The continent’s 55 countries sign a 5-point declaration to strengthen food security

By Kiran Pandey

Fifty-five African countries recently signed a five-point declaration to increase the climate adaptation and resilience of the continent’s food systems.  

The declaration, signed by government representatives at the African Green Revolution Forum – 2019 in Accra, Ghana on September 4, 2019, recognises climate change as a challenge to Africa’s food security.

Africa’s population will increase to 2.4 billion by 2050, requiring the continent to scale up its food production while tackling the challenge of climate change.

The declaration lists five measures that should be taken by the signatory countries to increase food production amidst climate change:

• To embed resilience and adaptation in national agricultural and investment plans
• To develop a comprehensive risk management plan coupled with appropriate financial tools to manage risk
• To accelerate adoption of technologies and information platforms that have significant grass root impacts
• To engage smallholder farmers to drive food security
• To encourage and support the private sector for generating evidence and knowledge needed in adaptation and resilience building in food systems

The signatories also agreed to strengthen climate data analysis and reinforce Early Warning Early Action systems to protect livelihoods

They agreed to invest in mapping the climate-risks to better prepare for emergencies and put measures in place to safeguard livelihoods and recover from extreme weather events.

The declaration also called for increased funding by multilateral, bilateral and private partners to support adaptation and resilience building in Africa’s food systems.

The meeting in Accra saw a number of stakeholders coming together to formulate the declaration including heads of state, ministers, representatives of farmer organisations, private agribusinesses, financial institutions, academics, development partners, and non-profits.

The declaration is expected to support agriculture’s contribution to economic growth in line with Africa’s 2060 vision and agenda, the 2014 Malabo Declaration and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.