The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, has launched a two-day capacity development workshop titled “Legislating the Right to Adequate Food.” The workshop, organized under the Pan-African Parliamentary Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (PAPA-FSN), brings together parliamentarians from across Africa to strengthen legislative frameworks and enhance their role in ensuring that all Africans have access to adequate, nutritious, and safe food.
The event coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Right to Food Guidelines and precedes the Third Global Parliamentary Summit Against Hunger and Malnutrition in 2026, highlighting Africa’s leadership in advancing food and nutrition security. Dr. Ahmadu Babagana, FAO Representative in South Africa, emphasized the urgency of parliamentary action, noting that in 2024 over 307 million people in Africa were affected by chronic undernourishment. He stressed that the right to adequate food is a binding human right and that parliamentarians equipped with proper tools and knowledge can act as catalysts for change.
Dr. Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa, highlighted Africa’s potential to achieve agrifood transformation through effective policies, investments, and governance. He commended the Kampala CAADP Declaration, which urges parliaments to allocate at least 10% of annual public expenditure to agrifood systems while ensuring proper oversight. Talla emphasized that parliamentarians have the power to legislate, allocate resources, and enforce accountability, making their engagement crucial for progress ahead of the 2026 summit.
Hon. Abdallah Barakat Ibrahim, Vice-Chairperson of PAP’s Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, called for a unified continental vision, stressing that while laws are essential, their effective implementation, political will, accountability, and adequate resources are what ultimately ensure access to food.
The workshop serves as a platform to advance the domestication of the Pan-African Parliament’s Model Law on Food and Nutrition Security, a critical tool for realizing the right to food across the continent. It also contributes to preparations for the 2026 Global Parliamentary Summit Against Hunger and Malnutrition in Midrand, South Africa. FAO’s Development Law Service, in collaboration with PAP’s Parliamentary Support Unit, provided technical support to enhance the legal and institutional capacities of parliamentarians in promoting the right to adequate food.
