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Accra, 11 June, GNA – Africa and
Non-regional donors pledged $ 17 million Tuesday to replenish Africa's resources
Solidarity Fund, an initiative aimed at ensuring food security and
eliminate rural poverty on the continent.
The pledges were made by a high-level donor
round table convened by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) and the President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, on the sidelines
the 2019 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank currently under way at
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Opening of the conference at Sipopo
President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea, said that
The Fund illustrated "a turning point in the fight against food insecurity" and
that his small oil-rich country had generously donated his oil revenues to
show solidarity with African countries.
The Fund, an initiative of the United Kingdom
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, received its start-up contribution
$ 30 million from Equatorial Guinea, the host country for this year's meetings
and Angola, which gave $ 10 million.
His projects have been hired to provide
innovative solutions for African agriculture and food systems.
Speaking in the name of African development
President of the Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, Vice President of the Bank, Agriculture, Human Resources and
Jennifer Blanke said that Africa faces challenges in the field of
agriculture and food production, heavily dependent on food imports.
"It's so important that ASTF shows that
African countries contribute to Africa which is very closely linked to what we
do, "said Blanke, adding that the Bank's commitment to providing farmers
with technologies to help improve their yields.
The donor conference was attended by the
Guinea Bissau, Eswatini's Prime Minister and the President
several senior diplomats, ministers and development and bank officials
institutions.
The theme of Bank meetings this year
"Regional Integration for Africa's Economic Prosperity".
The push for regional integration has won
with the ratification of the agreement on African continental freedom
Commercial Zone (AfCFTA) in March 2018, which is now on the threshold of its launch
in July.
"You can count on us to be very
involved, "she said.
Ms. Maria Helena Semedo, Substitute
Director-General of FAO representing FAO Chief José Graziano da Silva
congratulated the Fund for its results.
The Fund has led to the successful implementation
18 projects that have benefited 41 countries and hundreds and thousands of
beneficiaries, including 160 vulnerable households in Niger who saw
transformation and subsidies allowing a rapid response to populations
affected by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014.
"We celebrate the success of the ASTF … the
the excellent results of the fund over the last five years bear witness to this ",
Semedo said that it was one of the flagship initiative and one of the most important
successful financing initiatives in FAO.
She said that the generosity of the donors was
unique proof of strong solidarity among African countries.
The meeting raised $ 17 million –
10 million USD from Angola, 2.6 million USD from China, 2 million euros from France,
$ 2 million from Equatorial Guinea and $ 100,000 from Zimbabwe.
GNA
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