IOFS CONCLUDES FOOD SECURITY GOVERNANCE WORKSHOP IN ABUJA

The regional training workshop on strategic planning and policy development in food security organized by the IOFS Secretariat in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Federal Republic of Nigeria with support of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) continuing for two-days concluded on 22 December 2022.

The second day of the event was enriched by the first session where Islamic Development Bank familiarized participants with its launched Food Security Response Program (FSRP) and its role to address the global food security crisis in OIC member countries. And the expert of Hamad Bin Khalifa University shared the ways of managing Food Security in Times of Uncertainty: Taking a Nexus Approach of Humanitarian-Development-Peace.

The special session that was led by international experts of Sustainable Food Systems of Ireland (SFSI) provided the deep background of reforms taken by the Irish Government that have been leading the country being number one as per the Global Food Security Index, as well as familiarize with global food security practices and tools at the local level.

The expert of American University of Beirut made an overview of AUB’s Food Security Education Program that was the only one that provides a good opportunity for government officials to study comprehensive domain of food security and goes beyond the agricultural field. Later, the IOFS Program Manager shared the presentation on the concept of Wholesale Distribution Centers and their role in sustainable food supply chains and behavioral insights for incorporating into policies and strategies.

Nigerian National Institutions emphasized on the importance of Agricultural Research in addressing food security in IOFS West African countries; the creation of Food Security Reserve System for Value Chain Development and implementation in Nigeria and Synopsis of the IOFS Programme of Action in Nigeria and expectations.

The IOFS Secretariat also conducted the survey among participants to evaluate the content of the event and receive the feedback of beneficiaries for further consideration in future IOFS activities. Also, the IOFS ensured to provide the Workshop report which will consist the training presentations, discussions and outcomes of the event.

At the end of the event, the IOFS Director General Prof. Yerlan Baidaulet and Engr. A.G. Abubakar, Director of Federal Department of Agriculture, have made concluding remarks. In fact the IOFS Director General outlined the necessity of joint close collaboration among member states in the domain of food security governance and ensured providing the inter-governmental umbrella in this aim by the IOFS.

The IOFS reiterated the appreciation to the financial co-support to IsDB, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nigeria for the great support extending to this IOFS activity and expressed confidence in further facilitation of mutual cooperation. The closing session was followed by the awarding certificates to participants for the active participation in the event and certainty of close communication with national authorities of member states.