The project, implemented in cooperation with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, is one of the flagship initiatives under Egypt's Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy (NWFE) programme.
Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam reviewed the project's implementation during a meeting on Tuesday, where officials outlined plans to support smallholder farmers, reduce water losses through more efficient on-farm irrigation systems, and increase agricultural productivity.
The project will also rely on solar-powered pumping stations as a primary energy source to reduce carbon emissions, expand clean energy usage, and enhance environmental sustainability.
The first phase of the project will run for seven years and target 30,000 feddans in the governorates of Minya and Beni Suef, including 25,000 feddans of old agricultural land and 5,000 feddans of sandy land.
A second phase will gradually expand to governorates across Middle and Upper Egypt, bringing total coverage to 430,000 feddans, including an additional 400,000 feddans in later stages.
Officials said the total estimated cost of all project phases stands at $1.66 billion, with $162.6 million allocated to the first phase.
Of the first-phase funding, $115.7 million, or 71.2 percent, will be directed to irrigation and infrastructure development, $36.6 million, or 22.5 percent, to agricultural development and value chain enhancement, and $10.3 million, or 6.3 percent, to policy support and project management.
Sewilam said the ministry attaches great importance to climate adaptation projects and efforts to improve water management efficiency, particularly in light of the growing water and climate challenges facing Egypt.
He stressed the importance of expanding the use of modern irrigation systems and sustainable solutions that improve water use efficiency, strengthen food security, and support farmers, according to a ministry statement.
Egypt is one of the world's most water-scarce countries, with an annual per capita water availability of around 490 cubic metres, well below the international water poverty threshold of 1,000 cubic metres.
The country relies on the Nile River for more than 95 percent of its renewable freshwater resources, while total annual water needs are estimated at 120 billion cubic metres.
CROWN is one of the flagship projects under Egypt's NWFE programme, launched in 2022 as the country's main platform for mobilizing international climate finance.
The programme seeks to accelerate investments in priority projects across the water, food, and energy sectors while supporting Egypt's climate commitments and sustainable development goals.
The NWFE programme was unveiled during COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh and has since secured financing and partnerships from international development institutions, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and other multilateral and bilateral partners.
Within the water sector, NWFE focuses on projects that enhance water security, improve irrigation efficiency, expand wastewater treatment and reuse, and strengthen resilience to climate-related shocks.
The CROWN project is one of the programme's largest agricultural adaptation initiatives, targeting smallholder farmers who are considered among the most vulnerable groups to rising temperatures, water shortages, and extreme weather events.
The project's reliance on solar-powered pumping stations also supports Egypt's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of renewable energy in agriculture, which accounts for 80 percent of the country's freshwater consumption.
Short link: