The 32nd session of FAOs Regional Conference for Africa (ARC32) is going to held from 11-14 April to define regional priorities in agrifood systems transformation
More than 50 African countries will take part in the meeting. The meeting comes as 250 million people in Africa do not have enough food to eat each day, about a billion people in Africa cannot afford nutritious food, and as countries continue to grapple with the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participating countries will share best practices and explore partnerships and opportunities for innovation and digital technologies to transform agrifood systems, address food insecurity and climate change, and face other major challenges in the region.
The regional conference is FAO’s highest governing body in Africa. ARC32 hosted by the Government of Equatorial Guinea. The four-day conference will be held as a hybrid event, both at the Sipopo Conference Centre in Malabo and online with participants joining via videoconferencing. Agriculture ministers and other government officials from across Africa will join with civil society groups, private sector representatives, development partners and observer member countries for the conference.
FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-2031 will underpin the conference. It aims to help countries achieve better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all.
The conference will also host a series of ministerial roundtables on experience sharing on better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all; COVID-19 impacts on agrifood systems in Africa: policy priorities for inclusive and resilient recovery; investing in ecosystem restoration for a more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems transformation in Africa; promotion of investment and trade for competitive agrifood systems: AfCFTA opportunities and progress and placing women, youth and the poor at the forefront of inclusive agrifood systems.
During the conference, Africa Regional Technical Platform (RTP) on common agricultural policies and practices; and African Union Commission of Investment Guidelines for Youth in agrifood systems in Africa will be launched.
