Second FAO Brussels Dialogue: Sustaining food security and resilience in Africa in times of COVID-19

As COVID-19 increasingly affects people and livelihoods in Africa, urgent solutions to ensure food security and build resilience in Africa were discussed during the second FAO Brussels virtual dialogue. Over 600 participants joined the discussions with FAO’s Deputy Director-General, Laurent Thomas; African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Josefa Sacko; Secretary-General of the Organization of African Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), Georges Chikoti; Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO), Marjeta Jager, and Member of the European Parliament and of the European Parliamentary Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition Marc Tarabella. The session was opened by FAO Brussels Director Rodrigo de Lapuerta.

The audience was able to put questions directly to an expert panel who highlighted the vital contributions of FAO to fighting hunger, reducing extreme poverty, and empowering women, while safeguarding livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists included FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Abebe Haile-Gabriel; FAO’s Chief Economist and Assistant Director-General for the Economic and Social Development Department, Maximo Torero Cullen and Director of Emergencies and Resilience, Dominique Burgeon. They offered insights on disruptions in the food supply chains, impacts on access to and availability of food, and the importance of healthy food systems, among other topics. Dejene Tezera, Director of Department of Agri-business from the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), FAO’s partner on a number of key projects, including Opportunities for Youth in Africa (OYA) joined the FAO panelists on discussing the opportunities for rural women and youth among others.  Audience members and technical panelists engaged in an active conversation and FAO experts from Africa joined in to offer telling examples of FAO’s work in the field in many African countries.

The event was closed by the Ambassador of the Gambia to the European Union and Chair of the Committee of Ambassadors of OACPS H.E. Mrs. Teneng Mba Jaiteh who gave an excellent overview of the priorities and challenges African countries face in terms of agricultural productivity.  

You can access the recording here.

FAO Brussels will continue its series of Dialogues, with exciting topics and guests, such as Biodiversity, the Green Deal and COVID-19 in the coming weeks. Our readers can receive updates and invitations through our Twitter account.