Malabo, May 26, 2022 - The African Union, His Majesty King Letsie III, Head of State of the Kingdom Lesotho and African Union Nutrition Champion, African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD), and other stakeholders held a high-level side event on the margins of the Extraordinary African Union Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference that took place in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from 25 to 28 May 2022.

“The moment is ours to deliberate and reflect on key actions and strategies in addressing nutrition and food security challenges, especially within the humanitarian space since in recent years, humanitarian crises have resulted in food shortages, and malnutrition,” highlighted His Majesty King Letsie III of The Kingdom Lesotho and African Union Champion for Nutrition.

The event was organised by the AUC Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development and was attended by representatives from AU member states, international organizations, and civil society organizations to reflect on the challenges affecting food and nutrition security in the continent and especially the humanitarian crises. The meeting deliberated on key actions and strategies to accelerate the achievements of nutrition and food security targets for the Malabo Declaration, Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy (2016-2025), and Sustainable Development Goals.

In line with the AU theme of the Year 2022 Nutrition, the side-event was held under the theme Africa’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the backdrop of 4C’s: Climate, Conflict, COVID-19, and the cost of food.

In her opening remarks, H.E. Ambassador Cessouma Minata Samate, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs remarked that “We must acknowledge that the continent continues to experience the impacts of climate change, conflicts, COVID-19 pandemic all of which have a great impact on food security and nutrition. There is the need to invest more in building resilience, especially in AU member states and communities experiencing recurrent and protracted crises.”

The side event underscored the interlinkages between the current food security and nutrition crisis and multiple, compounding, and often interrelated threats. In addition, it accelerated the momentum towards greater investments, improved coordination, joint analysis, and action in addressing nutrition and food security towards the realization of the AU Agenda 2063.

Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer for AUDA- NEPAD further noted that, “In addition to 4C’s Africa needs 5C’s for effective implementation of commitments and policies at all level, these are the consolidation of efforts between Africa and the international system; coordination within government structures; connecting the dots to ensure inclusion of all including the youths; collaboration within the implementing agencies and building proactive and honest partnerships with Africa governments; and catalytic approaches.”