The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will bring together  African member countries to deliberate on the future of Africa’s agrifood systems at the 33rd Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC33), hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat on 18-20 April. In the spotlight will be the urgent need to transform agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable in order to meet the needs of a growing population, address the challenges of the climate crisis and end hunger and malnutrition.  

The conference is one of the major regional forums on agriculture, food security and nutrition. It comes as hunger continues to grow in Africa, driven largely by conflicts, economic downturns and the impacts of the climate crisis such as the El Nino-induced drought in southern Africa.   

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. The ministerial meeting will be held at the Hotel Sofitel Rabat and livestreamed around the world.

Delegates will exchange experiences, hear from experts and formulate regional recommendations to bring to the global FAO Council that shapes the direction of the organization and its work under the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind. These Four Betters frame the conference agenda.

High-level participants

The opening ceremony, on Thursday 18 April, will feature distinguished speakers including:

H.E. Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco;
Qu Dongyu, FAO Director-General;  
H.E. Ambassador Josefa Sacko, African Union  Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment;
H.E. Mohammed Sadiki, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests of the Kingdom of Morocco and ARC33 Chairperson;
H.E. José Juan Ndong Tomo, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development of Equatorial Guinea, and ARC32 Chairperson;
Ambassador Hans Hoogeveen, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the UN Organizations in Rome and Independent Chairperson of the FAO Council;
Ambassador Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS);
Ms. Elizabeth Mpofu, President and Founder of the Zimbabwe Small Holder Organic Farmers’ Forum (ZIMSOFF) who has been nominated as a representative of civil society organizations; and
Ms. Tenemba Anna Samaké, Executive Committee Member of Impact Investing Ghana (IIGh) who has been nominated as a representative of the private sector.

Four Betters in focus

The conference will also feature ministerial roundtables on critical issues including:

a special host country event on investing in resilience for sustainable food security:
drivers and triggers of agrifood systems transformation in Africa;
Blue Transformation in Africa: the potential of aquatic foods;
inclusive rural transformation in Africa: agriculture mechanization, digitalization, women and youth;
agrifood systems transformation in Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries;
the Livestock Development Strategy in Africa;
financing resilient agrifood systems and inclusive rural transformation: boosting public and private sector investment;
a Members’ experience-sharing special event on the Four Betters; and
a special event on FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative with Members and investment partners

A Ministerial Declaration will close the conference on the last day.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FAO Regional Office for Africa.

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Zambia for 2024-2029, which sets out two priority intervention areas: Boosting the development of the private sector through investments in infrastructure and developing the country’s agricultural value chain.

“The aim of this new CSP is to support Zambia’s vision of speeding up its socioeconomic transformation to improve livelihoods,” comments Raubil Durowoju, head of the Bank Group’s Country Office in Zambia. “The first area emphasizes infrastructure development with the aim of increasing productivity, strengthening commercial competitiveness, diversifying the economy, and improving people’s lives. The second supports value addition and job creation and is targeted at women and young people,” he adds.

The Bank’s interventions will be designed to help expand the road and rail network and to make access easier and to unblock the development opportunities envisaged in other sectors of the economy. They will also support the creation of climate-resilient infrastructure and the development of transport resources to further strengthen regional trade, especially along the regional transport and trading corridors.

Furthermore, the Bank’s actions in the water and sanitation sector will help to improve access to high-quality water and the use of sanitation facilities. This should translate into an improved quality of life for the Zambian population, and a reduction in the costs of medical care for waterborne diseases.

Finally, the African Development Bank Group will provide assistance to the agricultural sector, concentrating primarily on the development of farm blocks and value chains, to improve the sector’s climate resilience and agricultural productivity. The Bank will also work with the Zambian Government and the private sector to improve the value chains of agricultural products by drawing on synergies with support for technological and digital start-ups in the agricultural sector.

On 29 February 2024, the African Development Bank’s active portfolio in Zambia comprised 23 projects, with a total commitment of almost a Billion US Dollars.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
Alexis Adélé
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is the premier multilateral financing institution dedicated to Africa’s development. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NSF). The AfDB has a field presence in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, and contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

Orange Digital Center (www.Orange.com) is launching a free high-level certification training program in partnership with Coursera, the world leader in online learning. This partnership aims to offer young people in Africa and the Middle East the opportunity to acquire essential skills in digital professions, free of charge and at their own pace.

The Orange Digital Center (ODC) network is driving digital inclusion for young people and entrepreneurs across Africa and the Middle East through its 16 centers. It is launching this initiative to provide young people in the region with key skills in essential areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship. These programs are designed to meet the needs of the ever-evolving job market, providing talented young people with the knowledge and skills they need to enter the job market, develop their careers, or encourage them to become digital entrepreneurs.

Orange Digital Centers are physical structures designed to be hubs of innovation and learning, free and open to all, providing a dynamic environment where young people can develop their skills, explore new technologies, and stimulate their creativity.

