence of H.E. Dr. Mohammed Ali Tamim, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning of the Republic of Iraq, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (LAS), chaired the 59th session of the Board of Directors of the Arab Fund for Technical Assistance to African Countries. The meeting was held today, Wednesday, 14 May 2025, at the Ministry of Planning in Baghdad.
The meeting was attended by ambassadors and representatives of the Fund’s member states on the board, including Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Palestine, the Comoros, Libya, Egypt, and Morocco, as well as representatives from the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
In a statement, Mr. Jamal Rushdi, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, noted that the board reviewed a range of key agenda items, including the Fund’s recent activities, financial standing, the final accounts for 2024, and the proposed budget for 2026.
Mr. Aboul Gheit emphasized the strategic importance of the Fund as an effective tool for advancing Arab-African cooperation. He underscored its role in supporting the broader objectives pursued by the League of Arab States and its member nations in fostering stronger relations with African partners—especially at a time when reinforcing Arab-African ties is more crucial than ever.
For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting the Fund. He highlighted that hosting the meeting in Baghdad reflects Iraq’s readiness to contribute further by facilitating the Fund’s activities and leveraging the vast expertise and capacity of Iraq’s national training institutions.
Mr. Rushdi further conveyed the Secretary-General’s concern over the financial difficulties the Fund is facing, particularly the reluctance of several member states to fulfill their financial contributions. He called on board members to urge their respective governments to settle their dues to ensure the Fund’s continued success.
Despite budgetary challenges, the Fund managed to organize 39 training programs during the 2024/2025 academic year, benefiting 800 trainees from across the African continent in diverse fields such as medicine, engineering, agriculture, petroleum, mining, and nursing. Additionally, the Fund granted 108 scholarships to students from 27 African countries to study in Arab universities.
Looking ahead, the Fund plans to implement 50 training courses and offer 150 scholarships during the 2025/2026 academic year. These achievements, accomplished with less than 10% of the Fund’s approved budget, reflect the high regard in which the Fund is held by African nations.
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