In the presence of His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Ali Tamim, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning of the Republic of Iraq, His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, presided over the 59th session of the Board of Directors of the Arab Fund for Technical Assistance to African Countries on 14 May. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Planning in Baghdad. It was attended by ambassadors and representatives of Arab member states on the Fund’s Board of Directors, including delegates from Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Palestine, the Republic of the Comoros, Libya, Egypt, and Morocco, as well as representatives of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
Gamal Roshdy, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, stated that the session reviewed key items on the agenda, including an overview of the Fund’s recent activities, its financial standing, the final accounts for the year 2024, and the proposed draft budget for the fiscal year 2026.
Roshdy conveyed the Secretary-General’s emphasis on the vital role of the Fund as a pivotal instrument of Arab-African cooperation. He underlined its contribution to achieving the strategic objectives pursued by the League of Arab States in concert with its African partners, particularly in the context of preserving and strengthening Arab-African solidarity.
His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed Iraq’s steadfast support for the Fund, as evidenced by the decision to host its activities in Baghdad. He further expressed Iraq’s readiness to facilitate the implementation of the Fund’s programmes through the country's extensive institutional capacities and specialised expertise in training and human development.
The spokesperson also noted that the Secretary-General voiced his concern over the financial constraints currently impeding the Fund’s operations, specifically the delay in the payment of contributions by member states. He urged the representatives on the Board to advocate within their respective governments for the timely fulfillment of financial commitments to ensure the Fund’s sustainability and efficacy.
Despite these financial challenges, the Fund succeeded in implementing 39 training programmes during the 2024/2025 academic year, benefiting approximately 800 African participants across various disciplines—including medicine, engineering, agriculture, petroleum, mining, and nursing. Additionally, 108 scholarships were awarded to students from 27 African nations to pursue their studies at Arab universities. Looking ahead, the Fund plans to organise 50 training courses and offer 150 scholarships to African students in the 2025/2026 academic year.
Roshdy said that the Fund, despite operating with less than 10% of its approved budget, continues to enjoy considerable respect and appreciation from African states, who value its efforts in capacity-building and human resource development.
