Angola has expressed its support for the new programme and structure of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) aimed at transforming it into a more inclusive, innovative, transparent and dynamic institution.
Angola’s support was conveyed by its permanent representative to the UN agencies based in Rome, Italy, Fátima Jardim, during the 164th session of the FAO Council, held from 6 to 10 July this year.
Also Angolan ambassador to Italy, Fátima Jardim highlighted the national priorities that, in her view, should be focused on programmes that contribute to the increase of production and productivity.
The official defended the need for countries to protect themselves from the current crises.
Among the crises, which currently affect the world, the official highlighted the covid-19 pandemic, the fall in the price of oil, the drought, desertification and the occurrence of locust pests and the corn cartridge caterpillar, which mainly affect the African continent.
Also read: Africa’s food security relies on climate smart agriculture
She explained that the Angolan Government is promoting inclusive development and implementing programmes to reduce malnutrition and poverty, improving food security, by granting agricultural and fishing credit to small family businesses.
The Angolan authorities, she stressed, are exercising transparent governance with the aim of diversifying production and attracting investments to the country.
The Angolan representative also informed that actions are being promoted in rural areas to increase the employment rate, through the training of young people to develop entrepreneurial initiatives, innovation, education and professional training, for which she requested support and cooperation from FAO to reinforce existing and future programmes.
The importance of decentralisation and the need for co-participation by all development actors, especially in the private sector, to strengthen financial capacity at the local level, were other topics addressed by the Angolan representative.
Fátima Jardim said that Africa must continue to be a priority for FAO, within the framework of the Sustainable Development Agenda, in order to face the challenges arising from climate change, particularly in relation to adaptation in the area of resilient agriculture, with a view to guaranteeing food security in Africa populations.
The official congratulated FAO director general, the Chinese Qu Dongyu, and his collaborators for the new programme and the new structure, which prioritise, in a transparent and responsible manner, areas that aim to transform the institution into a more inclusive, innovative, transparent organization, dynamic, efficient and collaborative.
The new adjustments proposed by Qu Dongyu aim to improve the organisation’s efficiency and effectiveness.
The session of the FAO Council, which took place by videoconference, was attended by more than 380 representatives from member states, United Nations organisations, academics, financial institutions, representatives of the private sector and civil society.
Source: Angop
