Senior officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have met in Accra. They discussed ways to speed up changes in Africa's food systems. The goal is to make these systems more efficient and have a bigger positive effect. The meeting focused on innovation and getting results faster for countries in Africa.
The three-day event, called RMT15, brought together top leaders. This included people from FAO headquarters and FAO representatives from across Africa. They looked at how the FAO can perform better. The world's food situation is becoming more complicated. This meeting aimed to help the FAO operate more effectively.
Africa plays a very important part in the FAO's global plans. This was highlighted by FAO Deputy Director-General Godfrey Magwenzi. He said Africa faces many challenges. The FAO must show it can achieve results there with drive and new ideas. Success in Africa makes the whole FAO stronger. Deputy Director-General Maurizio Martina added that working as one team is vital for more impact. Avoiding wasted effort and speeding up decisions helps the FAO deliver better.
Ghana's Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, welcomed the attendees. He stated that agriculture is key to Ghana's progress. The meeting should renew commitments to getting things done. The aim is to create real change for farmers and communities. The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Emilia Arthur, stressed the need for strong teamwork. She encouraged bold innovation and faster action.
FAO Assistant Director-General Abebe Haile-Gabriel urged practical steps. He outlined five key areas for improvement. First, sharper focus on the most important activities. Second, better oversight of projects. This helps spot problems early. Third, faster reporting of issues and clear responsibility for solutions. Fourth, learning from what works in different countries. Finally, ensuring decisions lead to action and tracking progress closely. These steps will improve results at the country level.
This meeting happens at an important time. The FAO is working to meet its goals for 2022-2031. At the same time, funding for core work is decreasing. Hunger and malnutrition are also rising across the continent. The discussions covered operational effectiveness and how to manage risks. They also focused on measuring results that matter to member countries. Flagship initiatives like the Hand-in-Hand Initiative were also on the agenda. Sessions on supporting youth and women were included. Preparations for a major global conference in Accra in December were also discussed.