Hunger and malnutrition in Africa have
attracted the attention of Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
(FAO) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) who have agreed to raise
US$100 million to mitigate the problems.
attracted the attention of Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
(FAO) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) who have agreed to raise
US$100 million to mitigate the problems.
In a new strategic alliance, the
organisations would raise the fund million in five years to catalyse
investments in African agriculture to fight hunger and malnutrition and
support economic development in Africa.
organisations would raise the fund million in five years to catalyse
investments in African agriculture to fight hunger and malnutrition and
support economic development in Africa.
The new alliance will focus, among other
objectives, on enhancing investments in food security, nutrition, social
protection, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development with
a view to assisting African countries in
their efforts to achieve the SDGs.
objectives, on enhancing investments in food security, nutrition, social
protection, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development with
a view to assisting African countries in
their efforts to achieve the SDGs.
The two institutions would collaborate in
leveraging investments in agriculture, including through public-private
partnerships, to transform agriculture into a business.
leveraging investments in agriculture, including through public-private
partnerships, to transform agriculture into a business.
The agreement envisions an initial
contribution of US$15 million by the two institutions to set up a
collaborative programme of action.
contribution of US$15 million by the two institutions to set up a
collaborative programme of action.
The Programme will aim to improve AfDB’s
investment operations, increase private public partnerships, improve
investment climate and portfolio performance and joint resources
mobilization.
investment operations, increase private public partnerships, improve
investment climate and portfolio performance and joint resources
mobilization.
FAO’s contributions will focus on
technical assistance in areas such as sustainable agricultural
intensification and diversification, scaling up value chain innovations,
youth in agriculture and agribusiness, agricultural statistics,
and climate smart agriculture.
technical assistance in areas such as sustainable agricultural
intensification and diversification, scaling up value chain innovations,
youth in agriculture and agribusiness, agricultural statistics,
and climate smart agriculture.
The two institutions also agreed to
collaborate in the promotion of international policy tools, such as the
Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land,
Fisheries and Forest and the Principles for Responsible
Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems, developed by the Committee
on World Food Security (CFS).
collaborate in the promotion of international policy tools, such as the
Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land,
Fisheries and Forest and the Principles for Responsible
Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems, developed by the Committee
on World Food Security (CFS).
The initiative builds on the AfDB’s ‘Feed
Africa’ strategy. Launched in 2015, this strategy aims to mobilize
US$24 billion in African Agriculture within ten years by improving
markets, agricultural policies, institutions and infrastructure,
developing agricultural value chains and making improved technologies
available to farmers.
Africa’ strategy. Launched in 2015, this strategy aims to mobilize
US$24 billion in African Agriculture within ten years by improving
markets, agricultural policies, institutions and infrastructure,
developing agricultural value chains and making improved technologies
available to farmers.
The agreement was signed on 28 August
2018 by AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina and FAO Director-General José
Graziano da Silva during a meeting in Rom Italy.
2018 by AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina and FAO Director-General José
Graziano da Silva during a meeting in Rom Italy.
