Posted June 2001

The Horn of Africa Initiative

As reported in April's News and Highlights, a two-day donor meeting was recently held in Rome to reach agreement on a follow-up mechanism for the implementation of the strategy for the Intergency Task Force Long-Term Food Security, Agricultural Development and Related Aspects in the Horn of Africa, and to obtain indications of funding. Convened by the World Bank and hosted by FAO, the meeting was attended by representatives from other UN agencies, member states of OECD, the European Union, some African countries and officials from the African Development Bank and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

The meeting participants were in general consensus on the follow-up mechanism discussed in a Concept Note (drafted by the World Bank in collaboration with FAO) and agreed on the the proposal to provide coordinated support to national governments in the formulation and implementation of food security programmes. Delegates considered that the proposed scale of the follow-up mechanism - an estimated US$16 million spread over three years - would be appropriate.

Development partners - ranging from UN agencies, national governments, IGAD, financing instituions, donors, NGOs and civil society - have agreed to meet shortly at a Regional Consultation on Food Security in the Horn of Africa (Nairobi, 2-4 July 2001). Convened by the World Bank, the Consultation will feature a series of plenary and working group sessions and aims to deepen the general consensus of all parties about the proposed strategy, further clarify national and regional priorities in tackling food security issues, and agree on the modalities of a mechanism for the implementation of the strategy.