The 16th multidisciplinary meeting of the FAO Subregional Office for West Africa opened this Tuesday, November 19, in Praia, Cabo Verde.
Curtain raises for the 16th multidisciplinary meeting of the FAO Subregional Office for West Africa this Tuesday, November 19 in Praia, Cabo Verde, under the theme “ Synergy between actors, dynamic social protection to strengthen resilience and ensure food and nutritional security in West Africa “. Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this event takes place over four days, from November 19 to 22, and follows the previous edition held in Gambia.
The work began with a field visit which allowed participants to discover three agricultural sites testifying to the innovative policies implemented by the Cape Verdean authorities. These initiatives, focused on access to water for agriculture and actions in favor of resilience in the face of climate challenges.
At the opening of the meeting, the FAO Representative in Cabo Verde Ana Touza recalled the key role played by the Organization in the development of the country, emphasizing that upon the advent of independence, Cabo Verde faced scarcity of natural resources and a weak production base. She added that “ FAO supported the country’s recovery from becoming a middle-income nation through ambitious socio-economic policies. »
The FAO sub-regional coordinator for West Africa, Dr Gouantoueu Guei, insisted on the relevance of the theme of the meeting, stressing that “ West Africa is facing a polycrisis marked by climate change, conflicts and inequalities. The deterioration of food insecurity remains worrying, with almost 70 million people undernourished. » He also highlighted Cabo Verde as an example of resilience, despite its difficult geographical situation, welcoming the country’s efforts to integrate social protection into its agricultural policies.
During the four days, discussions will focus on the role of social protection in eradicating poverty and hunger. In this regard, Dr Gouantoueu Guei clarified that “ social protection is a key instrument for building resilience to shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic or climate crises. It helps restore livelihoods and revitalize productivity. »
Ana Touza, for her part, insisted on the importance of inclusive approaches that integrate women and young people into resilient and equitable production systems.
The FAO Deputy Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Dr Haile-Gabriel Abebe, made a worrying observation, stressing that “ The SOFI 2024 report reveals that by 2023, one in five people in Africa suffered from hunger, with levels of food insecurity almost twice the global average. » He highlighted the need for cross-sectoral synergies to transform agri-food systems and build resilient communities, saying that social protection must play a preventive, protective and transformative role.
The Cape Verdean Minister of Industry and Commerce, Alexandre Monteiro, representing his counterpart of Agriculture and Environment Dr. Gilberto Silva, expressed Cabo Verde’s pride in hosting this high-quality event.
“This meeting is a crucial opportunity to address the complex challenges of food insecurity, exacerbated by climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and regional conflicts “, noted Mr. Monteiro, reiterating at the same time his country’s commitment to promoting sustainable agri-food systems. Among these, he cited sustainable soil and water management, promotion of climate-smart agriculture and strengthening the resilience of rural populations.
During this meeting, participants will have the opportunity to align social protection policies with agricultural initiatives to promote sustainable food security in West Africa. Moreover, Dr Haile-Gabriel Abebe ended his speech on this note, inviting the assembly to “ identify practical solutions to address these complex challenges and ensure better production, better nutrition and a better environment for all. »
AC/SF/APA
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