Prime Minister Abiy Engages in Key Discussions with UNDP Official on Youth and InnovationAddis Ababa Hosts High-Level Forum on Achieving Food Self-Sufficiency in Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed engaged in significant bilateral discussions with Ahunna Eziakonwa, the Assistant Secretary General and Director of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa. The meeting, which took place today, was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships and development initiatives across the continent.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the discussions with Eziakonwa focused on critical areas such as youth innovation, entrepreneurship, and the potential for technology advancements to spur Africa’s development. The dialogue underscores Ethiopia’s commitment to leveraging international partnerships and UNDP’s support in harnessing the demographic dividend of Africa’s youth for sustainable development and economic growth. This engagement reflects a broader strategy to address the challenges and opportunities presented by Africa’s rapidly changing economic landscape.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – African leaders gathered in Ethiopia for a high-level event on achieving food self-sufficiency on the continent, emphasizing the critical role of dedicated leadership in transforming the agricultural sector. The forum, titled “Africa Can Be Food Self-Reliant: Climate-Smart Solutions and Collective Action for Food System Transformation,” took place on the sidelines of the 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Assembly of Heads of State and Government at the Adwa Victory Memorial.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Ethiopian President Sahle-work Zewde stressed that 90 percent of Africa’s agriculture depends on rainfall, highlighting the vulnerability of the continent’s food systems to climate change. She pointed out the challenges of limited access to finance in achieving food security and underscored Ethiopia’s efforts in modernizing agriculture, integrating the Green Legacy Initiative to combat climate change, and working towards food self-sufficiency. President Sahle-work called on other African countries to follow Ethiopia’s example and unite in their efforts to ensure food sovereignty, drawing inspiration from the historic victory at Adwa.

Prime Minister Success Masra of Chad highlighted the incompleteness of Africa’s independence without self-grown food, expressing concern over the substantial financial resources spent on food imports despite the continent’s vast agricultural potential. He discussed Chad’s initiatives to increase agricultural production and develop a sustainable, rainfall-independent agricultural system, emphasizing the transformation of agriculture from a symbol of poverty into a source of wealth.

Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Frank Tumwebaze, affirmed the country’s commitment to food security by supporting smallholder farmers and prioritizing comprehensive agricultural support. Helena Simido, Deputy Director General of the World Food and Agriculture Organization, acknowledged Africa’s strides towards food self-sufficiency and stressed the need for increased financial support and capacity building for farmers.

Admasu Tadesse, CEO of the Commercial and Development Bank, called for financial institutions to allocate sufficient funds to the agricultural sector, highlighting its importance for achieving self-sufficiency and surplus production for export. Dr. Namukolo Covic, from the International Agricultural Research Advisory Group, and Ibrahim Sheikh Diong, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, emphasized the role of research and the need for a climate-proof agricultural system through green development and technology transfer.

The forum concluded with a sense of optimism about Africa’s potential to achieve food self-sufficiency, as shared by Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Girma Amente. He highlighted Ethiopia’s contributions to the dialogue, including its experiences with wheat cultivation, the Green Legacy Initiative, and other successful agricultural programs, underscoring the importance of knowledge and experience sharing among African nations.