Workshop on strengthening capacity to mainstream nutrition in agriculture plans held in Ghana

From 14 to 15 March 2016, the African Union Commission, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency* and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), organised a workshop focused on strengthening capacity to mainstream nutrition in national agriculture and food security investment plans in Africa.

“We need to make sure that nutrition becomes an integral part of national investment plans to improve on our success,” – Ms Paulina Addy, Director of Women in Agricultural Development.

Ms Isatou Jallow, NEPAD Agency’s Head of Nutrition, reminded participants that apart from the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth And Transformation for Shared Prosperity And Improved Livelihoods and CAADP**, there was also the 2014 Declaration on Nutrition Security for Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa. The two declarations share a commitment to end hunger and a target to reduce stunting to 10% with NEPAD and the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the regional economic communities in rendering support to countries. 

The workshop was a place for dialogue among Regional Economic Communities on integrating agriculture and nutrition into their strategies. Additional discussions focused on how organizations, such as the African Union, NEPAD, Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Food Policy Research Institute, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and others, could help regional economic communities with agriculture investment and nutrition plans.

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*The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is an African Union strategic framework for pan-African socio-economic development. It is both a vision and a policy framework for Africa in the twenty-first century. NEPAD is a radically new intervention, spearheaded by African leaders, to address critical challenges facing the continent: poverty, development and Africa’s marginalisation internationally.

 **The African-owned Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Programme of Work (2015-2025) was endorsed by the African Union in 2004 and is an integral part of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Its principal goal is to pursue an agriculture-led development agenda for reducing poverty and eradicating food insecurity and under-nutrition in Africa.