WFD2017 press conference in Addis Ababa

In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and World Food Programme and other key stakeholders, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will commemorate the 2017 Wold Food Day on October 17 2017 in Addis Ababa with the theme of “Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development.” 

World Food Day 2017 is not a day for reflection; it is a day for action, said Hassen Ali, Assistant FAO Representative to Ethiopia - speaking to the media during the press conference. World Food Day 2017 is as an opportunity to refocus our efforts, and join hand-in-hand to work towards mounting an immediate and comprehensive response to migration challenges, he added.   

Recently, an increasing number of people have been forced to flee due to conflict, and other factors such as hunger, poverty, and the impact of climate change are also propelling millions of people – especially the young and those from rural areas - to leave their homes. 

In 2015, there were 244 million international migrants, representing an increase of 40% since 2000. They included 150 million migrant workers. About one-third of all international migrants are aged 15–34. Women account for almost half of all international migrants. 

Speaking to journalists at a press conference, Damene Darota, State Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said “The Ethiopian Government’s Growth and Transformation Plan II focuses on food security and creating job opportunities for the young people to tackle youth migration.” We take this opportunity to underline that the World Food Day  theme is relevant with our key priorities that we plan to implement in the coming years, he added. 

This year’s World Food Day highlights how by addressing some of the root causes of migration, we can give people more options to stay at home, if they feel it is safe to do so. At the same time, we contribute to SDG2, Zero Hunger, harness migration’s potential to support development, and build the resilience of displaced and host communities, thereby laying the ground for long-term recovery and inclusive and sustainable growth. 

While most countries have achieved significant gains in the last 25 years in reducing hunger and undernutrition, progress in the majority of countries affected by conflict has stagnated or deteriorated. 

“As we mark World Food Day, we acknowledge the linkage between hunger, conflict and migration,” said Peter Schaller, acting WFP Ethiopia Deputy Country Director. “We must all work together to ensure that people are able to stay in their homes and have brighter futures. At WFP we are working to improve livelihoods, food security and nutrition, which are key factors to sustaining peace.” 

Last month, WFP released a report establishing the link between hunger and migration. According to WFP, a one percent rise in hunger means an extra 200 people out of 10,000 will leave their country. And for each additional year of conflict, an extra 40 people out of 10,000 will flee their country. 

In 2013 nearly 567 000 Ethiopians migrated, and about 718 000 people migrated to Ethiopia from neighbouring countries. Nearly three million young people enter the labour force every year in Ethiopia. The overall urban open unemployment stands at 16.5%. 

“Ethiopia needs to respond to this growing workforce demand,” said Hassen, “in support of the government’s effort to response to this need, FAO in Ethiopia works in migration prone-prone areas providing unemployed rural youth with training and equipment to start their farming or rural non-farm-based businesses – be that beekeeping, vegetable nurseries, biological poultry farming or dairy and cattle fattening.”       

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• FAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information, and helps developing countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all

• WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

Contact:

Tamiru Legesse, FAO, Communication Director

E-mail: [email protected], Tel. 0911861293

Daniel Dentamo, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources 

E-mail: [email protected], Tel. 0912035143

Melese Awoke, Communication Officer, World Food Programme

E-mail: [email protected], 0911201981