FAO celebrates 80 years of action in Africa with special exhibition in Accra

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a special exhibition in Accra showcasing eight decades of impact across Africa, as part of the organization’s 80th anniversary which is being marked around the world throughout 2025.

The exhibition, housed at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, forms part of FAO’s 365 Days of Action yearlong campaign to commemorate the 80th anniversary. It also reflects FAO’s enduring partnership with member countries to drive efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems transformation and rural development.

FAO was founded in 1945, in the aftermath of the Second World War and just days before the founding of the United Nations itself. Today, FAO’s work is framed by the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind, the pillars of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031, which guide the Organization’s support to Member Nations.

“In this exhibition, we can see some of the extraordinary results achieved over the last eight decades, such as the global eradication of the animal disease rinderpest,” said Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa. “The world already has the solutions to ending hunger and poverty, but our challenge is to invest our energies and partnerships, together, towards scaled up actualization for impact,” he said.

Since its founding 80 years ago, FAO has evolved to meet the changing needs of member countries, pioneering new initiatives such as the Hand-in-Hand Initiative that in part draws on geospatial data to support countries on strengthening their agrifood systems, the Green Cities Initiative, the Digital Villages Initiative, and One Country One Priority Product. These efforts, rooted in innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability, are helping countries build more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems and drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Partnership, Innovation, Action, Learning

The exhibition showcases landmark achievements in Africa, including strengthening food production systems, combating plant and animal diseases, building resilience to climate change, and empowering rural women and youth. It also highlights the power of partnerships with governments, the private sector, civil society, and research institutions in achieving lasting impact.

During the celebrations in Accra, FAO is also highlighting its collaboration with chef and FAO Champion Fatmata Binta, who has partnered with FAO in Ghana to improve fonio production. Together, FAO and Chef Binta have supported women farmers in Chereponi by introducing improved cultivation practices and mechanized processing techniques to reduce manual labour and improve the quality of fonio production.

A highly nutritious and resilient ancient grain indigenous to West Africa, fonio is gaining renewed attention as a vital crop for nutrition and climate resilience. It is also one of the “forgotten” or underutilized African crops that FAO is promoting as a key part of future-ready agrifood systems that support healthy, diverse diets.

The exhibition takes place alongside the 14th FAO Regional Management Team meeting (#RMT14), where FAO leaders from across Africa are convening in Accra, Ghana, to discuss priorities and strategies for accelerating action towards achieving the Four Betters and strengthening delivery at country and regional levels.

Speakers at this morning’s opening ceremony included the FAO Deputy Director-General Maurizio Martina, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa Abebe Haile-Gabriel, His Excellency Moses Vilakati, Commissioner of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) at the African Union Commission, and Honourable Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture of Ghana, John Dumelo.