The Minister of Food & Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Asunafo South Constituency, Hon. Eric Opoku, has lauded the results-focused efforts of the World Bank, regional bodies and member countries implementing the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP). In a keynote address, presented on his behalf at the at opening of the World Bank’s Regional FSRP meeting in Accra, the Hon. Minister highlighted Government’s endorsement of FSRP’s ongoing projects and interventions towards building resilient food systems and addressing food insecurity across West Africa.
He touted interventions like the installation of Automated Weather Stations around the country which will contribute to the generation of accurate agro-meteorological forecasts and advisories; and the ‘Poultry Intensification Scheme’ – which supports the commercial production of broiler poultry in a bid to reduce poultry importation and create jobs. FSRP’s irrigation schemes, matching grants and interventions towards the enhancement of trade amongst countries in the sub-regionwere also highlighted in the
address, presented on his behalf by his Chief Technical Adviser, Hon. Kwasi -Bonde.
REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT MISSION
The 5th Regional Implementation Support Mission (ISM) was a review and evaluation meeting on the implementation of FSRP, coordinated by the World Bank for FSRP member countries, namely – Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone. FSRP’s regional implementing organisations, who play technical and operational roles in support of member countries across the region were also key participants in the mission, namely: ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) – who are the regional coordinators of FSRP; CORAF (the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development) - a sub-regional organization comprising the national agricultural research systems of 23 West and Central African countries; and CILSS (Permanent Interstates Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel).
The ISM is held to review the progress of the implementation of FSRP in each participating country; to consolidate the coordination of regional and national activities; and to promote cross-learning and the creation of synergies between all FSRP stakeholders. In attendance were country Task Team Leaders, representatives of the regional implementing bodies, Project Coordinators and technical experts from participating countries.
‘CROSS-COUNTRY REPORTS’
Consistent with the conduct of Regional ISMs, reports on thematic areas (Components) along which FSRP is implemented, were delivered by member countries. These included: achievements for providing digital advisory services (i.e. climate information and/or other advisories) to farmers; and the penetration of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies for resilience, in line with CORAF validations, number of farmers reached, and levels of adoption attained. The status of Integrated Land Management accomplishments; and of regional trade and agri-business processes were also highlighted.
REGIONAL BODIES WEIGH-IN
On their part, the regional organisations also shared insights on progress made so far regarding their roles on the implementation of FSRP in the various countries. CILSS discussed some digital tools and ways of improving collaboration with the Project Implementation teams in each country and connecting to CILSS tools.
CORAF discussed progress on the adoption of CSA technologies technology from MITA (a digital platform for the dissemination of technologies) and the institution of Technology Parks; state of partnerships with AICCRA. Concerns on low levels of technology adoption and solutions for moving forward were extensively discussed.
ECOWAS updated the meeting on the progress of works towards the upcoming 2025 ECOWAS Agriculture Trade and Marketing – Scorecard (EATM-S), vis-à-vis upcomingvalidation exercises on member countries’ Scorecards. The ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) which promotes the intensification and attainment of rice self-sufficiency among member countries, was discussed extensively vis-à-vis strategies, collaborations and concrete actions within countries. A planned knowledge-sharing tour in Korea was pitched. ECOWAS further shared updates on regional trade policy harmonization and the Strategic Grain Reserve.
The World Bank gave overviews of results, disbursements and ratings of FSRP member countries.
[Accra; March 2025]
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