Strengthening food security and agricultural development in Africa: collaborative efforts and initiatives
Strengthening food security and agricultural development in Africa ... African Business
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The OCP Group and the World Bank: Empowering West African Farmers
In an endeavor to strengthen food security and stimulate agricultural progress across the African continent at the same time as combatting climate change, two pivotal collaborations have emerged, emphasizing the vital role of strategic partnerships and inventive solutions in tackling pressing issues.
Bridging the efforts of renowned entities such as the OCP Group, the IFC, the World Bank, the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, these partnerships mark a promising move in the direction of achieving SDG 2, which is about tackling hunger and making our food supply more secure and SDG13 on climate change.
The OCP Group and the World Bank: Empowering West African Farmers
The partnership between the OCP Group and the World Bank focuses on West Africa, specifically Benin, Guinea, Mali, and Togo, covering a vast expanse of 10m hectares. After the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11 October by OCP Group’s Chairman and CEO, Mostafa Terrab, and World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, (pictured above) the collaboration aims to accelerate investments and reforms, making customised fertilisers more accessible and affordable to 5 million farmers in the region. Terrab emphasised that these projects represent a significant step toward unlocking Africa’s potential in global food security.
- The partnership aims to improve soil health and fertility through cutting-edge digital soil mapping and customised fertilisation techniques.
- A significant aspect of this collaboration involves the establishment of agricultural technology and service centres.
- Another transformative initiative is the launch of a Digital Farming School programme.
- Furthermore, the collaboration undertakes the task of strengthening the capacity of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to execute its roadmap on fertilisers and soil health.
- Lastly, the partnership is dedicated to supporting the establishment of a Regional Centre for Soil Health and Fertility Management in West Africa, hosted by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
A Vision for Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa
Meanwhile, the collaboration between TDB, MIGA, and OCP Group extends its reach to Eastern and Southern Africa, where it aims to leverage MIGA’s trade finance guarantees to deliver more strategic imports, including fertilizer, into Africa. Their partnership, driven by a shared commitment to addressing pressing agricultural and food security challenges, holds significant promise.
- The MoU signed during the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings marks the further strengthening of a collaborative effort that has already succeeded in supporting transactions worth over $300m in TDB member states.
- This partnership is notable for its innovative approach, including the utilization of blockchain technology for trade finance transactions.
Innovative Financial Technology
In addition, this partnership is notable for its innovative approach. A milestone in this collaboration is the utilization of blockchain technology for trade finance transactions. This transformative technology, which was responsible for three-quarters of the $700m in transactions between OCP Group and TDB in 2022, has not only led to substantial time and cost savings but has also made a positive impact on reducing the carbon footprint.
An Agri-Finance Platform for a Just African Agricultural Transformation
On 10 October OCP Group and IFC (International Finance Corporation) together launched an agri-finance platform to mobilize $800 million of blended capital by 2030. This partnership will build and support sustainable food production and distribution systems in Africa, contributing to skills development, job creation, and food security.
The Spirit of Collaboration to Meet the Complex Challenges of Food Security
The role of technology and innovations in recent initiatives underscores the importance of harnessing these tools to address agricultural challenges. What remains crucial in both cases, however, is the spirit of collaboration. By bringing together financial institutions, risk mitigation agencies, private enterprises, and multilateral organizations, these collaborations pool expertise, resources, and knowledge.
As the global landscape continues to evolve, the role of collaboration in achieving food security becomes increasingly paramount. It is through these partnerships that innovative solutions can be realized, creating enhanced livelihoods, strengthening economies, and contributing to the sustainable development of the African continent.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
- Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
- Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
The article discusses the partnership between the OCP Group and the World Bank to improve food security and agricultural progress in West Africa. This aligns with SDG 2’s targets of ending hunger, increasing agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, and implementing sustainable food production systems.
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
- Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
The article highlights the collaboration between the OCP Group, the World Bank, and other entities to combat climate change while improving food security. This relates to SDG 13’s targets of strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards, integrating climate change measures into policies and planning, and improving education and awareness on climate change.
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. | The partnership aims to make customised fertilisers more accessible and affordable to 5 million farmers in West Africa, improving agricultural productivity and food security. |
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment. | The partnership aims to empower local farmers with access to bespoke fertilisers that align with the unique requirements of their soils, increasing agricultural productivity and incomes. |
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. | The partnership focuses on improving soil health and fertility through digital soil mapping and customised fertilisation techniques, promoting sustainable agricultural practices. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | The collaboration aims to combat climate change by improving agricultural practices and promoting eco-conscious practices. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. | The partnership between TDB, MIGA, and OCP Group aims to leverage MIGA’s trade finance guarantees to deliver strategic imports, including fertilizer, into Africa, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. | The article emphasizes the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing climate change and food security challenges. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: african.business
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