FAO Regional Office for Africa

Côte d’Ivoire dedicates $20 million to support national agricultural development

Historic new cooperation program established between government and FAO

From left: José Graziano da Silva, Albert Mabri Toikeuse and Mamadou Sangafwa Coulibaly (Photo: ©FAO/Sia Kambou)

8 April 2016, Abidjan-- Côte d’Ivoire and FAO today signed two agreements: one creating a$20 million, five-year Partnership Programme aimed at promoting agricultural development in the West African nation, the other establishing an expanded Partnership and Liaison office in Abidjan.

The agreements were signed by Ivoirian Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Mabri Toikeuse and Minister of Agriculture Mamadou Sangafwa Coulibaly along with FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva, during FAO’s Regional Conference for Africa.

The new FAO/Côte d’Ivoire Partnership Programme (FCPP) will focus on national priorities as set forth in the FAO Country Programming Framework for Côte d’Ivoire.

Priorities include:

Improving productivity and diversifying agriculture and fisheries;

Improving food security and nutrition;

Strengthening governance in agriculture, forestry, livestock and fisheries;

Improve environmental protection, natural resource management and disaster risk reduction;

Promoting agricultural jobs for youth and women

And developing and implementing policies and strategies to build the resilience of rural populations to disasters and crises.

The Programme also foresees the possibility of support to South-South Cooperation activities in other African countries, funded by Cote d’Ivoire.

The new FAO office will be responsible for the Programme's overall coordination.

« Through this new Office, we will make available to our country and to neighbouring countries new acquired expertise in food and agriculture », said Albert Mabri Toikeuse.

« This new development in our relationship is an example for other countries to follow. FAO believes in knowledge and expertise sharing and we are confident that together we can boost South-South Cooperation in the sub-region», FAO's Director-General said. 

"It has become clear that while we have the power to end hunger in our lifetime, we will only succeed if we work together, including through Southern countries assisting one another," he added.
 
Côte d’Ivoire has been member of FAO since 1961 and the Organization has maintained an Office in Abidjan since 1986.

The Abidjan Conference had a record attendance of 50 pays, 46 ministers and 426 participants.

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