Hauwa Ali
Islamic Development Bank and other development partners have agreed to commit $30 billion to the African continent to boost agricultural productivity.
This was decided at the second Africa food summit in Senegal – The Dakar 2 Summit, held recently
Themed Feed Africa: food sovereignty and resilience, the summit was organized by the Senegalese government and the African Development Bank.
Among the development partners, the African Development Bank plans to contribute $10 billion over five years, and the Islamic Development Bank intends to provide $5 billion.
The Summit had in attendance, dignitaries, including 34 heads of state and government, 70 government ministers, and development partners, to work tirelessly on compacts that would transform agriculture across Africa. The President of Ireland Michael D Higgins attended all the three days of the summit.
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.
The message was clear: we will work together to strongly support the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts at country levels, Adesina said.
He said the heads of state and government committed to setting up presidential high level advisory councils to oversee the implementation of the Compacts, will be chaired by the presidents themselves in their respective countries.
With strong collective determination and resolve, we will work in coordination and partnerships to help countries to deliver success, he affirmed.
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Adesina commended the high turnout at the event. We came in response to a clarion call out of Africa that it is time for Africa to feed Africa. The clarion call was that the time is right, and the time is now for Africa to feed itself. We came from Africa. We came from around the world. He said.
He said that Dakar 2 Summit would be remembered as a key moment in Africas ability to feed itself and achieve food self-sufficiency and food sovereignty: We leave with a determination and resolve to feed Africa.
With hands together and in locked steps, we will reach our destination: An Africa that finally feeds itself. An Africa that develops with pride.
In the Dakar Declaration, the leaders agreed to allocate at least 10% 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.
In his closing remarks, Senegalese Prime Minister Amadou Ba called the summit a resounding success.
Agriculture creates jobs and promotes wealth and health, he said and called on all citizens of Africa to come together and agree on a joint agenda steered by Africans for Africans.
Prime Minister Ba added: Its a paradox that Africa is the largest continent but also the most dependent. Starting now, we must do away with dependency. Africa should consume what it produces and produce what it consumes.
In his remarks, the Irish President Michael Higgins, called for global support for the Feed Africa agenda.
Let us make this century Africas Century, one which will see the continent become free from hunger, a shared continent in a global family, one based on the firm foundations of respect for each nations institutions, traditions, experiences, and wisdoms, President Higgins said.
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 $30 million.
We dont have time to waste; we need to take action and build more resilient food systems, she added.
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.
