Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has signed a Country Programming Framework (CPF) with the Government of Tanzania aimed to guide their cooperation in improving agriculture, food security, nutrition and natural resources management in the country for the coming four years.

The signing event was held in Dar es Salaam on March 6 between the FAO Country Representative, Fred Kafeero, and the Permanent Secretary in the   Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Eng. Mathew Mtigumwe.

Speaking at the event, Mr Kafeero said that the framework guides FAO support and partnership with the Government of Tanzania from 2017 to 2020 in the context of UN Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP II) 2016 – 2021, FAO’s global strategic objectives and Government of   Tanzania’s priorities. “It draws lessons from the previous CPF and it takes into account the findings and recommendations of the evaluation of FAO’s contribution to the United Republic of Tanzania 2014-2016. It also seeks to strengthen collaboration with key stakeholders and development partners supporting the Government of Tanzania,” he said. 

Explaining FAO’s contribution and expected results under the framework, the FAO Representative highlighted the four mutually     reinforcing priorities of the CPF, namely:  evidence-based agriculture policy, planning, investment and sector coordination; increasing agricultural production, productivity for food and nutrition security; improving  market access for increased incomes; and strengthening resilience to natural and man-made threats and crises, such as climate change impacts, and unsustainable management of natural resources.

According to Mr Kafeero, the implementation of the CPF is estimated at a minimum of 17,641,000 USD to be financed through partnerships with development partners, the Government of Tanzania, South - South Cooperation programmes and joint One UN programmes. “Implementation of the priorities will be through working in partnership with central and local governments by specific linkages and coordination with agriculture line ministries; collaboration with non-state actors, the private commercial sector, academia, and research institutions,” he concluded.  

On his side, Eng. Mtigumwe on behalf of the Government appreciated the support by FAO in improving agriculture and natural resources management in the country and pledged full support to the framework. “Agriculture plays a critical role in our economy and FAO is one of our key partners in improving the sector which remains to be the biggest employer in the country. This framework will be a big contribution to realising the goals of Phase Two of the Agriculture Sector Development Programme,” he said.