Eastern and Southern Africa face a pivotal moment to reimagine their food systems. The region, grappling with challenges like climate change and supply chain inefficiencies, is simultaneously seeing increased demand for nutritious and accessible food driven by population growth and urbanization. As over 230 million people live in these regions—many facing economic hardship—finding sustainable solutions is urgent.
A recent High-Level Learning Event for the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) was held in Addis Ababa, bringing together authorities such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union Commission (AUC), CCARDESA, and the World Bank. The event highlighted transformation possibilities through digital innovations, climate-smart agriculture, and enhanced trade integration.
The FSRP is seen as vital for stimulating employment across the agricultural value chain, encouraging investment in climate-resilient practices, and fostering entrepreneurship among youth and women. As Dr. Abdi Fidar from the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center noted, continuous learning across borders is crucial: "Member states are learning from one another. What are the best practices, and how can we narrow existing gaps?"
Participants like Teddie Nakhuma, FSRP Program Coordinator in Malawi, expressed eagerness to learn from other countries' advancements: "We are already learning about digitization from Kenya, and we want to learn more from Ethiopia who are already more advanced." Digital innovations, including farmer registries and real-time advisory services, were spotlighted as crucial, despite challenges like limited infrastructure and digital literacy.
Trade challenges, such as inconsistent policies and sanitary standards, persist, with experts calling for unified standards and improved compliance systems. Trade scorecards and digital traceability tools emerged as potential solutions, though concerns over lack of standards and enforcement remain.
Strengthening collaboration across African nations and aligning initiatives with the African Union is considered vital for developing a resilient food system. Dr. Majola Mabuza, APPSA Regional Coordinator, emphasized the importance of idea exchange: "We need a platform for us to exchange ideas and learn from other partners... so we can move forward together."
As the region approaches 2030, the collective effort remains centered on sustainable solutions to ensure food security for future generations.