Sustainable Food and Agriculture

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Sustainable Food and Agriculture: Towards the 2030 Agenda

14 November 2019

Good management of agriculture and natural resources plays a pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Building on the experiences and results of the “Mainstreaming Sustainable Food and Agriculture (SFA) in the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Context of the Malabo Declaration” workshop, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia, 28-30 May 2019), for English-speaking African countries, FAO organized a regional workshop entitled “A New Approach to SFA Integration as part of SDG implementation” in Dakar (Senegal, 12-14 November), for French-speaking African countries.

The workshop brought together about 100 participants from 12 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Chad and Togo) representing different ministries (plan, finance, agriculture, environment and rural development), the African Union Development Agency/New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA/NEPAD), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations, private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society.

Food and agriculture play a key role in achieving many SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. This workshop created a platform to share experiences and identify options for integrating food, agriculture and natural resource management into national plans to achieve the SDGs, in line with the provisions of the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods. This workshop also highlighted the importance of a multisectoral approach and policy coordination in this field.

 

Strengthening collaborations for sustainable food and agriculture

FAO, with its expertise and resources, is well placed to help countries achieve the SDGs, alongside many partners. The interdependence of the SDGs means that all actors involved in SDG implementation and monitoring must collaborate and share their knowledge. "This Workshop comes at the right time to enable policymakers and experts in our sub-region to share experiences and discuss progress and challenges associated with mainstreaming the SDGs into national investment plans (NAIP); ii) to take appropriate measures to promote broad awareness of the integration of the SDGs relevant to food, agriculture and natural resources into NAIPs in accordance with the Malabo Declaration’s provision; and (iii) identify options for integrating food, sustainable agriculture and natural resource management at the national level, in order to achieve the SDGs in line with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda." said Mr. Alioune NDIAYE, Director of Cabinet of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation in Senegal.

During the workshop, FAO presented a guidance document entitled "Transforming Food and Agriculture to Achieve the SDGs", which organizes in an integrated manner FAO’s areas of expertise into 20 interconnected actions. It is a tool to help countries plan and allocate resources under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These interconnected actions involve active

participation and partnerships between different stakeholders. "We appreciate the alignment between the 20 interconnected actions and the Malabo principles to achieve greater sustainability in Africa. These actions can be used as tools to strengthen collaboration and synergies between different actors in order to achieve a more sustainable agriculture", said Dr. Augustin WAMBO YAMDJEU, Head of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) at AUDA/NEPAD.

Throughout this 3 day-workshop, different working sessions allowed participants to become familiar with an integrated approach to food and agriculture planning and resource allocation. They covered topics such as past, present and future collaborations in the context of the Malabo Declaration, SDG integration into national investment plans and current challenges and opportunities at national and regional levels.

"The goal is to ensure that in the future, agriculture will allow to both conserve biodiversity, manage natural resources sustainably, preserve ecosystem functions, provide decent employment for all, ensure equity between women and men, and attract young people, who will have the task of managing this future agriculture”, concluded Ms Mona CHAYA, Deputy Director of FAO's Sustainable Food and Agriculture Programme.

 

Interviews

https://www.lejecos.com/Il-faut-lever-les-contraintes-qui-entravent-la-mise-en-oeuvre-des-Odd_a16519.html


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