- The second Africa Food Summit held in Dakar has ended with development partners committing US$30 billion to back the continent’s resolve to boost agricultural productivity.
- The summit was a key moment in Africa’s ability to feed itself and achieve food self-sufficiency and food sovereignty.
The second Africa Food Summit held in Dakar, Senegal has ended with development partners committing US$30 billion to back the continent’s resolve to boost agricultural productivity and become a global breadbasket. The summit was organized by the Senegalese government and the African Development Bank and rallied dozens of dignitaries, including 34 heads of state and government, 70 government ministers, and development partners.
The major theme of the summit ‘Feed Africa: food sovereignty and resilience.’ Which was that African countries need to increase their food production capacity, rather than relying heavily on imports that have left them vulnerable to price spikes and shortages. The continent is facing its worst food crisis ever, with over one in five Africans, a record 278 million people, facing hunger, according to United Nations estimates.
The Dakar 2 Summit adopted a Declaration on the implementation of the summit’s resolution, to be submitted to the African Union. Among the development partners, the African Development Bank has plans to contribute US $10 billion over the next five years, while the Islamic Development Bank intends to provide US $5 billion.
Addressing the closing plenary, African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said the continent and its partners are determined to see results and that implementation is critical to boosting food production and feeding Africa. He said the heads of state and government have committed to setting up presidential high-level advisory councils to oversee the implementation of the Compacts, to be chaired by the presidents themselves in their respective countries.
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“With strong collective determination and resolve, we will work in coordination and partnerships to help countries deliver success,” Adesina affirmed. He said the Dakar 2 Summit would be remembered as a key moment in Africa’s ability to feed itself and achieve food self-sufficiency and food sovereignty.
In the Dakar Declaration, the leaders agreed to allocate at least 10 per cent of public expenditure to increase funding for agriculture. They also resolved to deploy robust production packages to boost productivity and increase resilience to achieve food security and self-sufficiency.
Irish President Michael Higgins, who attended all three days of the summit, called for global support for the ‘Feed Africa’ agenda. He said that this century should be Africa’s Century, where the continent becomes free from hunger and a shared continent in a global family, one based on respect for each nation’s institutions, traditions, experiences, and wisdoms.
In a video message, Netherlands Director-General for International Cooperation Kitty Van Den Heijden announced that her country would commit an additional €450 million over the next five years to food security programs with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. She said the country would also support the African Emergency Food Production Facility of the African Development Bank with US$30 million.
The president of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, delivered a statement pledging continued support to boost food production in Africa. Canada and Germany also made commitments to support the Feed Africa agenda.
The African continent is currently facing its most severe food crisis in history, with an estimated 278 million people, or one in five Africans, facing hunger, according to United Nations estimates. This crisis is a result of a complex interplay of factors, including heavy debt burdens from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on food insecurity in Africa. The pandemic has resulted in a sharp rise in food prices, making it more difficult for many people to afford the food they need. This has been compounded by the disruption to global supply chains, which has made it more difficult for food to reach those who need it.
The war in Ukraine has also had an impact on food security in Africa. The conflict has raised the prices of fuel, grain, and edible oils, making it more expensive for African countries to import food and other necessities. This has further exacerbated the food crisis on the continent.
Another major contributor to food insecurity in Africa is climate change. Climate change is causing widespread droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events, which are affecting crops and livestock, leading to food shortages. Additionally, many African countries are grappling with soil degradation, which makes it more difficult to grow crops and produce food.
Finally, conflict remains a major factor contributing to food insecurity in Africa. Wars, civil strife, and other forms of violence disrupt food production and distribution, leading to widespread hunger and malnutrition. In many cases, these conflicts also displace communities, making it more difficult for people to access food.
In his message to the summit read on his behalf, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged that Africa was currently facing the challenges of climate change and food insecurity, as the Russia-Ukraine war had caused the price of fertilizers to shoot up and made their supply difficult.
Guterres pledged the UN’s support to help Africa become a global food powerhouse.
