The 2015-2016 El Niño will remain as a turning point for the violence it brought upon the health, water supply, and food security of millions of Africans, in particular in Eastern Africa and more precisely in Ethiopia. Climate Change is worsening an already alarming situation vis-à-vis food security and water resources. Everyone has a responsibility to address the issue.
This is why IWMI Africa and GWP Africa have joined forces, in order to bring “from talk to walk” the recommendations issued on Water and Food Security and Nutrition by the United Nations Committee on Food Security (UN CFS).
Ethiopia, together with Sudan and Uganda from Eastern Africa; Benin, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Mali from Western Africa; and Malawi and Lesotho from Southern Africa, will take part in this innovative initiative based on the “Partnership for Development” principle in the UN Sustainable Development Goal #17.
HE State Minster James Dengchol Tot, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, opening the workshop, clearly expressed how crucial integrated water management is to food security. Together with the African Commission representative and the UN CFS Chair, they called upon the participants to look for innovative and replicable pathways that will result in a tangible contribution to sustainably end hunger in Africa.
HE Minister said “I wish you can think outside your usual boxes and come up with innovative solutions that can help our continent”, which captures the essence of the new IWMI-GWP Africa momentum.