• The International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court signed a USD 1.5 million partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), to embed evidence-based agricultural innovations into national programs for farmers across Asia and the Pacific.
  • The technical assistance supported by the partnership will be steered by the Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale (AIM for Scale), with two experts embedded at ADB. AIM for Scale is an initiative supported by the UAE and Gates Foundation — and forms part of Abu Dhabi's AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development, the dynamic platform launched at the end of 2025 to bring AI tools to farmers worldwide. The Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific has played an important role in supporting AIM for Scale’s work in Asia to date.
  • In less than six months since the AI for agriculture ecosystem’s launch, the UAE and Gates Foundation partnership has now committed to working with governments across Africa and Asia to co-develop agricultural innovations to strengthen global food security.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan – On the sidelines of the 59th Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Meeting, the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court today signed a USD $1.5 million technical cooperation partnership with the ADB to scale agricultural innovations for farmers across eight countries in Asia and the Pacific. The agreement is further strengthened by the support of the Japan’s Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR).

The partnership with the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court, aims to support agricultural innovation in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand and the Maldives, working alongside government counterparts to translate evidence-based solutions — including AI-powered weather forecasting, digital advisory services, and tools that improve livestock productivity into national programs that reach farmers at scale. This work has developed with support from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific since 2024 and has since scaled to the partnership.

The new partnership will be operationalized by the ADB and the Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale (AIM for Scale), an initiative supported by the UAE and Gates Foundation that works with governments, multilateral development banks, and other partners to scale evidence-based agricultural innovations to improve the livelihoods of millions of farmers.

Khalfan Al Matrooshi, Advisor at the International Affairs Office, UAE Presidential Court, said: “International cooperation continues to play a key role in strengthening global food security. Through Abu Dhabi's AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development, the UAE is convening the partners, expertise, and financing to make that possible. Today's partnership with the Asian Development Bank and the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, delivered through AIM for Scale, is a testament to what international cooperation can deliver when global partners come together with shared purpose."

Earlier this year, the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court allocated USD 5 million in AIM for Scale grants to Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the University of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs and the Rwanda-based NGO C4Impact, to support governments in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and elsewhere in Africa scale agricultural innovations in partnership with leading development banks and other partners. Together with today's signing, Abu Dhabi’s AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development has already reached governments across Africa and Asia less than six months after its launch.

The signing builds on the UAE's broader commitment to global agricultural development, including the USD 200 million UAE–Gates Foundation partnership announced at COP28 and the UAE's membership of the CGIAR System Council as the first donor from the SWANA region.

Qingfeng Zhang, Senior Director, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office at the Asian Development Bank, said: “Digital technologies, innovative financing, and improved fertilizer efficiency are critical to addressing the impact of recent shocks that have made millions more people go hungry, many of them in Asia and the Pacific. Collaborative agreements such as this one act as a catalyst towards integrated agricultural approaches – strengthening input systems, boosting productivity, and accelerating the transition towards more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems”

Shigeo Shimizu, Executive Director representing Japan at the ADB Board of Directors, added: “Through the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, Japan has been actively supporting initiatives that advance innovation, resilience, and digital transformation across the region. Our support for this initiative since 2024 reflects Japan’s strong and sustained commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture and strengthening food systems through innovation and partnership.”

Paul Winters, Executive Director of AIM for Scale, said: “We look forward to collaborating with the ADB to ensure that millions of farmers across Asia and the Pacific have access to evidence-backed innovations that can meaningfully strengthen their livelihoods. We are grateful to the UAE and JFPR for enabling this important work.”

About the International Affairs Office

The International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court is a specialised office established to advance and deliver strategic international projects, with a particular focus on science, research, and diplomacy. It serves as a platform for high-impact initiatives that call for integrated vision and a multidisciplinary approach, producing sustainable outcomes with tangible impact. The Office also plays a pivotal role in strengthening international cooperation, building strategic partnerships, and supporting the exchange of knowledge and expertise on the global stage.

About Asian Development Bank

ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.

About AIM for Scale

AIM for Scale is a global initiative supported by the International Affairs Office of the Presidential Court of the UAE and the Gates Foundation to scale evidence-based, cost-effective innovations that improve farmer livelihoods and food security in low- and middle-income countries. Learn more at aimforscale.org.

About JFPR

Japan established the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (original JFPR) in May 2000 to provide grants for projects supporting poverty reduction and related social development activities that can add value to projects financed by ADB. It was enhanced in September 2021 and its name changed to Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, with 4 new priority areas in addition to poverty reduction: universal health coverage, climate change and disaster risk management, quality infrastructure investment, and public finance management.