West African experts adopt strong recommendations to improve food security

Abstract

The seventeenth Intergovernmental Committee of Experts of the Sub-Regional Office for West Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa was held on March 3-4, 2014, at the President Hotel in Yamoussoukro, presided over by the Prefect of the Region of Bélier representing the Minister of State, Minister of Planning and Development of Côte d’Ivoire. Presiding over the opening ceremony on behalf of the Ivorian Minister of State, Minister of Planning and Development, the Prefect of the Region of Bélier first extended a warm welcome to the experts before congratulating them on the choice of his country, Côte d’Ivoire by the UNECA to host such an important meeting. For André Akponon, the West African sub-region has an important agricultural potential with very diverse ecosystems which create complementarity between production basins, thus facilitating the regional integration of agricultural economies and trade. The report advises Member countries to apply the recommended models of industrialization for the agricultural sub-sectors on strategic food products that are the most consumed in the sub-region, with a view to ensuring sustainable food security. The Secretariat also informed the experts on new strategies developed by the UNECA in the areas of capacity strengthening, partnership and knowledge management before reviewing the activities carried out by the Office between March 2013 and February 2014. These activities consisted primarily of meetings, seminars, publications and advisory services.