On the eve of the opening of the 16th meeting of the sub-regional multidisciplinary team of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), scheduled to take place in Praia, Cabo Verde from 19 to 22 November 2024, Gouantoueu Robert Guei,
FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for West Africa and Representative in Senegal, discusses the challenges of this event under the theme “Synergy between actors: dynamic social protection to strengthen resilience and ensure food and nutrition security in West Africa.”
In this interview with APA, he focuses on the challenges, opportunities and impacts of social protection policies in the region.
Why did you choose Cabo Verde as the venue for the 16th meeting of the
multidisciplinary team, after Gambia the previous year?
The choice of Cabo Verde is not insignificant. FAO, in its decentralization dynamic, organizes this crucial meeting every year in a country in the region. This gathering mobilizes representatives of States, sub-regional organizations such as ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union) and CILSS (Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel), as well as sectoral ministries to assess annual progress, adjust strategies and plan future actions. Cabo Verde, as an island country, faces specific challenges, particularly logistical and in terms of technical expertise, common to many island nations.
However, it excels in areas such as social protection, with integrated and coherent programmes, often extended to its Diaspora. This performance makes it a model for the region. Thus, this meeting aims to build on Cabo Verde’s good practices and explore how to adapt and scale them up in other countries in the sub-region.
What lessons do you draw from the 15th meeting? What progress has been made in social protection?
The 2023 edition focused on investments, with strong advocacy for governments to increase financing in agriculture. FAO has engaged in discussions with donors, governments and the private sector in several
countries such as Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. These efforts aim to encourage sustainable investments, by further integrating the private sector.
For 2024, the central theme is social protection. FAO now has a dedicated programme, which focuses on rural populations, who are often marginalized. It is not just about social insurance, but concrete support to transform small farmers into autonomous producers. This support involves financial aid coupled with technical assistance, ensuring that beneficiaries escape the vicious circle of poverty while improving the food security of their families and communities.
How does social protection contribute to food security in West Africa?
Social protection plays a key role by targeting the most vulnerable populations, often identified through single national registers. These programmes offer financial aid combined with technical support to strengthen farmers’ production capacities. For example, after two cycles of support, beneficiaries become autonomous, improving their food security and reducing inequalities.
In addition, successful experiences show that beneficiaries who were initially very precarious are now able to generate stable income and create opportunities for others. This dynamic transforms poverty into a lever for economic development.
How do worsening insecurity and climate change affect the achievement of FAO’s objectives?
Insecurity has devastating effects on rural development. Attacks on villages result in loss of life, destruction of means of production and displacement of populations, thus worsening food insecurity. In addition, climatic hazards such as floods and droughts further complicate the situation. This year, harvests were severely affected by floods during the harvest period.
In response to these challenges, FAO is deploying initiatives to replenish seed stocks, support off-season crops and develop infrastructure such as wells and boreholes for agriculture and livestock. Social protection plays a key role in these efforts, including through programmes such as “cash for work”, enabling vulnerable populations to resume their activities.
AC/Sf/fss/gik/APA