The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is organizing the 14th meeting of the multidisciplinary team of its Central Africa office. This meeting, which began on February 28, will end on March 2, 2022 in Libreville, Gabon.
”Unleashing the potential of youth and women to make food systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable in Central Africa”. It is around this theme that the 14th meeting of the multidisciplinary team of the FAO sub-regional office for Central Africa. This gathering brings together the governments of the 8 countries of the continent’s central region, the sub-regional economic integration organizations (ECCAS) as well as the Network of Parliamentary Alliances for Food and Nutritional Security for Central Africa. Similarly, civil society development partners and the private sector are also on board to set the course for the coming years.
During these three days, participants will explore opportunities for partnership development and resource mobilization to address the challenges of empowering youth and women in Central Africa. This is to better adapt and accompany the transformation of food systems in Central Africa. This strategy will help achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Indeed, Central Africa is a region where challenges and opportunities are very often renewed. According to the FAO, in 2021 more than 52 million people will still be suffering from hunger in the subregion. In the same year, 31.1% of children under 5 years of age were stunted. There is also a high rate of unemployment among youth and women. Not to mention that Central African countries are highly dependent on food imports.
However, it has a population of mostly young people and women. Their contribution to the production, processing, conservation, distribution and use of food resources is well established
The objectives for the 14th meeting.
The event focuses on the new strategic framework of the Organization. In fact, this strategic framework aims to help countries achieve a better life through quality production and nutrition in an enabling environment without discrimination. Several thematic sessions will furnish this giant event. First a high level congress marked by a discussion on the preparations of the 32nd session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa, then the sub-regional priorities and finally an inaugural presentation on the policy approach for the economic inclusion of youth and women.
It should be noted that this annual mass of the FAO in the sub-region, is held in the form of a hybrid event. This is because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants join both face-to-face in the countries and online via zoom between countries.
The Food and Agriculture Organization is the specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to eliminate hunger. Its mission is to help its members ensure that their populations have regular access to sufficient, quality food. FAO works in over 130 countries around the world. In Central Africa, it operates in all 8 countries. These countries are Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe.
