Poverty among the 22 members of the League of Arab States (LAS) is primarily a rural phenomenon. Established in 1945, the LAS promotes and coordinates integration among its 22 member states and strengthens cooperation at all levels: political, security, economic, social and cultural. IFAD is highly supportive of this process at the socio-economic level through its interventions in LAS countries and through long-term strategic cooperation with the League of Arab States. In June 1993, IFAD and the League signed a framework cooperation agreement focused on shared development goals. Through this agreement, IFAD and the League’s Secretariat have cooperated on agricultural and rural development, nutrition and related research in LAS countries.