Join us under the Baobab tree for a webinar launch of Africa Catalyzing Action for Nutrition (AfriCAN), a new network with a mission to mobilise and harness Africa’s untapped and underutilised resources towards improving nutrition sustainably on the continent.  

This event introduced AfriCAN and featured a panel discussion on sustainable solutions to eliminate hunger and malnutrition. 

A recording of the launch can be found on YouTube:

Background

The African Union has declared 2022 as the year for nutrition with the theme “Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital and social economic development “. 

This declaration is preceded by earlier commitments in 2014 where African Union member states committed to end hunger and reduce stunting to 10% by 2025 (Malabo Declaration) and in 2015, to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal 2).  

The African Union’s long-term Agenda 2063 further aspires for a youth that is socially, economically, and politically empowered to be the driving force behind the continent’s political, social, cultural, and economic transformation. Adequate Nutrition is an essential foundation for the fulfillment of this and the continent’s other aspirations for economic growth and development.  

However recent reports show, Africa is not on track to meet global and continental targets on hunger and malnutrition.

Current political will must therefore be translated into adequate resources and actions for hunger and malnutrition to be eradicated across the continent. While investments in nutrition by national governments have increased over the years, many nutrition actions on the continent are still being funded mainly with external resources. This may result in projects that are limited in scope and not sustainable. Yet Africa has resources both within the continent and the diaspora, that can contribute to sustainable outcomes and impact of nutrition actions.  

Agenda

Moderator: Professor Francis B. Zotor, Professor of Public Health Nutrition and Director AfriCAN

Welcome remarks:  Dr. Namanga Ngongi, Former Deputy Executive Director WFP; Former Chair, UN Standing Committee on Nutritition (UNSCN) & Board Chair, AfriCAN

Presenting AfriCAN:  Ms. Isatou Jallow, Executive Director, AfriCAN                                                  

Perspectives: 

• Ms. Julia Tagwireyi, Former Director, Food and Nutrition Council, Zimbabwe and Director, AfriCAN
• Dr. Josue Dione, Former Director, Food Security and Sustainable Development Division, UNECA and Board Member, AfriCAN
• Dr Charity Binka, Executive Director, Women, Media and Change
• Dr Habiba Hassan-Wassef, Trustee, African Nutrition Society
• Sheikh Tijan Tunkara, Youth Representative and Community Activist                                    

Message from a Partner: Dr. Lawalley Cole, Executive Director, Coalition on media and education for development, Africa Forum (CAFOR)   

Comments from the audience                                                          

Official launch & closing remarks