VIRTUAL AFRICA DISCUSSION: 2023 IFPRI’S GLOBAL FOOD POLICY REPORT: RETHINKING FOOD CRISIS RESPONSES

IFPRI’s 2023 Global Food Policy Report (GFPR) examines how to improve crisis response and build resilience in the face of more frequent and persistent crises affecting global and local food systems, triggered by economic challenges, conflict, extreme weather events, natural disasters, and epidemics. Reducing the impact these crises will require renewed and broader efforts to prevent, mitigate and recover from crisis, and to align humanitarian responses with longer-term development needs. IFPRI’s flagship publication, authored by researchers from across the institute, CGIAR, and external partners, reviews and distills a strong body of policy research to offer key findings and recommendations to improve crisis response now.

Food system shocks risk increasing food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition, and can disrupt livelihoods, increase poverty, and further diminish prospects for the world’s most vulnerable populations. Governments and the international community, including research organizations such as IFPRI, support efforts to better predict, monitor, and respond to crises as they arise, but these efforts often are not sustained when the crises end. Addressing the “new normal” of more frequent and often overlapping crises requires rethinking national and global responses to more effectively prevent, mitigate, and recover from crises in ways that build long-term resilience.

The virtual Africa discussion will feature a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the report's key findings and recommendations and implications for Africa and its regions. Speakers will discuss how shocks can be addressed through policy actions that strengthen food systems at national and local levels as well as through efforts to support smallholder farmers who are particularly vulnerable to shocks. Panelists will also discuss policies that can improve food security in Africa what can be done to mitigate the impact of future crises.

MODERATOR:

Charlotte Hebebrand,Communications and Public Affairs Director, IFPRI

13:00pm – 13:05pm – INTRODUCTION & WELCOME REMARKS

Samuel Benin, Acting Director, IFPRI Africa Regional Office

13:05pm – 12 :15pm - REPORT OVERVIEW WITH BRIEF FINDINGS OF THE REPORT

Jo Swinnen, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

13:15pm – 13:35pm - OVERVIEW OF THE AFRICA RESULTS

John Ulimwengu, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Africa Regional Office

Harriet Mawia, Research Officer, IFPRI Africa Regional Office

13:35pm – 14:05pm: REACTIONS FROM GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL PARTNERS

H.E. Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union (TBC)

Abdoulaye Mohamadou, Executive Secretary, CILSS, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Menghestab Haile, Regional Director, WFP Regional Bureau for Southern Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa

Amos O. Nyakeyo, Deputy Director of the Drought Contingency Planning and Response Department, National Drought Management Authority, Nairobi Kenya

14:05PM – 14:25PM - Questions & Answers

14:25PM – 14:30PM - CLOSING REMARKS

Kwaw Andam, Country Program Leader / Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Nigeria