In his opening remarks, Alain SY Traoré, Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the prevalence of stunting, wasting and overweight among children under five in West Africa was 30.9% (20.2 million people) and 6.9% (4.5 million people). He emphasized that it is estimated that the , 2.7% (1.8 million people) (FAO et al., 2022), justifying that nutrition remains a concern in the region. He also said the Sahel and West Africa regions faced severe food and nutrition insecurity, with approximately 42.5 million people in “crisis or worse” during the low season from June to August 2023. It also explained how it could be classified. In order to alleviate nutrition problems, the Agriculture Department has decided to conduct an in-depth study to determine how well nutrition is integrated into the Agriculture Department’s policies, strategies and plans. This is because it will contribute to the creation of an environment in the Sahel countries (ECOWAS member countries). , Chad, Mauritania).
In a message of goodwill, Mr. Issouifou BAOUA, representing the EU-funded PAGR SANAD project, highlighted the collaborative efforts and support for this initiative from various projects and organizations. To improve the situation, the Regional Nutrition Agenda, supported by engineers, Member States and stakeholders from UNFAO, UNICEF and WFP, aims to improve the nutritional situation in West Africa by integrating nutrition into agricultural policy. It aims to strengthen the contribution of the agricultural sector. The strategy and plan is based on diagnostic research he carried out in the ECOWAS countries, Mauritania and Chad, in line with international commitments.
Speaking at the event, Fatmata Lucia Seiwo, Head of the ECOWAP/CAADP Monitoring and Evaluation Program at the Directorate General of Agriculture and Rural Development, spoke about the vision, guiding principles, objectives, strategic priorities, expected results, and regional Outlined actions/key activities. She worked towards “Zero Hunger” and aimed to eradicate all forms of malnutrition by 2030. She was also presented with a detailed community nutrition agenda and action plan for integrating nutrition into agricultural policies and strategies. This comprehensive plan includes actionable steps and measurable goals to improve nutritional outcomes.
This discussion provided a platform for participants to participate, share insights, and contribute to improving the action plan. Discussions emphasized the importance of multisectoral cooperation and community engagement to achieve the goals of the agenda. The Director-General appreciated the efforts of technical and financial partners, in particular CILSS, the European Union, FAO, WFP, UNICEF, UEMOA and ROPPA, expressed confidence in the Directorate-General, and reiterated ECOWAS’ dedication to supporting improved nutrition in the region. confirmed.
After enthusiastic discussions and exchanges of views, Director-General Alain Sy Traoré formally launched the Regional Agenda and Action Plan on behalf of President Omar Touré and Commissioner for Economy and Agriculture Masanje Touré Lice. These will be used as the basis for sector discussions in the lead-up to 2025, when sector policies are reviewed.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
