As Sub-Saharan Africa faces mounting food insecurity, the Republic of Congo and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) have joined forces to harness the potential of e-commerce to drive agricultural development and improve access to food.
A joint ECA/Congo mission was held in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire from June 30 to July 4, bringing together nearly 200 public and private sector stakeholders to explore how digital tools can support agricultural value chains and facilitate the distribution of food, particularly to the most vulnerable populations.
This initiative falls under ECA’s flagship programme “Smart Digital Trade for the AfCFTA,” which focuses on food security and the digital transformation of Africa’s agricultural sector.
“If current trends continue, Africa will not meet the ‘Zero Hunger’ goal by 2030,” warned Simone Assah Kuete, Economic Affairs Officer at the ECA’s East Africa office.
She stressed the urgent need to improve logistics infrastructure, particularly cold chain systems, which are critical for preserving perishable goods.
In the Republic of Congo, only 4% of arable land is currently under cultivation, despite government efforts. Food access remains a challenge due to underdeveloped infrastructure and structural imbalances, leaving around 455,000 people in situations of food and nutritional insecurity.
The mission identified several key challenges: weak digital payment systems, limited access to e-commerce platforms and critical needs in training and regulatory frameworks.
The participants included representatives from the ministries of trade, agriculture, and digital economy, as well as companies such as MTN, Airtel, commercial banks, and international partners like the FAO and WFP.
Lenda Sitou Milandou, Special Adviser at the Ministry of Trade, welcomed the initiative and the momentum gained.
“Food security is a national priority. To move forward, we need strong frameworks to support the development of e-commerce in the agri-food sector,” she stated.
TE/sf/lb/gik/APA