ADDIS ABABA – United Nations Assistant-Secretary General and Director General of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, has lauded Ethiopia for its role in organizing a significant agricultural event, coinciding with the 37th African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government summit. The event, titled “Africa Can Be Food Self-Reliant: Climate-Smart Solutions and Collective Action for Food System Transformation,” aimed at promoting food self-reliance in Africa through innovative and sustainable practices.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Ethiopia showcased its agricultural advancements and experiences, emphasizing the country’s efforts towards achieving food self-sufficiency and agricultural modernization. These efforts are part of Ethiopia’s broader green legacy initiative, which seeks to combat climate change while ensuring food security.

During a meeting with Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amente, Diong discussed the significant strides Ethiopia has made towards ARC membership and its collaboration with various ministries and institutions to bolster the country’s agricultural resilience. Minister Amente highlighted Ethiopia’s eagerness to work closely with ARC to further enhance the resilience of its agricultural food system.

Diong commended Ethiopia for the successful organization of the agricultural event, noting it as a platform that brought together African nations to discuss and share sustainable agricultural practices. He expressed ARC’s interest in partnering with Ethiopia to leverage its extensive experience in building resilience within the agricultural sector. “Ethiopia has tremendous experience in building resilience, and the ARC Group looks to benefit from this experience for the rest of Africa, basing African solutions to African problems,” Diong stated.

This collaboration between Ethiopia and ARC underscores a mutual commitment to addressing climate change impacts on agriculture and enhancing food security across the continent. Ethiopia’s leadership in hosting the event and its proactive stance on agricultural resilience serve as a model for other African nations in the pursuit of sustainable agricultural development and food self-reliance.