AU member states pledge to improve nutrition and food security in Africa
African Union Member States gathering in Abidjan have urged governments to hasten funding, strategizing, and execution of programs aimed at improving nutrition and food security within the continent.
To endorse the 2022 African Union Year of Nutrition, African leaders convened for three days. The “Abidjan Declaration” was endorsed as the meeting reached its conclusion.
His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho addressed participants at an event organized by the government of Cote d’Ivoire in partnership with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank’s African Leaders for Nutrition initiative, alongside various other collaborators. He stated, “This must be the moment for Africa and its leadership to rise to the challenge and offer sustainable solutions to the malnutrition and hunger crisis [on the continent].
The African Union’s Executive Decision in July 2022 called for a multisectoral policy framework to tackle malnutrition as well as financing targeted and high-level political dedication to eradicate malnutrition in all its forms. King Letsie III, who serves as the African Union and African Leaders for Nutrition’s Nutrition Champion, covered this Executive Decision in his address.
The Ivorian government received accolades from King Letsie for spearheading the nutrition agenda and backing the Africa Union Year of Nutrition.
African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki stated, “It is unacceptable that Africans are undernourished and malnourished. We must enhance our internal capabilities to produce for local needs.”
Despite progress, stunting and wasting coexist with obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases such as stroke and diabetes in most African nations. African children under five are estimated to be stunted in 61.4 million instances, wasted in over 12 million cases, and overweight in roughly 10 million cases.
The conference in Abidjan focused on elevating Africans’ ability for food security and nutritional resilience. The African Union’s roadmap must be implemented and extended beyond 2022, according to the Declaration. This year’s theme urges member states to address the issues arising from hunger and malnutrition and devise solutions.
Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, vice president of Cote d’Ivoire, encouraged African leaders to take action in his comments. Our continent must save lives and offer better opportunities for our children, who symbolize the future and hope of our community and country.
The African Union, member nations in the area, the Bank, the African Leaders for Nutrition initiative, and partners will collaborate to enhance nutrition targets, as stated by Vice President Koné.
“Women, men, and children will be the participants and the beneficiaries positioned at the heart of development and progress during this year of African nutrition,” Koné added.
The African Leaders for Nutrition will work alongside the African Union Commission to maximize the impact of the African Year of Nutrition, according to Dr. Beth Dunford, vice president for agriculture, human, and social development at the African Development Bank.
She noted that the African Leaders for Nutrition, hosted by the Bank, aims to amplify the available resources for nutrition by encouraging African governments to adopt more stringent regulations and allocate additional funding for nutritional initiatives.
Dunford emphasized: “Africa will progress in nutrition and enhance food security results if we accelerate investments and improve coordination of efforts. To ensure that the commitments made during this event are implemented as significant pledges, the African Development Bank and the African Leaders for Nutrition remain committed to collaborating with all of you, particularly the Government of Cote d’Ivoire.”
Senior African officials from various nations attended the event, including Ivorian Prime Minister Patrick Achi, Rwandan Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Gerardine Mukeshimana, and Vice President of Zambia Mutale Nalumango.
Ministers from several sectors, such as agriculture, water sanitation and hygiene, health, education, and social protection, were also present.
