The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is intensifying efforts to attract global investment into Southern Africa’s rapidly evolving agricultural sector. Highlighting a pipeline of over USD 1.8 billion in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and more than USD 448 million in African Small Island Developing States (SIDS), FAO is promoting high-impact investment… [Read More]
FAO
ASEL Agri’s Youth Trace Force Triumphs at AGX Inspire Challenge 2025, Boosting Kenyan Coffee Compliance with EU Regulations
ASEL Agri’s youth-led tech initiative, Youth Trace Force, has won the AGX Inspire Challenge 2025 for its innovative approach to helping Kenyan coffee farmers comply with European Union deforestation regulations (EUDR). The AGX Inspire Challenge, hosted at ILRI, Nairobi from 23–24 July 2025, provides seed funding and technical support from CGIAR to teams developing practical,… [Read More]
FAO Regional Office for Africa: Advancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has taken a significant step towards modernizing its plant health systems by strengthening the capacity of its Member States to adopt the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC) Generic ePhyto National System (GeNS). This follows a week-long EU-funded training workshop under the Support Towards the Operationalisation of the SADC Regional… [Read More]
FAO Regional Office for Africa: Driving Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Africa Section of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC International Sub-Sahara), has officially launched a regional programme to strengthen food safety laboratories in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Senegal. The initiative, unveiled at a workshop in Dakar, aims to support nine… [Read More]
FAO Regional Office for Africa: Advancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
In Mzimba, Malawi, farmers like Mefa Kapokosa depend heavily on agriculture for their families’ survival. For years, Mefa struggled to produce enough maize due to erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells caused by climate change. Although she had received advice from agriculture extension officers, it was not until she began engaging with field demonstration plots… [Read More]
FAO Regional Office for Africa: Advancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
The rising cost of agricultural inputs, particularly inorganic fertilizers, has posed a significant challenge for smallholder farmers in Malawi, limiting their productivity and threatening food security. Many farmers, unable to afford these costly inputs, often experience poor harvests that barely meet their household consumption needs, especially in areas affected by land degradation. To address this… [Read More]
My Journey to Empowering Youth Participation in Decision-Making
At the age of thirteen, my journey toward youth participation began when UNICEF’s Retorno a la Alegría strategy reached my neighborhood. The program trained adolescent volunteers to support children facing difficult circumstances, and for me, it was a turning point. It gave me more than just a safe space—it showed me that my voice mattered…. [Read More]
UN Resident Coordinators Driving Development Impact in Nepal and Panama
At the recent Financing for Development Summit in Seville, UN Resident Coordinators Hanaa Singer-Hamdy of Nepal and Ana Graça of Panama highlighted how the UN is driving impact at the country level by forging partnerships, strengthening financing ecosystems, and advancing inclusive development solutions. Their work demonstrates the crucial role Resident Coordinators play in ensuring that… [Read More]
How Nuclear Technology is Revolutionizing the Fight Against Seafood Fraud
Deceptive practices in the seafood industry, from mislabeled fish to hidden additives, are threatening livelihoods, food safety, and consumer trust. An international initiative backed by the United Nations is now leveraging advanced nuclear science to ensure seafood is safe, authentic, and traceable, protecting both consumers and the fishing industry. Seafood consumption per capita has doubled… [Read More]
African Development Bank Boosts Africa’s Data Transformation with SDMX and Open Data Platform 2.0 Training
The African Development Bank’s Statistics Department, in partnership with the African Union Institute of Statistics (STATAFRIC), the Africa Centre for Statistics of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and other international organizations, hosted a regional workshop on Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) and the Bank’s Open Data Platform 2.0 (ODP 2.0). Held… [Read More]
Transforming Jordan’s Agrifood System for Sustainable Growth and Resilience
In line with Jordan’s 2021–2030 National Food Security Strategy, the Joint Programme led by FAO and UNIDO with support from the Joint SDG Fund is driving the transformation of the country’s agrifood systems. The initiative focuses on smallholder inclusion, innovation, and blended financing to tackle pressing challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and economic… [Read More]
Global Updates: Education Aid for Afghanistan, Seaweed Farming Boost in Latin America, Somalia Faces Drought Crisis
