Official opening of the Regional Centre of Excellence against Hunger and Malnutrition (CERFAM) in Côte d’Ivoire

April 15, 2019 - Last update: February 10, 2023

On 25 March 2019, Côte d’Ivoire officially opened the Regional Centre of Excellence against Hunger and Malnutrition (CERFAM) in its financial capital, Abidjan. The fruit of a partnership between the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government, this research centre offers the countries of the West and Central Africa region an opportunity to share their knowledge and experience in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. The shared goal is to document, promote and share the region’s good practice, aiming to integrate the nutrition dimension into such areas as family agriculture, the management of post-harvest losses, community resilience and social protection.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together

The centre will provide a base for experts and specialists from a range of countries to provide technical support for the development and implementation of various strategies, policies and tool boxes, and will mobilise the resources needed for the adoption of innovative regional solutions. It will also provide an opportunity for study visits to countries with particular expertise to share, so that people can learn from one another and synergies can be promoted at regional and even continental levels. As Vice-President of Côte d’Ivoire Daniel Kablan Duncan put it: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!”

SUN Movement coordinator Gerda Verburg took part in the opening ceremony alongside senior members of the Ivorian Government and other dignitaries involved in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, including His Majesty Letsie III the King of Lesotho and the Executive Director of the WFP, David Beasley. The Centre has considerable high-level support to achieve its objectives as an effective source of solutions that contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2, that of eliminating hunger by 2030.

Family photo with Technical and Financial Partners in Côte d’Ivoire at the opening of the Regional Centre of Excellence against #Faim and #Malnutrition – #CERFAM. in Côte d'Ivoire and at the #WFP for this brilliant initiative #investinnutrition pic.twitter.com/LyN4JRVSGV

— Scaling Up Nutrition ☀️ (@SUN_Movement) April 5, 2019