FAO Director-General delivers message of hope and positivity in Mauritania

Nouakchott - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu delivered an optimistic message to Africa during a visit to Mauritania, highlighting the continent’s vast untapped potential as it works to reignite progress in reducing hunger over the next two years.

Qu was in Nouakchott to attend FAO's first-ever meeting of the World Food Forum for Africa and to deliver opening remarks at the inaugural ceremony of the 34th Session of the Regional Conference for Africa (ARC34). During the two-day visit to the Mauritanian capital, he also held a series of bilateral meetings with government ministers and senior decision-makers.

On Wednesday, the Director-General emphasized the importance of empowering women and youth - among Africa’s greatest assets - to drive transformation in agrifood systems.

“Youth and women are not only beneficiaries of transformation; they are the engines of change,” he told the Forum.

WFF–Africa is part of the global World Food Forum, an annual FAO-led platform that advances agrifood systems transformation through youth engagement, science and innovation, and investment. The launch of a regional chapter aims to make the initiative more action-oriented, inclusive, and investment-focused, while responding directly to Africa’s priorities.

The event featured contributions from Mohamedou Ahmedou Mhaimid, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty of Mauritania, a keynote address by FAO Chief Scientist Charles Spillane on youth leadership, innovation, and investment, and presentations by FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero on practical applications of FAO’s flagship Hand-in-Hand Initiative.

Regional Conference for Africa

On Thursday, Qu delivered opening remarks at the high-level Ministerial Session of ARC34, which sets priorities to guide FAO’s Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium and aligns with the Organization’s Strategic Framework and country programming.

Addressing Ministers, Qu urged African countries to harness the continent’s youthful demographics to strengthen food production and distribution.

“I am here to tell you a new story, a story of opportunity, a story of abundance – a story of transformation and prosperity,” he said. “For too long, the narrative surrounding Africa’s agriculture has been one of challenges - of vulnerability, of import dependence, and of unfulfilled potential.”

He highlighted the role of technology - from drought-resistant seeds to digital advisory services - in overcoming long-standing constraints and unlocking Africa’s potential, including its prospects to become “the breadbasket of the world.”

According to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025, more than one in five people in Africa were undernourished in 2024. While the continent is disproportionately affected by climate and conflict shocks generated elsewhere, strengthening domestic food production is both a strategic necessity and a development priority.

Noting that Africa holds 60 percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, the Director-General called for bold investments in rural infrastructure, greater use of the African Continental Free Trade Area to integrate markets, and stronger prioritization of science and innovation.

“FAO is your partner in this journey,” Qu said.