USAID, Israel sign MOU to provide agricultural assistance to four African countries

"USAID and MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have signed a memorandum of understanding [MOU] to increase cooperation on the topic of food security in Africa," Globes reports. "The agreement is part of USAID's 'Feed the Future' initiative" and will allow "for closer cooperation on the issue of food security in four countries: Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Rwanda," the news service writes (Dagoni, 4/19). The MOU is "the first of its kind, according to MASHAV head Daniel Carmon, though he stressed that 'this MOU is not the start of the relationship; it's the continuing and the strengthening of the relationship,'" according to the Jerusalem Post. "The assistance will include help with food production and crop cycles, as well as addressing environmental issues that go beyond the agricultural sector, Carmon said," the newspaper notes (Krieger, 4/19).