The rationale for these five priority areas stems from the national commitment to attaining sustainable national food and security nutrition, as well as re-positioning agriculture as a vehicle for economic growth and employment creation. The Agriculture Promotion Plan (APP) is the Government’s strategic framework for a paradigm shift that will address agriculture from a business rather than a developmental perspective. Hence, the Government’s need for technical support and assistance as well as capacity building in value chain development. Environment, climate change and population growth challenges are putting pressure on Nigeria’s natural resources. These are compounded by natural and man-induced disasters, which often result in draw backs to development. 

The CPF reaffirms FAO Nigeria commitment, together with her key international resource partners, the government and communities, continued support and a pledge to deliver on our mandate to the government and the good people of Nigeria.

With Nigeria having at least 5 percent of the global burden of under-nutrition and more than 14 million malnourished children ensuring food and nutrition security remains an important goal of Nigeria’s agricultural policy. FAO will continue to support the GoN in effectively managing food safety and quality as a key factor to safeguarding the health of people, as well as enabling greater access to domestic, regional and international markets

The ability of the sector to deliver on Government expectations - contribution to increasing food and nutrition security as well as serving as a vehicle for rural employment, depends on robust evidence-based policies, capable of repositioning the sector to contribute effectively to economic development, as well as on prerequisite regulatory frameworks. To this effect, FAO has been active in areas addressing transboundary plant and animal diseases. Continuing in this direction, the CPF focuses on (i) policy advice in the development or review of existing policies in agricultural production and extension services, livestock and fishery policies reflecting new emerging issues and the preparation of relevant implementation strategies where required, (ii) Enhanced capacity of national and state level institutions providing agricultural statistics, tracking the SDG indicators, routine data and agricultural information, (iii) Capacity development for government use in poverty analysis and multi-sectoral coordination and building understanding and capacity around meeting SDG 1 and 2. And (iv) aligning policies between agriculture and trade to contribute towards the Malabo goal of increasing regional trade

FAO will further collaborate with the GoN in addressing challenges and constraints to agricultural production and farm productivity, including access to improved agricultural inputs, reduction of postharvest losses and improving access to markets. In addressing these challenges, FAO will work with the GoN to create an enabling environment for farmers and key actors in the area of market access and to identify gaps and provide technical assistance in combating issues along the value chain. In this respect, FAO will focus on agripreneurs and engage youth and women in agricultural value chain activities

FAO will also promote youth-friendly information and communication technologies for knowledge management and dissemination; and facilitation of training initiatives in agricultural, business and life skills training programmes for young agricultural entrepreneurs for priority value chains. FAO will also support the N-Power Agro programme under the Nigeria Social Investment Programme (NSIP).

FAO will continue to collaborate with other agencies of government, NGOs and the Private Sector in implementing projects that address land degradation and desertification through sustainable land management for increased food security and support to communities to adapt to climate change. The Organization shall continue to promote policy dialogue among key stakeholders, and aid in reviewing existing policies or the formulation of new ones. FAO will also promote gender responsive community-based forest management practices and technically advise in programme launch and implementation.

FAO will also support capacity development for the introduction of the Measurement Reporting Verification System in the context of the REDD+ initiativeve in the selected states. Alongside the GoN, FAO will help implement the National Forestry Investment Plan-.

Populations in Nigeria are increasingly exposed to natural hazards, man-made and to protracted crises. FAO will continue to provide support for (i.) the creation of an enabling policy environment for disaster risk reduction and management, (ii.) the preparation of related strategies, (iii) the preparation of the disaster preparedness and contingency plans in selected states. In addition, FAO will ensure that the multi-sectoral plans, policies and strategies are based on sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis.

FAO will continue to support the Government and to play a key role in the food security sectorworking group and the Agriculture Donor Working Group to enhance the Humanitarian Development and Peace Nexus dialogue. FAO will also support the diversification of Livelihoods, local economies of crisis-affected communities, particularly for youth, women, IDP, returnees, host communities and other vulnerable communities to meet their basic food and nutrition needs