Marrakech (Morocco), March 15, 2019 - The World Food Programme (WFP) will hold a High-Level Strategic Policy Dialogue on the theme Investments in Africa for Job Creation: Human Capital, Sustainable Agriculture and Private Sector Partnerships in Marrakech, Morocco as part of the side events organized in the lead up to the Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (COM 2019). The Dialogue will take place in the Oliveraie meeting room at the Conference center, on 23rd March 2019.
Recognizing the need for profound change in order to achieve the SDGs and Agenda 2063, WFP and partners have facilitated National Zero Hunger Strategic Reviews throughout Africa, to establish baselines on the main drivers and solutions for food insecurity and malnutrition, and to recommend appropriate investments to help countries progress towards those goals. WFP, national governments and other partners have supported Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) studies over the years that have estimated the heavy toll that child undernutrition exacts on African economies and the imperative to address this impediment to Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
The objective of this high-level event is to promote a strategic policy dialogue on development in Africa, focused on common challenges and opportunities and local, country-driven solutions. To that end, development partners and African governments need to find ways to translate the emerging global evidence and thinking on development into sustainable local solutions.
Senior officials of the ministries of finance, planning and economic development; policymakers, development planners and finance experts, civil society, private sector and international actors are expected to attend the meeting.
Discussions will focus on the rationale and case for prioritization of investments in and increased budget allocations for human capital through job opportunities, food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture and related infrastructure in partnership with the private sector.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org