Africa Regional Group Handover Ceremony: FAO Director-General welcomes Ambassador Jezile of South Africa as Chairperson of the Africa Regional Group and thanks the outgoing Chairperson Ambassador Foumane of Cameroon
Rome – FAO Director-General QU Dongyu today welcomed Ambassador Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile of South Africa as the new chairperson of the Africa Regional Group in Rome, taking over from Ambassador Sébastien Foumane of Cameroon.
The Director-General, wishing all the diplomats present a healthy, happy and prosperous 2023 and Chinese Lunar New Year, thanked the outgoing chair for his contribution and support for FAO’s transformational changes.
Qu indicated he looks forward to continuing “strong and fruitful collaboration” with the Africa Regional Group under Jezile’s leadership and coordination to ensure that the continent “continues to be a priority and that FAO continues to ensure it is fit for purpose to address the needs of the region.”
The African Permanent Representatives discussed priority issues for their countries and region, including water and soils management, the livestock sector, the conservation of genetic resources and the challenges smallholder farmers face in accessing markets.
Director-General Qu, in wide-ranging remarks, emphasized that the modernization of Africa was a planetary imperative and one he was personally committed to fostering.
“Africa has always been a top priority for me,” said Qu, who took office 41 months ago. “A lot has been done so far, and a lot still needs to be done,” he added.
Improving and intensifying FAO’s impact
Recent highlights of FAO’s collaboration with Members in the region include tackling the Desert Locust crisis and supporting Fall Armyworm control, mobilizing sharply increased funding for major emergency operations including those in South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya and rapid provision of humanitarian aid amidst severe droughts in the Horn of Africa, as well as the 1000 Digital Village Initiative and the Green Cities Initiative.
FAO is also providing investment planning and policy support through the Hand-in-Hand Initiative to 59 countries, 33 of which are in Africa. Another flagship programme, the One Country One Priority Product Initiative, was first launched in Africa and now covers all five FAO regions. The FAO Investment Centre is assisting new investments in 24 countries as well as five regional projects in Africa whose total resource value is $7.6 billion.
A joint FAO-African Union Commission Task Force set up at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020 has proven effective and has been extended to include other thematic challenges.
Moreover, FAO originated and championed an initiative that reached fruition recently with the International Monetary Fund’s Food Shock Window, which makes billions of U.S. dollars available for low-income countries dependent on food imports, the majority of which have and will go to African countries.
The Director-General called for ongoing collaboration in an efficient, effective and coherent manner to support the 2030 Agenda, transformation of Africa’s agrifood systems and to achieve the 4 Betters - Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life for all – on scales ranging from local communities to the continent as a whole.
“The voice of Africa should continue to be heard across all FAO’s governing bodies,” Qu said. “My door is always open to listen to you on proposals for further improving and intensifying our presence across the region.”