New initiative will accelerate international efforts to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in Africa

©FAO/Tony Karumba

On 27 August 2016, a side event to the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) Summit titled “Action on Nutrition: Launching of IFNA, Initiative for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa,” was held at the Sarova Panafric Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The event was organised by the Japan Internation Coorperation Agency (JICA) and co-hosted by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Opening remarks came from Mr. Shinichi Kitaoka, President of JICA, and Mr. Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of NEPAD Agency. As part of the initiative, JICA will support the establishment of a strategy for improving malnutrition, encouraging practical actions for better nourishment with multi-sectoral approaches and disseminating positive outcomes of these actions in around 10 African countries for 10 years through to 2025

The IFNA aims to accelerate international efforts to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in the continent by bringing African governments together to implement food and nutrition security policies and programmes. The IFNA builds on the 2014 Malabo Declaration of the African Union to eradicate hunger and improve the nourishment conditions in Africa by 2050, Goal 2 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Agenda established by the United Nations and the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition which began in 2016. 

Following the event, JICA will set up an IFNA Secretariat in NEPAD and implement several technical corporation projects and dispatch volunteers to improve nutrition in Africa across agriculture, health and education, utilising Japan’s experiences with Seikatsu Kaizen (livelihood improvement), school lunch programs and dietary education.

Download event press release from JICA: English

Read more at The East African Kenya, TICAD