New York, 21 September- The 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convened world leaders and prominent figures to address global challenges, such as climate change, poverty, social inclusion, and health. In response to this assembly, Countries and Institutions from Africa and the Middle East gathered during the Leaders’ Forum facilitated by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) on the “Africa and Middle East SAFE Initiative” alongside the 78th UNGA. The purpose of this Leaders’ Forum was to delve deeper into the potential of the initiative, which was announced at the 2023 Africa Climate Summit (ACS).   

H.E. Ban Ki-moon sparked meaningful dialogue on the potential of the “Africa and Middle East SAFE Initiative” at the 2023 Africa Climate Summit (ACS). This is a USD 10 billion public-private partnership initiative to scale up climate-resilient agriculture and transform food systems in Africa. If realized, it irrigates 2 million hectares of African farmland, enhances the climate resilience of 10 million smallholder farmers (especially women and young people), and addresses food security in both Africa and the Middle East. Additionally, it is expected to generate 2 million green jobs, improve livelihoods, and export 2 million metric tons of food crops to the Middle East, valued at around USD 2 billion. 

Speakers with keen support for the Africa and Middle East SAFE initiative including representatives from governments and institutions in Africa and the Middle East participated in the roundtable event. Notable figures such as H.E. Azali Assoumani, the President of the Republic of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. Macky Sall, the President of the Republic of Senegal, and H.E. Benedict Okey Oramah, the President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank provided essential background context regarding food insecurity and climate vulnerability in Africa, emphasizing the urgent need for a collaborative approach to address these pressing issues. 

To ensure diverse stakeholder engagement in its realization, the roundtable discussions encompassed several critical areas of focus. These included the exploration of innovative strategies to bolster climate resilience in agriculture, the policy measures aimed at encouraging the adoption of climate-resilient practices within agriculture and food systems, and the examination of financial mechanisms to support environmentally friendly initiatives within the agricultural sector. Additionally, collaborative approaches involving various stakeholders and the active promotion of agricultural technology transfer and research in smart farming were prominent themes, all with the overarching goal of translating these discussions into tangible actions.  

The Leaders’ Forum on the “Africa and Middle East SAFE” Initiative, featuring the pressing need for heightened commitments to invest in both regions and forge strategic alliances, the role of facilitator becomes critical,” said Assana Magagi-Ailo, GGGI’s Senegal Country Representative. “GGGI is committed to serving as the facilitator in the Africa and Middle East SAFE initiative, coordinating diverse stakeholder voices to propel the initiative forward successfully,” Ms. Magagi-Ailo added.