Agriculture and its potential to contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth

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1 Agriculture and its potential to contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth Bukar Tijani FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Africa The 13th Regional Meeting of the ACP-EU JPA Freetown, Sierra Leone, 24 February 2017

2 Introduction In October 2016, FAO signed an MOU with the Pan African Parliament (PAP) under the auspices of the African Union and the NEPAD Agency The 2014 African Union Malabo Declaration The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) The Rome Declaration of the 2nd International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) with its framework for action being implemented under the UN-Decade of Action on Nutrition The Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition in Africa, 2016 was launched on 23 February 2017

3 Agriculture s Potential for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Land: 45% of the world s surface area suitable for agricultural production Water: Only about 2-3% of renewable water resource in Africa in use Labour: An abundance supply of low-skilled, low-paid labour for high skilled labor-intensive agriculture-related products and services Youth: Almost 226 million people aged 15-24, the youngest population in world, representing 19% of world total and expected to increase to 42% Markets: Africa s food and agricultural market projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030 Key to achieving the Africa we Want in the Africa s Agenda 2063

4 Unlocking Africa s Agriculture Potential for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth 1. Control of transboundary plant and animal pests and diseases 2. Climate change and the environment 3. Youth employment, urbanization and migration 4. Gender and women s empowerment 5. Renewed interest in inclusive private sector agriculture investment

5 1. Control of transboundary plant and animal pests and diseases An estimated 30% of post-harvest losses across the world, the rate of loss exceptionally high in Africa due to the pervasiveness of many diseases the impact of the Ebola epidemic, Avian influenza, Army worm and pest de petit ruminant Well organized pest and diseases monitoring systems in Africa Enhanced surveillance facilities at strategic points: o The Secretariat and the Operational hub for the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES) othe Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) oa Joint FAO-IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Initiative

6 2. Climate change and the environment Prone to natural disasters - the El Niño & La Niña weather phenomena Ongoing initiative such as the Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance launched in Malabo by African Heads of State in 2014 with support from FAO to develop a road map to stimulate the uptake of climate smart agriculture practices for the most vulnerable rural communities An opportunity to drive the economic transformation that Africa needs i.e. Green Growth that supports poverty reduction, environmental protection, resource efficiency and economic growth in an integrated way FAO accredited to the Green Climate Fund, with partners in Africa and the EU, to support countries in their pursuit of climate smart green growth strategies

7 3. Youth employment, urbanization and migration (1) Little attraction to a negative perception with many young people The disconnection of formal schooling from rural realities The least urbanized region of the world with only 39% and the fastest urban growth rate of 4.5%, projected 50% urban by 2035 and to nearly 60% by 2050 Changing landscape of the region s demographic trends and increasingly urban future for the structural transformation of African economies and sustained and inclusive economic growth Cities (and towns) now account on average for around 55% of the GDP of African economies - repositioning its cities as drivers of development

8 3. Youth employment, urbanization and migration (2) Growing challenge of youth employment, urbanization and migration Sound rural development policies and programmes for young people, strengthen their capacities, and facilitate access to productive resources needed to drive broad-based growth in the agricultural sector and rural economy Strategies for an enabling environment to promote youth employment and entrepreneurship in agriculture and agribusiness along strategic value chains

9 4. Gender and women s empowerment Continuous progress on gender equality and women s empowerment, especially on: o Gender parity in primary school education and o The number of positions held by women, including parliament Challenges; cultural practices with unequal economic opportunities FAO aims at promoting gender equality as both a fundamental human right and an essential means of achieving its development goals of sustainable rural development and food security and nutrition

10 5. Renewed interest in inclusive private sector agriculture investment (1) During high volatility in global business cycles, agriculture sector receives a surge in private investment often fizzling out when stabilized Implications for the sustainability of ecosystems and assuring food and nutrition security for host communities in large-scale land acquisition An emerging trend - the interest in south-south agro-investments flows A number of complex and controversial issues raised in relation to food security, poverty reduction, rural development, technology and access to land and water resources, yet at the same time, Efforts to attract foreign investment into agricultural sector, creating employment and incomes and promoting technology transfer

11 5. Renewed interest in inclusive private sector agriculture investment (2) No single solution exist for win-win investments Foreign investment projects that combine the strengths of the investor with those of local communities shown to have good chances of success Investments that give local farmers an active role and control of their land (e.g. contract farming, out-grower schemes) promising

12 5. Renewed interest in inclusive private sector agriculture investment (3) Within the framework of the Committee on World Food Security, FAO supporting in developing multi-sectoral strategies for mainstreaming o The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) and o The Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) FAO actively supporting private sector investment that benefits small scale farmers

13 Concluding Remarks FAO s support in unlocking Africa s agriculture potential to deliver sustainable and inclusive growth at the national & regional levels - the CAADP through the Malabo Implementation Strategy & Road Map / SDGs: Food security and nutrition; Fight against poverty; Climate mitigation and adaptation and sustainable use of natural resources, including energy and water scarcity; Protection against animal and plant diseases and pests, and food safety threats; Agri-food systems development and employment; Trade; Gender and Youth

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