Aid Agencies Meet in Nigeria to Discuss the Development of African Agriculture

Multi-stakeholder partnerships between the Development Agencies, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), regional and sub-regional Economic Organizations and other development partners are expected to enhance initiatives and programs related to agriculture and food security and facilitate immediate action for the challenges facing Africa.

To discuss improved cooperation between these organizations and stakeholders, a meeting on the development of African Agriculture has been jointly organized by FAO, the African Development Bank (ADB) and NEPAD, in Abuja, Nigeria on 11-12 December. The Director General of FAO told delegates that this meeting "should allow further discussions between the African Regional Economic Organizations and development partners in order to move from a continental programme to bankable regional projects to be implemented on a national level."

Discussions focused on the role of African regional economic organizations in implementing regional programs for food security within the NEPAD Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) framework. This framework gives priority to the control of water, development of rural infrastructure, access to markets and increasing and diversifying agricultural production.