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a $3.5 million contribution from the Government of Indonesia to support its school meal programme in Afghanistan. With this funding, WFP will procure over 1,200 metric tons of fortified biscuits, benefiting 200,000 primary school children over a three-month period. For many students, this daily snack is… [Read More]
Global Update: Uganda Faces Refugee Funding Crisis, Serbia’s Academic Freedom Under Scrutiny, Afghanistan Strengthens Rural Resilience
Uganda is currently grappling with a deepening refugee funding crisis. Its progressive policy, which allows refugees to work and access public services, along with its geographic proximity to regional conflicts, has made it the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. However, emergency aid funding is set to run out by September, putting the lives of vulnerable… [Read More]
FAO Regional Office for Africa: Driving Food Security and Agricultural Development
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has reinforced its commitment to advancing inclusive, investment-driven transformation of agrifood systems in Southern Africa through the Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HIH). Implemented in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the initiative focuses on unlocking opportunities for sustainable agricultural growth across the region. During the… [Read More]
Tanzania Secures $25M Grant to Strengthen Pandemic Preparedness and Health Systems
The United Republic of Tanzania has secured a US$25 million grant from the Pandemic Fund to bolster its national health security and pandemic preparedness. This core funding is further supported by US$7 million in co-investment and US$6.7 million in co-financing, reflecting strong technical and financial partnerships dedicated to strengthening the country’s public health systems. The… [Read More]
IFAD and Solomon Islands Launch $20M Project for Nutrition, Climate Resilience & Rural Incomes
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of the Solomon Islands have signed an agreement for a US$20 million project aimed at enhancing food security, improving nutrition, and building climate resilience. The six-year Agricultural Investment for Markets and Nutrition (AIM-N) project is expected to directly benefit over 18,000 people by strengthening traditional… [Read More]
FAO Africa CoP Highlights South Sudan’s Resilient Seed System Strategies in Fragile Settings
The FAO Regional Office for Africa Resilience Team conducted its third virtual Community of Practice (CoP) meeting on 8 July 2025, gathering FAO staff and technical experts from across the continent. The focus was on sharing practical lessons from South Sudan’s experience in strengthening seed systems within fragile and conflict-affected environments. South Sudan has significantly… [Read More]
New FAO Projects Target Soil Health and Water Management in the Global South
Two major initiatives have been launched in Zimbabwe to support sustainable management of soil and water resources. The projects, titled “Capacity Development on Sustainable Soil Management in the Global South” and “National Water Roadmap towards 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” are designed to accelerate progress toward the SDGs by enhancing technical capacities, promoting inclusive governance, and… [Read More]
New Pandemic Fund to Strengthen South Africa’s Health Security
A new global initiative to support pandemic preparedness in low- and middle-income countries will be officially launched later this week. The South African Department of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and UNICEF, will lead the launch of the Pandemic Fund. The initiative aims to enhance… [Read More]
$358M Climate-Resilient Dairy Initiative Launched in East Africa by IFAD and GCF
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) have launched a landmark $358 million programme to combat climate change in East Africa’s dairy sector. The Dairy Interventions for Mitigation and Adaptation (DaIMA) programme will directly benefit 2.5 million rural people across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. As part of the… [Read More]
GCF Approves $300M for FAO-Led Projects to Tackle Climate Challenges
Exciting Developments in Environmental Funding In a significant move towards promoting environmental sustainability, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved three major projects led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). These initiatives, worth a substantial $300 million, aim to address pressing environmental challenges in various regions. Protecting Forests in Papua New Guinea One of… [Read More]
FAO Marks 80 Years of Fighting Hunger and Advancing Sustainability
Introduction In celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a significant event took place in Rome. This milestone highlights the ongoing commitment of the FAO to combat hunger and promote sustainable agricultural practices worldwide. Importance of the FAO's Mission The FAO has played a crucial role in addressing global food… [Read More]
Humanitarian Emergency in Yemen: Global Coalition Urges Response
Introduction to the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen The situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, plunging the nation deeper into a humanitarian crisis. A coalition of 116 aid organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has urgently called for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of millions in this war-torn country. The Alarming State of… [Read More]
