FAO and its strategic partners in the sub-region
identify priority areas of intervention, strategies and programs
A set of sub-regional priority actions should be identified and integrated into the next FAO’s plan for West Africa with the support of its partnerships.
Technical experts from FAO specialized in programs for West Africa and strategic partners hold their annual meeting from 17 to 20 May 2016 in Lome, to discuss and establish their priorities for action at both sub-regional and national level, and try to jointly address key challenges facing member countries.
“This year the theme that reflects our strategic concerns in the sub-region focuses on accelerating the growth and transformation of agriculture regarding the major trends and emerging issues at regional and global level.
It is aligned with the Malabo Declaration (2014), Policy and Programmatic priorities of ECOWAS and the recommendations of the 29th African Regional Conference of FAO," explainedMr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Africa and Representative in Ghana.
“Therefore, the main purpose of the meeting is to assess the achievements fulfilled so far and discuss the action plan and organize the work ofFAO at the sub-regional and national levels to identify priority areas of intervention, the strategies and programs, and develop partnerships to meet the needs and priorities that emerge in the sub-region," he added.
Initiatives and resources mobilization opportunities for technical and financial partners contributing towards the transformation and growth of agriculture on the continent will require sustained efforts ofWest African States and their development partners to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
“The meeting held in Lomé is timely, in view of the changes taking place in the agricultural sector in Togo, such as the adoption of the New Agricultural Policy for 2030,” said the Togolese Minister of agriculture, livestock and hydraulics, Mr. Ouro-Koura Agadazi, adding: “This policy is focused on accelerating growth, improving competitiveness and social inclusion, transformation and modernization of the agricultural sector, and increased openness of Togolese products to external markets.”
Under the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African member states have taken steps to adapt the continental agenda at the national and regional contexts in order to achieve the objectives of eradicating hunger, poverty, food and nutrition insecurity and promote sustainable economic growth led by a dynamic and changing agricultural sector.
FAO is committed to support ECOWAS, its member countries and partners to target and achieve the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy of the Economic Community of West African States.
Sixty eight participants from 15 countries of West Africa as well as partners including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA)and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) took part in the meeting.
Source: FAO
