ECOWAS Heads of State Summit: FAO and ECOWAS promote initiative toward achieving Zero Hunger Challenge

Agricultural growth and transformation must fully benefit and empower women

Bukar Tijani, FAO Assistant Director-General

16 December 2016, Accra - FAO and ECOWAS have demonstrated strong commitment towards meeting the Zero Hunger Challenge in the West Africa region by implementing a joint project on gender-responsive regional and National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs) for meeting the Zero Hunger Challenge in the ECOWAS region. 

The project responds in concrete terms to women’s constraints, needs and priorities in agricultural production, value chain development, food security and nutrition.

Statement from the President Elect Adama Barrow

President-elect Adama Barrow

Fellow citizens and friends of The Gambia I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Independent Electoral Commission of The Gambia in particular and the Electorate at large for delivering free, fair and credible elections. In the same vein, I wish to congratulate the contestants for accepting the results of the elections as the undiluted verdict of the Electorate. The people of the Gambia have spoken. They have shown that they have the power to determine their destiny.

For the first time in Gambian history change has come in a peaceful manner through the ballot box based on the consent of the people. We have all made history. There are no winners or losers in this election. We brought about change to build an inclusive society.

Now Gambians and Gambia can raise our heads and count ourselves among the most democratic nations in the world. The congratulatory message from President Jammeh, the outgoing president, and his promise to work with me as the incoming president, to ensure a smooth transfer of power is another milestone in the history of democratic transfer of power in Africa. We have agreed to set up parallel teams, on both sides, to work hand in hand to formulate and implement the modalities of the transition.

IFAD calls for policies to end poverty in West and Central Africa

IFAD calls for policies to empower rural youth, encourage private investment, increase access to land and finance to end poverty in West and Central Africa

Abidjan/Rome, 23 November 2016 --Youth unemployment, insecure land tenure and weak value chains are the main obstacles in the way of ending poverty and inequality in West and Central Africa, says a new report to be presented today in Abidjan by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Youth under the age of 35 account for 75 per cent of the population of the region which also has the highest number of rural youth than any other region in the world. Empowering youth is the first step towards achieving prosperity in the region, says the report.

IFAD signs US$25.5 million agreement to revitalize irrigation for drought-hit farmers in Zimbabwe

Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of IFAD.

Rome, 18 November 2016 – The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Zimbabwe signed a US$25.5 million agreement today to revitalize 6,100 hectares in 152 existing smallholder irrigation schemes in the semi-arid zones in four provinces:  Manicaland, Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Midlands. Over 27,700 poor rural households will benefit from this programme.

The agreement was signed in Rome by Patrick Chinamasa, Minister for Finance and Economic Development of Zimbabwe and Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of IFAD.

The Smallholder Irrigation Revitalization Programme (SIRP) will cover some 46 per cent of the country’s estimated total irrigation-equipped area of about 13,000 hectares. The total cost of the project is US$51.3 million, including $15 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development, $7.9 million from the Government of Zimbabwe and $3.2 million from the beneficiaries themselves.

FAO`s contributions towardsthe eradication of food insecurity, poverty and poverty in the Gambia extolled

10 November, 2016, Banjul – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today signed three letters of Agreement (LoAs) amounting to GMD6,632,374.75 (six millions, six hundred and thirty-two thousand, three hundred and seventy-four dalasi and seventy-five bututs) with three institutions for the implementation of specific activities under the Action Against Deforestation Project.  The Department of Forestry received DGM3, 658,012.55, the Agency for the Development of Women and Children (ADWAC) received GMD933, 183.20 and the Natural Resources Consulting (NACO) received GMD2, 041,179.00.  The forestry department also received three motor bikes over D370,000and  2 cameras and 3 GPS.Each institution also received a laptop to facilitate implementation.