February 2, 2024 (ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia): The Food Systems Resilience Programme for Eastern and Southern Africa has been launched by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in collaboration with the World Bank. Preceding the program’s launch on February 1 and 2, IGAD project leaders engaged in three days of technical meetings with a World Bank representatives.
During the opening session, Mr. Daher Elmi, the Director of IGAD’s Agriculture and Environment Division, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, reiterated IGAD’s commitment to addressing food security crises by applying the food systems resilience approach and collaborating with all stakeholders.
Also speaking at the opening session, Ambassador Josefa Sacko, the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, highlighted the shared goal of enhancing the region’s food systems’ resilience to ensure reliable access to safe and nutritious food, especially for vulnerable populations.
The Food Systems Resilience Programme for Eastern and Southern Africa programme focuses on medium-term investments and offers short-term humanitarian support during deteriorating food security situations. Its development objective is to increase the resilience of food systems and preparedness for food insecurity in participating countries, structured around four pillars:
1. rebuilding agricultural production capacity,
2. supporting sustainable development of natural resources,
3. facilitating market access, and
4. promoting food systems resilience in policymaking.
IGAD, with its longstanding resilience-building partnership with development partners like the World Bank, seeks to strengthen ongoing efforts and respond to emerging threats such as desert locust invasions and climate change-induced flooding.
The World Bank supports this initiative through the Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (FSRP).
