FAO Concludes Nine-Month Evaluation of Djibouti's Food Control System

Last week, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concluded an eight-month evaluation of Djibouti’s food control system with a final workshop in the capital. Djibouti is the last of ten countries completing a national food control system assessment under the food safety component of the "Strengthening Capacities and Governance in Food and Phytosanitary Control," project, funded by the European Union with €6.4 million. The project also includes a complementary plant health component, which remains ongoing.

The Minister of Commerce, SEM Mohamed Warsama Dirieh, attended the workshop and emphasized the importance of collaboration throughout the process. "Today's strategic workshop marks a crucial step in exchanging ideas, reflecting, and planning future actions," said Minister Dirieh. He underscored the collective effort needed to address challenges and ensure long-term success: "By uniting our efforts—government, technical partners, economic stakeholders, and experts—we will be able to meet the challenges and ensure sustainable progress for food safety and the economic development of our country."

Since its launch, the project has supported 12 African Union member states through its two components.

During the workshop, senior government officials reviewed and approved the final report's recommendations and committed to implementing its strategic plan.

The project’s primary goal was to enhance institutional capacities, improve governance, and foster strategic planning in food control and plant health management.

Throughout this process, a team of FAO food safety experts worked closely with local authorities and relevant stakeholders to gather data and develop a strategic framework intended to improve public health and drive economic development in Djibouti.

National Food Control System Evaluation in Djibouti

The project, co-signed by the government of Djibouti, aligns with the African Union’s (AU) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework, which aims to spur trade between AU member states. It was implemented in close collaboration with the African Union Commission’s Division of Rural Economy and Agriculture (AUC DARBE).

Djibouti and FAO have maintained a longstanding partnership that officially began in 2008 when the FAO representation opened its office in the capital. Through this evaluation, FAO introduced Djibouti to the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool—a unique and increasingly used instrument designed to assess national food control systems comprehensively. The tool examines the entire food chain, from production and distribution to retail and consumer levels. Ultimately, the evaluation aims to help Djibouti adhere to international standards, facilitating greater regional harmonization and trade.

The FAO expert team assisted a total of 37 focal points from relevant food safety authorities in Djibouti throughout the evaluation process. This included data collection across several institutions, followed by a review and validation process. In April 2024, the FAO team conducted a training session in Djibouti to introduce the evaluation process and familiarize focal points with the assessment tool, which helped them gather data and provide specific information over a four-month period. After reviewing the data, the FAO team conducted a validation mission in October 2024, which included site visits and interviews with key authorities to complete the data collection, continue the strategic analysis, and produce a final report on the state of the country's food control system, along with recommendations for its improvement.

Project Conclusion and Final Workshop

The final workshop was the culmination of the eight-month evaluation process. Focal points and stakeholders involved in Djibouti’s food control system gathered in Djibouti City from 24-28 November to review the evaluation findings and recommendations, prioritize actions, and develop a strategic framework to support the implementation of the proposed changes. The key moment of the workshop occurred on 28 November, when senior officials from the ministries responsible for food safety control in Djibouti approved the recommendations and shared strategic vision for the food control system. They also committed to implementing the framework, promoting synergies, and engaging donors to support the process.

"This workshop represents a unique opportunity to lay the foundations for an ambitious strategic action plan,” said M. Jose Barohona, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Djibouti. He added, “the recommendations resulting from this evaluation will strengthen institutional capacities in food control, improve public health, and support the national economy."

Following the workshop, key staff members from the country’s Competent Authorities convened in Djibouti city for a two-day meeting to develop a costed strategic plan aimed at securing financial support from partners and donors.

Photo: © FAO/Isman Moussa Gaffaneh