FAO Regional Conference boosts Africa Solidarity Trust Fund
Calls for renewed vision and expanded Africa-for-Africa cooperation and South-South Cooperation
©FAO/Mattia Romano
Results achieved through Africa Solidarity Trust Fund (ASTF) financed projects are adding momentum to the vision of Africa- Africa cooperation to achieve food security across the continent.
The fund, which was set up in 2012, is widely seen as an innovative mechanism for mobilizing resources from one African country for the benefit of another, promoting intra-Africa collaboration, also known as South-South Cooperation.
Since 2013, contributions have reached $40 million, with Equatorial Guinea and Angola being the major financial contributors. To-date, the fund has allocated $ 34.5 million to 15 regional programmes and national projects which are being implemented in 36 countries to boost efforts to eradicate hunger and reduce malnutrition and poverty.
"Based on the successes and lessons learned to-date on ASTF implementation, which are many and for which documented evidence is available at this conference, I would like to express our deep appreciation to those African governments that committed the funds," said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General and Coordinator of Natural Resources, during the Ministerial Roundtable of the 29th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa, held in the commercial capital of the Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan.
Semedo called for expanded partnerships and encouraged other African nations to share their expertise and make additional financial contributions to fund initiatives involving knowledge exchange across Africa.