Results and Priorities for FAO in the African Region

Transforming African Agri-food systems for inclusive growth and a shared prosperity

29TH FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR AFRICA

Results and Priorities for FAO in the Africa Region

Bukar Tijani

Assistant-Director General / Regional Representative for Africa

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 4-8 April 2016


Introduction

•In 2015, FAO governing bodies expressed strong and consistent support for continuity in achieving the full impact of the Strategic Framework (SF).

•FAO’s Medium-Term Plan (MTP) 2014-17 was reviewed with an updated results-based monitoring framework (approved by FAO Conference).

•Reviews covered recent trends and developments including ICN2, SDGs and the UN Global Climate Change Conference (COP21) results.

•FAO SF and preparation of the new MTP 2018-21 is taking place in 2016, through a) the Regional Conferences and b) Technical Committees, for approval by FAO Council and Conference in 2017.


Achievements and lessons learned in 2014-15

Africa’s 2025 Zero Hunger Challenge

Up to end of 2015, FAO recognized 19 African countries that have achieved the MDG hunger target.

FAO supported the African Union in the formulation and adoption by the Heads of States of the Malabo Declaration on Agricultural transformation, its Implementation Strategy and road map, and the CAADP Results and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Frameworks.

FAO enhanced partnership with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) for Policy development and Knowledge sharing.


FAO contributed to the formulation of Regional and National Agriculture Investment Plans and the design of a total of 95 investment projects in 40 countries in Africa, financed mainly by the World Bank and IFAD.

FAO Regional Office for Africa published the first regional State of Food Insecurity (SOFI) in 2015.

The South-South Cooperation (SSC) Strategy expanded programmes mainly on youth employment through the Africa Solidarity Trust Fund (ASTF) with initial funds from Equatorial Guinea and Angola.

FAO developed capacities for evidence based policies, programmes and projects on food security, nutrition and social protection in Africa with Gender considerations.

FAO enhanced capacities in food loss and waste assessments in 15 African countries.


Integrated Management of Agricultural Landscapes in Africa

•FAO strengthened capacities on promotion of quality seeds to smallholders and supported harmonized seed regulations in Southern African.

•FAO provided technical assistance on management of Plant Genetic Resources for Agriculture (PGRFA) for sustainable crop production in all the RECs.

•FAO enhanced capacities of several African countries on fisheries statistics and fisheries stock assessment for countries of Regional Fisheries Commission of the Gulf of Guinea in Central Africa.

•FAO mobilized resources to support the development of national strategies and plans as well as a regional strategy of implementation for the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative of the African Union.


FAO enhanced capacities of countries in mainstreaming participatory forest management through the domestication of Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT).

FAO supported ECOWAS to implement the “Forest Convergence Plan for the sustainable management and utilization of forest ecosystems”.

FAO’s technical assistance contributed to enhanced pest and disease surveillance in all sub-regions.

FAO supported the elaboration of the implementation plan of the AU-IAPSC strategy to achieve a robust Plant Health Systems in Africa.


Building Resilience in Africa’s Drylands

FAO is supporting the implementation of key regional policy processes such as the Global Alliance for Resilience Initiative (AGIR) in the Sahel/West Africa, as well as IGAD’s Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI) in the Horn of Africa. FAO continued to support early warning mechanisms and information systems at all levels.

An integrated resilience building approach (social-technical-financial) for women and other farmer groups named “Caisse de Résilience” implemented in Eastern and West Africa.


FAO developed capacity at all levels on resilience analysis particularly through: the Integrated Food Insecurity Phase Classification (IPC) and the “Cadre

Harmonisé”FAO coordinated stakeholders response at Level 3 Emergencies affecting food security and nutrition of vulnerable populations in Central African Republic and South-Sudan and other major crises including the Ebola epidemic countries, as well as countries affected by El Nino to mitigate the impacts of the crises.


The Joint FAO/IAEA Insect Pest Control sub-programme assisted countries with area-wide control or eradication of major insect pests of crops and livestock by developing and integrating the Sterile Insect Technique with other methods (see ARC/16/INF/17).

FAO developed capacities on the global tool for food safety intelligence and the Handbook on developing early warning on food chain intelligence.


Building on Partnerships

the importance of creating systematic synergies and strategic partnership with global and regional processes including: alignment of national and regional processes to the SDGs the Follow up of ICN2 (Second International Conference on Nutrition) Rome

declaration and its Framework for Action the SUN (Scaling Up Nutrition) Movement implemented in 30 countries

African countries the REACH (partnership jointly with FAO/UNICEF/WHO/WFP/IFAD and many

others on nutrition governance at country level). the FIRST (Food and Nutrition Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and

Transformation) the need for a holistic farming system approach to address the productivity gaps

while paying attention to nutrition, gender, climate change, and youth employment etc;


The importance of Farmer Field Schools to wider knowledge dissemination of best practices for climate change adaptation in agriculture production systems.

The CPFs have helped FAO to focus on supporting implementation of countries priorities as defined and led by governments, facilitating delivery of results.

FAO has helped mobilize resources including by promoting South-South and Triangular cooperation.

Resource mobilization needs to be strengthened at all levels.


Main Focus Areas of Work for the biennium 2016-2017Zero Hunger Challenge

Africa’s 2025 Zero Hunger regional initiative will continue focusing of FAO’s work programme in support of AU’s Malabo Declaration.

Sustainable Agricultural Production Intensification and Value Chain Development in Africa

FAO will focus on sustainable intensification and enhancement of productivity for food and nutrition security systems. Building Resilience in Africa’s DrylandsFAO will continue enhancing :

Resilience policy development and implementation. Vulnerability analysis and resilience measurement. Vulnerability reduction at community and household levels. Preparedness, coordination and response to crises. Increased collaboration/partnership with AUC , RECs, countries and other partners


Matters to be brought to the attention of the Regional Conference

To recognize the completed and ongoing programmes and the results achieved in 2014-15.

To provide guidance on areas of regional priorities for FAO’s programmes in the 2 biennia2016-17 and 2018-21.

To support FAO in resource mobilisation with partners.

To encourage middle income African countries to use Unilateral Trust Fund for innovative and scaling up programmes.


Thank you MerciShukranGraciasObrigado

Education

Results and Priorities for FAO in the African Region