Results and Priorities for FAO in the African Region, ARC29 © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12. Transforming African Agri-food systems for inclusive growth and a shared prosperity
Main Focus Areas of Work for the biennium 2016-2017
Zero 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 Drylands
FAO 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

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

14. Transforming African Agri-food systems for inclusive growth and a shared prosperity
Thank you
Merci
Shukran
Gracias
Obrigado