CFC and Palestine discuss Rebuilding Livelihoods and strengthening Food Security

The Hague, 20 August 2026 - Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Ammar Hijazi, Head of the Mission of the State of Palestine to the Netherlands. Their exchange focused on rebuilding livelihoods, restoring productive capacity and strengthening food and nutrition security for the people of Palestine.

The discussion highlighted the central role of agriculture, local food production and commodity value chains in recovery and reconstruction. Helping farmers, cooperatives and small businesses resume production, processing and trade can restore incomes, improve access to nutritious food and strengthen community resilience.

Ambassador Belal outlined the CFC's experience in using blended finance and technical assistance to support smallholder farmers, cooperatives and SMEs. He noted that investment in production, storage, processing, logistics and market access can reduce food losses, create employment and help more value remain within communities.

"Rebuilding a farm, a food-processing enterprise or a local market means rebuilding incomes, dignity and hope. Stronger value chains can help nutritious food reach families while enabling producers and workers to rebuild their livelihoods," said Ambassador Belal.

He also briefed Ambassador Hijazi on the CFC's Humanizing the Value Chains initiative, which places producers, workers, local enterprises and communities at the centre of commodity development. In a recovery context, this approach can help ensure that reconstruction strengthens local capabilities and delivers lasting benefits.

Ambassador Hijazi emphasized the importance of safeguarding food and nutrition security while preserving the productive foundations required for longer-term recovery. "Supporting people to farm, work, produce food and sustain their families is essential both for meeting immediate needs and for building a more resilient future," he said.

The meeting concluded with a shared interest in continuing dialogue on practical development priorities related to agricultural livelihoods, resilient local food systems and food and nutrition security for the people of Palestine.

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CFC Media Relations Team
Email: managing.director@common-fund.org