Equipped with the latest technologies, they support young people throughout the entire technological innovation and entrepreneurship value chain. This innovation ecosystem consists of several spaces that offer free learning programs: a Code School, a Solidarity FabLab, an ‘Orange Fab’ startup accelerator, and Orange Ventures Middle East and Africa, the Orange Group’s investment fund that invests in the most promising startups.

Asma Ennaifer, Executive Director CSR, Orange Digital Centers and Communication, Orange Africa and Middle East, says: “At Orange, we firmly believe that digital inclusion is the key to creating a fairer and more prosperous future for everyone. In partnership with Coursera and through the Orange Digital Centers, we are opening the doors of certification training to all our beneficiaries, offering educational and professional development opportunities to those who need them most. “

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange Middle East and Africa.

Press contacts:
Stella Fumey
stella.fumey@orange.com

Ibtissame Nafii
ibtissame.nafii@orange.com

About Orange Africa and Middle East:
Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East where it had over 149 million customers on December 31, 2023. With €7.1 billion in turnover in 2023, Orange MEA is the Group’s main growth region. Orange Money, with its money transfer and financial services offer is available in 17 countries and has 90 million customers. Orange, a multi-service operator, benchmark partner of the digital transformation, provides its expertise to support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.

The Association of Service Providers of the Angolan Oil&Gas Industry (AECIPA) has partnered with the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (http://EnergyChamber.org) in a bid to promote investment opportunities in Angola as well as partnerships with Angolan services companies. As such, AECIPA will lead a delegation of Angolan companies to this year’s edition of African Energy Week; Invest in African Energy conference – scheduled for November 4-8 in Cape Town. Through the partnership, AECIPA members have access to exclusive discount rates, while a delegation from the association will participate in various panel discussions and forums.

As an association representing Angolan service providers, AECIPA promotes, supports, and sponsors professional initiatives of service companies in the country. With a goal to drive socioeconomic growth in the country, the association supports opportunities for service companies while strengthening local content and SME participation across the value chain. Currently, the association represents 150 company-members, and addresses concerns, cultivates relationships and advocates for good business practices.

Across the industry, AECIPA member companies are making strides to develop resilient and competitive oil and gas projects. Angolan service company Brimont Angola, for example, secured a contract in 2021 to procure specialty chemicals for Angolan NOC Sonangol. The contract covers all of Sonangol’s operated blocks. Additionally, maritime service provider OCTOMAR entered a joint venture with Angolan logistics provider CABSHIP to establish a diving and offshore marine company in the Cabinda Special Economic Zone. As new project developments kick off across the industry, opportunities for Angolan service providers and partners continue to grow.

“AECIPA member companies have developed significant knowhow and capabilities in recent years, taking on even more complex projects and delivering them to high industry standards, under budget and with world class HSE practices. We continue to see more collaboration between our members and other world class brands. We therefore encourage other companies not yet in Angola to partner with world class Angolan companies and take advantage of the big opportunities that the market offers” said Braulio de Brito, President of AECIPA who is also Executive Chairman and Founder of Tradinter, an Angolan O&G Service company.

Through the partnership, AECIPA member companies will receive a 10% discount on delegate passes, enabling companies to participate in conference offering including panel discussions, exhibition, and networking functions. The added benefits for Angolan companies align with AEW: Invest in African Energy’s objective to make energy poverty history by 2030 through increased participation by local firms in industry development and dialogue.

AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and governments and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Representing one of the largest oil and gas producers in Africa, Angola has a strong pipeline of projects underway that aim to maintain production at 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) until 2027, thereafter increasing it to 1.18 million bpd. Major projects include the Cameia-Golfinho fields – with FID expected this year -; the 30,000 bpd CLOV Phase 3 Project on Block 17 – with production expected this year – and the start of operations of the first phase of the 30,000 bpd Cabinda Oil Refinery. At the same time, the company recently concluded a 12-block tender as part of its six-year licensing round – launched in 2019 – and expects the next round to be opened next year. With 43 wells set to drilled in 2024 and companies such as ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies and more making billion and million-dollar commitments to the country’s oil and gas industry, respectively, contractual opportunities for Angolan players are increasing.

The AECIPA-AEW: Invest in African Energy partnership aims to position Angolan service providers at the forefront of the continent’s growth. As such, the parties will hold a webinar ahead of the conference this November, exploring investment opportunities in Angola and the role of local companies in strengthening African economies. These discussions will be further unpacked during the conference in Cape Town. AECIPA Chairman, Eng. Bráulio de Brito, will also deliver a presentation during the conference, providing crucial insight into ongoing programs in Angola.

“AECIPA continues to champion professional initiatives within the Angolan oil and gas industry and the association’s commitment to creating economic opportunities for Angolan service providers is exemplary. African-based service providers play a catalyzing role in project development. By prioritizing local content, streamlining industry opportunities and investing in SMEs, Africa stands to make energy poverty history by 2030,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.