The year ended successfully for the FAO-China South-South Cooperation (SSC) Programme, with the signature of three new project documents, by FAO, China and the three host governments of Malawi, Namibia, and Kenya.

The signing of these projects symbolizes a renewed commitment, engagement, and further opportunities for these new South-South and Triangular Cooperation partnerships.

The first project: “Technical Assistance under the SSC with the People’s Republic of China in support of the Agriculture Sector Wide Approach (ASWAp) in Malawi – phase II” was signed, for a total budget of USD 1.4 million, to support the crop production, agricultural mechanization, integrated pest control, water management, livestock, and fisheries in Malawi. The first phase was successfully implemented in 2010-2012.

The second project: “SSC between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Namibia on Agriculture and Fishery Production” was signed, for a total budget of USD 1.7 million, to support Namibia’s plant protection, seed production, poultry production, soil fertility, aquaculture. This is also the second phase of the project for Namibia. The first phase was successfully implemented in 2014-2017.

The third and final project: “Global Low Carbon Tea — Triangular Cooperation in Tea Value Chain in the Republic of Kenya” was signed, for a budget of USD 1.4 million. This is part of an overarching Triangular Cooperation mechanism for a total budget of USD 2.5 million partially funded by Germany. The project aims to promote low carbon tea production and value chain development in Kenya utilizing Chinese and German expertise and technologies.

Thanks to the signing of these three new projects, the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division of FAO (PST) will further collaborate with the donors, relevant FAO headquarters units and decentralized offices, as well as the three host governments, to operationally start the projects with key technical activities, demonstrations, and knowledge exchanges. 

The South-South and Triangular Cooperation mechanism will play a significant role in supporting each host country’s efforts to address their food security challenges and their agrifood systems transformation, in order to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.