FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC)

30th session - Khartoum, the Sudan, 19-23 February 2018

“Sustainable development of agriculture and food systems in Africa: improving the means of production and the creation of decent and attractive employment for youth”

The 30th FAO Regional Conference for Africa was held at the Friendship Hall from 19 to 23 February 2018. Jointly hosted by the Government of Sudan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Conference was attended by ministers and other high-level delegates from FAO Member States, partners, representatives of Civil Society Organizations in Africa, and the media.

The Conference began with a Senior Officers’ Meeting from 19 to 21 February 2018, followed by a Ministerial Plenary Session on 22 and 23 February 2018. The inaugural ceremony of the Ministerial Session took place on 22 February 2018. With Thematic Side Events on 21 February 2018.

Senior Officers’ Meeting from 19 to 21 February 2018

The Conference started with a Senior Officers’ Meeting with the following regional and global policy and regulatory matters for discussion:

  • State of Food and Agriculture in Africa: Future Prospects and Emerging Issues
  • Climate Change and its impact on the work and activities of FAO: Building resilience to address extreme vulnerability of Africa’s agriculture and rural livelihoods
  • Leveraging Youth Employment Opportunities in Agriculture and Rural Sectors in Africa
  • Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
  • Outcomes of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and follow up actions at regional and country level
  • Progress made on the Global Action Programme on Food Security and Nutrition in Small Island Developing States and on FAO’s Inter-Regional Initiative on SIDS: Case of Atlantic and Indian Ocean SIDS

In addition to the above, the Meeting  also discussed the Work Programme, Budget, Decentralization process, the multi-year programme of work of the Regional Conference, and other matters.

Ministerial Round Table

The Ministerial Round Table on 22 to 23 February 2018 addressed:

  • The SDG 2030 Agenda: Delivering Sustainable Agriculture Growth and Rural Transformation in Africa
  • Zero Hunger
  • 40th Anniversary of FAO country Representations
  • Synthesis of main findings and recommendations

The Ministerial Round Table also elaborated on Zero Hunger and a session held to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of FAO country Representations.

Side Events

The side events on 21 February 2018 covered the following:

  • Side Event 1: FAO Strategic Programmes
  • Side event 2: Renewing Commitment to the Africa Solidarity Trust Fund (ASTF)
  • Side event 3: Responding to crisis in the Lake Chad region – partnerships for resilient livelihoods
  • Side event 4: Migration and rural development

The regional consultation of Civil Society Organizations, preceding the Conference, took place on 22 to 23 January 2018 in Khartoum.

A Press Conference was held to close the 30th Regional Conference on 23 February 2018.

Location Map

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