DEVELOPMENT FORUM
Julius Maada Bio, President, Sierra Leone
Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman, Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, Sierra Leone
Liao Min, Vice Minister of Finance, People’s Republic of China
emphasized: “The scale means that no one can do it alone. It is important that all stakeholders bring their strengths to the table.” Convening as many stakeholders as possible has long been the ambition of the OPEC Fund Development Forum, echoed by President Alkhalifa’s assertion: “We are all stronger together.” The opening session alone gave an account of the organization’s global reach: The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, and the Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, delivered pleas for South-South cooperation: “Many nations have faced unprecedented
economic strains in recent years,” Minister Al-Jadaan said. “They need support and solidarity.” That sentiment was echoed by two African finance ministers. Sheku Bangura, Finance Minister of Sierra Leone, said: “Many countries in the Global South have shown that they are able to develop at a fast pace.” Njuguna Ndung’u, Cabinet Secretary at the National Treasury of Kenya said: “South-South cooperation will help us finance our development.” The OPEC Fund Development Forum also provided an opportunity for bilateral meetings and signings. One example was a cooperation agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP) to establish a new Food Security and Climate Adaptation Facility. Stanlake Samkange, Director, Multilateral and Programme Country Partnerships, WFP, described the objective: “Access to finance in the context of a changing climate and changing environment is one of those big challenges faced by many countries.” As another long-standing friend of the OPEC Fund Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said: “Partnerships are essential. That’s why we’re here with the OPEC Fund today to sign a big co- financing agreement.”
Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development
Njuguna Ndung’u, Cabinet Secretary at the National Treasury of Kenya
Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme
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