Africa Union commits to implement the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty policy basket

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November 07, 2024

Recognizing the alarming growth in the number of people facing hunger and poverty, the African Union has voluntarily joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and has committed to pursue the Alliance's mission, objectives and principles. The Task Force on Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty proposed by Brazil’s G20 presidency will focus on establishing a Global Alliance to raise resources and knowledge for implementation of public policies and social technologies that are proven to be effective in reducing hunger and poverty around the world. The Global Alliance's Terms of Reference and Governance Framework, express the need to collaborate with various members to achieve lasting solutions to poverty and hunger worldwide. The African Union recognizes that hunger and malnutrition are the perverse manifestations of persistent, structural poverty and inequality, and further recognizes the need to end poverty and hunger in all its forms and dimensions, to fully and effectively implement the United Nations Agenda2030 and ultimately the AU Agenda2063.

To that effect, the African Union endorses the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and its mission to support and accelerate efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, while recognizing that the world has experienced significant setbacks in achieving SDGs 1 (no poverty) and 2 (zero hunger), among other SDGs, due to challenges intensified by climate change, biodiversity loss, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic slowdowns and downturns, supply chain disruption, conflicts, and other facets of the multidimensional global crisis. Whereas reducing inequalities (SDG 10), contributing to revitalize global partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17), the achievement of other interlinked SDGs, and championing sustainable, inclusive and just transitions, the AU, further notes the critical need for the world to unite behind large-scale, integrated approaches that combine international, regional, national, and local levels, and recognizes the interconnected nature of challenges and solutions to hunger and poverty and pair social protection with access to goods and services that can help the poor and vulnerable populations to overcome structural barriers and drive responsible investment in their productive capacity.

The Global Alliance’s Policy Basket are complementary services including but not limited to interventions for poverty reduction, food security and nutrition, early childhood support, education and skills development, employment services, health care services, as well as family farmers and smallholders’ access to finance, markets, extension services, and/or agricultural inputs, in line with international commitments and obligations. The African Union particularly recognizes the high value and positive impact building strong Agri-food systems on the continent as elaborated in the post-Malabo agenda and the CAADP Ten-year Strategy and Action plan. The Global Alliance’s reference basket has policies that are collectively built with robust evidence and serves as a useful basis to guide joint action and increase alignment with implementation of the CAADP Agenda.

Therefore, by joining the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, the AU commits to do its best, in its own field of action, and in accordance with its own mandate, priorities, and legal framework, to support the implementation of policy instruments that are in line with its continental CAADP Agriculture framework and AU Agenda2063. By also recognising the Global Alliance’s reference basket of such policies as a collectively built, ongoing collection of examples with robust evidence to reduce hunger and poverty, and as a useful basis to guide joint action and increase alignment on implementation of global intervention and actions.

The African Union acknowledges its role in coordinating the implementation of policies and programmes against hunger and poverty at the continental as well as providing guidance and support to regional and national level stakeholders and actors to improve, and/or scale-up the implementation of Agriculture policy frameworks and strategies from among those aligned to the Global Alliance’s policy basket.

In particular, the African Union commits to coordinate and oversee the implementation of the policy instruments or programmes, referenced in the Global Alliance’s reference basket, in close coordination and cooperation with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to develop and implement national and regional agriculture and food security policies and strengthen the monitoring and evaluation framework of the CAADP Biennial Review Process to track and report on progress in the agriculture sector and continue to coordinate its 55-member states, to achieve the targets of the CAADP Malabo declaration including the commitment to end hunger by 2025. Also emphasized in Strategic Objective 3 on Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security with Key outputs that include; improved food and nutrition security policies, regulations, and programs; increased production and consumption of traditional and indigenous nutritious foods; strengthened value chains that promote nutrition-dense foods; food safety and SPS standards and protocols; strengthened food safety infrastructure and capacities; and agricultural sector policies and programs that meaningfully integrate nutrition-sensitive interventions.The African Union recognizes the importance of policy cooperation and support in achieving the Agenda2063 goals and SDG goals

The Alliance will enable large-scale country-owned and country-led implementation of evidence-based policy instruments to eradicate hunger and poverty through its knowledge and financial pillars. Leveraging on the existing mechanisms and initiatives while avoiding duplication through its effort to support galvanizing collective action and building upon synergies with other existing efforts to eliminate hunger and poverty across the world to facilitate mobilization and improved alignment of domestic and international support, including public and private financial resources and knowledge.

The African Union further commits to co-create and provide technical assistance, capacity building and strengthening, training and/or knowledge-sharing on voluntary and mutually agreed terms in response to requests by Global Alliance member countries that choose to implement policy instruments and programmes in the Alliance's policy basket that are compatible with its priority areas.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Janet Edeme – Head of Rural Development Division and Ag. Head of Agriculture and Food Security Division, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission Email: EdemeJ@africa-union.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Peace Lydia Mutuwa, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission; Email mutuwap@africa-union.org