SIRACUSA G7 AGRICULTURE MINISTERS’ MEETING Agriculture Forum for Africa Session 1: Post-Malabo Agenda Development Process and the Implementation of the Agenda beyond 2025 “How to support the Post-Malabo Agenda” Remarks

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Brothers and Sisters from Africa,

Africa is the most food-insecure region in the world, and since the start of implementation of the Malabo agenda in 2015, hunger has unfortunately continued to rise.

The FAO State of Food Security and Nutrition in the world (SOFI) report indicated that more than one in five Africans were affected by hunger, amounting to nearly 300 million people in 2023.

Food insecurity remains widespread across the continent, with 58 percent of Africa’s population experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity. 

Without accelerated action and increased resource mobilization, it is projected that the number of people facing hunger in Africa will rise by an additional ten million by 2030.

But we must also highlight that some countries in the region have achieved notable progress in reducing undernourishment.

Mainly through the right and targeted investments and policy reforms.

Since 2017, FAO has collaborated with the African Union Commission to contribute to the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) biennial reporting mechanism.

This work has been carried out using FAO’s Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis methodology, through the provision of technical support to country experts, mapping national household data for all 54 countries, and conducting several training sessions.

And recently, FAO has launched a digital toolkit designed to empower countries to generate the required indicators.

Looking ahead, FAO remains committed to supporting the post-Malabo process and its 6 strategic objectives.

The post-Malabo agenda highlights the necessity to transition from an agricultural transformation paradigm to a comprehensive transformation of the continent’s agrifood systems.

The six post-Malabo strategic objectives are in alignment with the Four Betters set out in the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life – leaving no one behind.

As well as the four cross-cutting/cross-sectional “accelerators”: technology, innovation, data and complements (governance, human capital, and institutions), which are critical for accelerating progress and to maximize efforts in meeting the SDGs, and to position FAO to effectively support the continent’s efforts and the need for evidence-based policymaking.

FAO has been supporting the AU in drafting the post-Malabo framework, participating in and contributing to the 13 working groups.

We also continue to provide support to the AU and its partners in identifying high-level indicators and associated targets that will inform the Kampala Declaration in January 2025.

After January 2025, FAO’s existing data, tools, and approaches will support the design, implementation, and tracking of the post-Malabo agenda.

Our work in the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), together with the United States and partners, helps us provide African farmers with new growing opportunities, with the right information on soils, and with proper market opportunities.

FAO drives tangible changes on the ground, implementing projects and helping countries identify new investment opportunities.

For example, the FAO Flagship Hand-In-Hand Initiative supports 40 countries across the continent, along with two regional initiatives in the Sahel and Southern Africa.

In mid-October, during the annual Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Rome, under the umbrella of the World Food Forum 2024, 13 African countries will engage with investors to accelerate this transformation through concrete projects.

I wish to reaffirm FAO’s continued focus and commitment to supporting Africa in achieving the post-Malabo agenda.

And to realize our shared goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Africa We Want Agenda 2063.

Let us pool our strength to ensure we mobilize the necessary resources – financial, knowledge and innovation – to help Africa achieve the post-Malabo vision.

As an eminent African said: “It always seems impossible until it’s done!”

Let’s do it!

Thank you.