African Union responds to biting food shortage in Africa
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - The African Union is using a US$2.8-billion financial package from the World Bank to support food security initiatives in Africa, especially in the Horn of Africa.
The AU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Josefa Sacko, said on Thursday, that an eight-year-long programme had been launched to respond to the effect of climate change.
"We got US$2.8 billion to build food resilience in Eastern Africa. The World Bank has never been this generous," Sacko said during a news conference in Nairobi, where the continental body is holding its mid-year Coordination Summit with its Regional Economic Communities (RECS).
Under the revised plan of limiting the budgets utilised by the African countries to meaningfully participate in the decision-making process, the AU now holds one Summit and a planning session with limited attendance.
At least 25 Heads of State and Government are expected to attend the Summit, including the countries whose members sit in the management committee of the Union.
The AU is concerned about the lack of investment in the food security sector in Africa.
In its plan, the World Bank would for eight years provide funding to food security initiatives, Sacko said.
She said the AU will also engage with countries which want to assist the AU to recover from the food crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
-0- PANA AO/MA 14July2023
