FAO’s resilience work in Eastern Africa presented to Ambassadors in Brussels

FAO’s resilience work in Eastern Africa was the topic of a meeting of FAO with the Brussels-based representatives from Eastern Africa. The meeting was chaired by the Ambassador of the Republic of the Sudan as Regional Coordinator of the Group and hosted by the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. 

Cyril Ferrand, FAO’s Resilience Team Leader for Eastern Africa was the main briefer of the meeting. He provided crucial insights into the agrifood challenges across the resilience spectrum in the region, including population displacement, recurring droughts, and crop storage losses. He outlined FAO's strategic initiatives, emphasizing interventions related to animal feed, livestock, water management, and the preservation of pastoral practices. 

The Ambassadors of Ethiopia, Kenya, the Sudan, and Uganda expressed keen interest in bolstering intercontinental trade, particularly in sectors such as meat and leather. Discussions also highlighted the significance of education in pastoralism, as underscored by representatives from Eritrea and Djibouti. Ferrand further emphasized the need to empower farmers as entrepreneurs. 

The meeting clearly reflected the interest in a collective effort to address regional challenges and foster sustainable development across Eastern Africa and was attended by delegations from Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, South Sudan, the Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.