|
Listen now
|
African Leaders for Nutrition will be joining the rest of the nutrition community from the 30th of October to the 2nd of November 2023 in Lusaka Zambia to commemorate the 14th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) and 19th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform (PP).
The event hosted by the Government of Zambia and co-organized by the African Union Commission, the African Union Development Agency, with support of technical institutions and other stakeholders will gather in Lusaka, Zambia, to facilitate a crucial dialogue among key stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, technical experts, development partners, the private sector, civil society, academia, and research institutions.
Commemorated under the theme: Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement in the context of CAADP Commitments for Safer and Healthier Diets, these events will build on the African Union’s 2023 Year Theme – “Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area”.
The series of events will be synchronized to ensure cross-fertilization and provide a platform for sharing experiences and lessons and discussing opportunities & strategies to promote intra-Africa agri-food trade and improved nutrition in Africa.
As a special highlight, the occasion will showcase celebrated chefs, underscoring the significance of traditional and local foods in enhancing nutritional outcomes. This is aligned with the 2023 African Union theme, “Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area,” which takes a comprehensive approach to address critical food security and nutrition issues in Africa.
African Leaders for Nutrition is co-hosting one of the sub-themes on Financing agri-food and nutrition through private-sector involvement slated for the 1st of November with a principal objective to explore the role of the private sector in financing and advancing agri-food and nutrition initiatives in Africa.
This falls in line with the African Development Bank’s drive to make private sector development one of its key priorities for reducing poverty and supporting sustainable growth on the continent through improved investment and business climate, enhanced access to social and economic infrastructure, and enterprise development.
During this event, African Leaders for Nutrition delegates will showcase the Continental Nutrition Accountability Scorecard (CNAS), while actively engaging in discussions addressing vital concerns such as innovative financing for agri-food and nutrition involving the private sector.
These conversations will also touch upon the 20-year journey of implementing CAADP, future priorities within the remaining Malabo cycle, and the formulation of strategies for the Post Malabo Agenda.
The Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security was declared on July 2010 by the African Union Heads of State and Government at the 15th Ordinary Session of the AU Summit in Kampala, Uganda, tagged as Decision “Assembly/AU/Dec.327(XV)”. This decision occurred in the wake of an unacceptably persistent level of food insecurity epitomized by chronic malnutrition on the continent.
This event comes up amid heightened food security concerns.
Whereas Africa has achieved substantial progress in addressing hunger, poverty, and food security, these gains have waned since 2014. Recent data reveals a resurgence of hunger, with 44 million more people experiencing food insecurity in 2018, bringing the total to 256 million.
On a global scale, an alarming 349 million people across 79 countries, including 140 million in Africa, grapple with acute food insecurity – the most severe crisis in 40 years.
The CAADP Biennial Review (BR) 2021 Report confirms this trend and underscores that Africa is off track to achieve its goal of ending hunger by 2025. It points out that only four Member States are on course to triple intra-African trade in agricultural commodities and services by 2025. In light of these challenges, the 14th ADFNS and 19th CAADP Partnership Platform aim to confront the pressing issues surrounding food and nutrition security on the continent.
This gathering aims to foster a comprehensive grasp of these pivotal concerns, enabling the sharing of crucial experiences and the ignition of firm commitments and tangible actions to strengthen food security and nutrition.
It holds the potential to be a watershed moment in the ongoing efforts to bolster food security and nutritional standards throughout Africa. With the presence of distinguished delegates and subject matter experts, this event is poised to catalyze measures that expedite the successful implementation of the AfCFTA.
The coming together of stakeholders in Lusaka signifies a significant leap towards a food-secure Africa, characterized by elevated nutritional standards.
Follow the MoneyCentral Nigeria channel on WhatsApp: Click here!){kind=link}