ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A panel discussion led by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reviewed key successes and challenges of Africa in its endeavor to ending hunger and achieve goal of food security.
The panel discussion was held on Friday under the theme, "Ending hunger and achieving food security in Africa," as part of the 3rd Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development held from 18 to 19 May in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.
The panel discussion has deliberated on the situation of food insecurity in Africa that is further aggravated by multiple shocks, including drought, trans-boundary animal and plant pests and diseases, persistent conflicts and civil unrests in some countries.
Co-chairing the panel, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Regional Programme Leader for Africa, said the obnoxious reality that globally, Africa continues to be the manifestation of hunger and malnutrition despite the fact that the means to address this profound challenge are mostly to be found in Africa itself.
"There cannot be a concern that is more important than ending hunger and malnutrition in Africa. Any approach short of being inclusive, integrated, multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary and innovative will not guarantee success. Real commitments should demonstrate concrete results on the ground, and effective leadership is key," noted the FAO Official.
Participants have emphasized the multifaceted nature of food and nutrition security and the imperatives for making tangible progress in all areas, including promoting peace-building and climate resilience, towards eliminating hunger and achieving food and nutrition security in Africa.
In her co-chairing capacity, Zimbabwean Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Nyasha E. Chikwinya, has underlined the priority of ending hunger and malnutrition in Africa.
"While a number of African countries are making encouraging progress, hunger and malnutrition have continued to pose a huge barrier to development for the continent. African countries should wage war that should be vigorously fought by all relevant stakeholders, if we have to win this war, which we must," she said.
The panel discussion was attended by representatives from governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector and other key partners.
The panel has reviewed key successes and challenges faced by African governments in their stride to fight hunger and malnutrition, key indicators of both the Sustainable Development Goal 2 of the 2030 Agenda and the Africa's Agenda 2063. Enditem
