Israel’s recent activities in Africa

In early July 2016, Prime Minister Netanyahu became the first Israeli premier in decades to travel to Africa when he visited four East African nations: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Since then the frequency of talks, exchanges and bilateral visits has increased. Israeli entrepreneurial spirit and innovation can play a crucial role in the development of Africa. Israel can prove to be a great partner for the young African entrepreneurs who are harnessing the power of technology. The approach of Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) in Africa is integrated and sustainable, with a focus on food security, water safety, sanitation, healthcare, economic growth, community building, women’s empowerment and education.

MASHAV is working to reduce neonatal and maternal mortality in Ghana and has established the mother-and-baby neonatal unit in that country. In Ethiopia, MASHAV is involved in horticulture, healthcare, clean energy and other sustainable development programs through its Centers of Excellence. Last year, MASHAV and USAID launched the IV Phase of the Joint Cooperation Program in Smallholder Horticulture in Ethiopia. In 2016 MASHAV also launched the first Israel-Kenya Steering Committee on Water Cooperation.

Israel is also cooperating technically and financially in the Galana/ Kulalu food security project, which is one of the largest irrigation projects in Kenya. The goal of this project is to provide water for sustainable farming through development, rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation and drainage. The cooperating parties in this project are the Kenyan government, MASHAV through CINADCO, and the Israeli company Green Arava. Initiatives such as “Training the Trainers,” Project TEN, the “Kangaroo System” introduced by Israeli medical trainers, and other Israeli organizations’ projects on solar energy, drip irrigation, water and food safety, etc., have received a good response in Africa.

Last year MASHAV and ECOWAS hosted a conference related to sustainable agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. Ministers and many other top officials from a number of Western African countries participated in this conference. An Africa-Israel summit is scheduled for the coming October, too. Over 100 Israeli companies are expected to participate.

Africa is blessed with an abundance of natural resources. Africa has 60% of the world’s arable land reserves. The combination of Israeli innovation/conceptual abilities and India’s “collective effort, inclusive growth” approach can provide the right direction to sustainable development efforts in Africa. Clean and renewable energy, healthcare, agriculture and rural development, vocational/technical education, and entrepreneurship promotion are some of the key areas where India and Israel need to collaborate for a better future for Africa.

Israel - Kazakhstan Work to improve Food Security

The Israel-Kazakhstan Center, the first of its kind in Central Asia, will focus on demonstration and transfer of innovative irrigation technologies adapted to the local agricultural conditions to improve food security in the region.  

This is just one of many projects that MASHAV, the overseas development agency based in Haifa, are constantly involved in, in many areas around the world.  

 At the ribbon-cutting ceremony: Deputy Head of MASHAV, 

Ilan Fluss, (third from left) and Ambassador 

Eliyahu Tasman (third from right)

The Israel-Kazakhstan Irrigation Demonstration Center was established in Ushkonyr, in the Almaty region. 

The project is being implemented by MASHAV-CINADCO in cooperation with the Israeli Embassy in Kazakhstan, the local Ministry of Agriculture, and “KazAgroInnovation,” the local extension services.

The Center’s official inauguration ceremony took place on May 19th, in the presence of the Deputy Head of MASHAV, Ilan Fluss; Israel’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Eliyahu Tasman; Michael Brodsky, Counsellor, Euro-Asia Department, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Deputy Head of Mission, Emil Ben-Naftaly; the Head of Research and Development at Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture; and representatives of the private sector.

International Seminar for Judges Opens in Haifa

A high-level International Seminar for Judges on “The Critical Role of the Judiciary in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings” was recently inaugurated under the auspices of MASHAV.

Participants in the opening of the International Seminar
for Judges

 The seminar is jointly organized by MASHAV and the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center, in cooperation with: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); the International Organization for Migration (IOM); the Institute of Advanced Judicial Studies, Jerusalem; and the Anti-trafficking Unit at the Israeli Ministry of Justice.

Judges play a central role in combating trafficking in persons. Beyond deciding upon the guilt or innocence of alleged perpetrators and sentencing considerations, judges also make key decisions on the interpretation of trafficking laws and the evidence required establishing the crime. These decisions are critical to the overall success of anti-trafficking efforts.

The opening ceremony of the high-level seminar took place in Haifa (October 27th). Keynote speaker was Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova, Special Representative Coordinator for Trafficking in Human Beings, OSCE. Head of MASHAV Ambassador Gil Haskel addressed the distinguished guests and said that given the transnational nature of the crime, international cooperation is needed to tackle this transgression.

Head of MASHAV Ambassador Gil Haskel during the official opening of  

the International Seminar for Judges, Haifa

 This 4-day international seminar for judges will provide participants with a platform to exchange their experiences and ideas from the different perspectives of countries of origin, destination and transit and to share Israeli and international experts' best practices, programs and methodologies. Furthermore, it is hoped that it will contribute towards establishing a network of judges and/or judicial training officials to nurture cross-border collaboration and exchange of information in the common fight against human trafficking.