Development partners to commit US$30 bn to boost food production in Africa

coordination

Adesina commended the high turnout at the event. “We came in response to a clarion call out of Africa that it is time for Africa to feed Africa. The clarion call was that the time is right, and the time is now for Africa to feed itself. We came from Africa. We came from around the world.”

He said that Dakar 2 Summit would be remembered as a key moment in Africa’s ability to feed itself and achieve food self-su ciency and food sovereignty: “We leave with a determination and resolve to feed Africa. With hands together and in locked steps, we will reach our destination: An Africa that nally feeds itself. An Africa that develops with pride.”

In the Dakar Declaration, the leaders agreed to allocate at least 10% of public expenditure to increase funding for agriculture. They also resolved to deploy robust production packages to boost productivity and increase resilience to achieve food security and self-su ciency.

In his closing remarks, Senegalese Prime Minister Amadou Ba called the summit “a resounding success.”

“Agriculture creates jobs and promotes wealth and health,” he said and called on all citizens of Africa to come together and agree on a joint agenda steered by Africans for Africans.

Prime Minister Ba added: “It’s a paradox that Africa is the largest continent but also the most dependent. Starting now, we must do away with dependency. Africa should consume what it produces

and produce what it consumes.”

Global support

Irish President Michael Higgins, who attended all three days of the summit, called for global support for the ‘Feed Africa’ agenda.

“Let us make this century Africa’s Century, one which will see the continent become free from hunger, a shared continent in a global family, one based on the rm foundations of respect for each nation’s institutions, traditions, experiences, and wisdoms,” President Higgins said.

In a video message, Netherlands Director-General for International Cooperation Kitty Van Den Heijden announced that her country would commit an additional €450 million over the next ve years to food secu- rity programs with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. She said the country would also support the African Emergency Food Production Facility of the African Development Bank with $30 million.

“We don’t have time to waste; we need to take action and build more resilient food systems,” she added. The president of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, delivered a statement pledging continued support to boost food production in Africa. Canada and Germany also made commitments to support the Feed Africa agenda.