#20 – Dina Saleh: Agriculture, Fragility, and Food Systems

Dina Saleh is the Regional Director of the Near East, North Africa, and Europe Division at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – the only specialized global development institution exclusively focused on rural transformation. With more than 20 years of international experience, Dina has spearheaded agriculture and rural development initiatives across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. She has also worked with both the private sector and international organizations like the UN, gaining a unique perspective on development across fragile and conflict-affected regions.

We begin our conversation by exploring Dina’s journey, starting with her early life in Yemen and Kenya, where agriculture was intrinsic to her formative years through her family’s business in agricultural trade and her schooling. This sparked her passion for rural development and gave her firsthand insights into how food systems work, ultimately leading to her current role at IFAD.

We then move on to the multifaceted challenges of working in fragile states like Somalia & Sudan, where conflict, climate change, and the lack of infrastructure severely hinder agricultural productivity. Dina discusses the delicate balance of working with both pastoralists and settled farmers, addressing conflicts over land and resources through innovative infrastructure solutions, as well as community-driven governance.

Our discussion also delves into gender dynamics in rural development. Dina shares a striking example from Sudan, where women were initially barred from engaging in agricultural development initiatives. Working with local leaders, IFAD was able to empower women to participate in economic activities like food processing and home-based production. These success stories underscore the importance of patience and sustained effort in achieving long-term development goals.

Tune in to hear more about the role of agriculture in poverty reduction and how organizations like IFAD are adapting their strategies to meet the complex and dynamic needs of fragile states!

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Dina Saleh

IFAD: https://www.ifad.org/en/w/people/dina-saleh

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Mihaela Carstei, Paul M. Bisca, and Johan Bjurman Bergman co-host F-World: The Fragility Podcast. 

X: https://x.com/fworldpodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fworldpodcast/

Website: https://f-world.org

Music: "Tornado" by Wintergatan. This track can be downloaded for free at www.wintergatan.net.

Video editing by: Alex Mitran - find Alex on Facebook (facebook.com/alexmmitran), X (x.com/alexmmitran), or LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/alexmmitran)

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Updated approach to IFAD engagement in fragile situations https://www.ifad.org/en/w/publications/updated-approach-to-ifad-engagement-in-fragile-situations

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:08 Dina’s story 

00:03:19 Subsistence farming & the shift to commercialization 

00:06:11 The roots of fragility in Yemen

00:08:35 Agriculture as a path to poverty reduction 

00:12:19 Defining food systems 

00:13:49 IFAD’s approach to nutrition in rural communities

00:16:18 What makes food systems fragile or resilient

00:18:12 Key trends in agriculture

00:20:00 What is IFAD?

00:23:26 IFAD in Somalia

00:28:44 Investment tools

00:31:18 IFAD’s financial instruments

00:33:15 How IFAD’s financing helps vulnerable populations

00:35:30 Role of technology in helping farmers

00:39:20 IFAD’s engagement in fragile contexts

00:45:20 Balancing crisis response & prevention

00:49:29 Measuring impact & results in fragile states

00:52:58 Working in conflict zones</