The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will bring together African member countries to deliberate on the future of the continent’s agrifood systems at the 33rd Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC33).
The event will be hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat on 18-20 April.
In the spotlight will be the urgent need to transform agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable in order to meet the needs of a growing population, address the challenges of the climate crisis and end hunger and malnutrition, according to the UN organisation.
ALSO READ: WFP races to deliver food for refugees in eastern Chad.
The conference is one of the major regional forums on agriculture, food security and nutrition. It comes as hunger continues to grow in Africa, driven largely by conflicts, economic downturns and the impacts of the climate crisis such as the El Nino-induced drought in southern Africa.
Agriculture ministers and other government officials from across Africa will join civil society groups, private sector representatives, development partners and observer member states at the conference.
Delegates are expected to exchange experiences, hear from experts and formulate regional recommendations to bring to the global FAO Council that shapes the direction of the organization and its work under the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031.
Some of the distinguished speakers will include Ms. Elizabeth Mpofu, President and Founder of the Zimbabwe Small Holder Organic Farmers’ Forum (ZIMSOFF) who has been nominated as a representative of civil society organizations; and Ambassador Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
