The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) remains a key strategic regional partner for the Southern African Development Community (SADC)in enhancing food and nutrition security and disaster risk reduction through the implementation of national and regional programmes.
This was said by SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Dr. Thembinkosi Mhlongo during a courtesy call to the Secretariat by Dr. Stanlake Samkange, the WFP Senior Director for Strategic Partnerships, in Gaborone on 3rd October, 2022.
The two reflected on the progress made in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between SADC Secretariat and WFP in June 2019 which provides a framework of collaboration between the two organisations. In this regard, the Deputy Executive Secretary expressed delight at the notable progress attained in areas of data collection and analysis and contribution to the Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA) Synthesis Report. Other areas of progress include technical support provided for capacity development of the National Vulnerability Assessment Committees (NVCAs) and information exchange between the RVAA regional online atlas with WFP; amongst others. The RVAA Regional Online Atlas was successfully launched in July 2021.
Dr. Stanlake Samkange, who led a team of experts from WFP, explained that his organization is a co-convenor of the Crisis Response Pillar of the Global Alliance for Food Security (GAFS) launched by the G7 and World Bank in May 2022. The priority outcomes of this pillar are to save lives and livelihoods, avert famine, and prevent people from falling into extreme poverty, as well as that food systems are strengthened.
He said WFP is engaging on behalf of the GAFS with sub-regional organisations such as SADC to facilitate effective collaboration owing to the deeper understanding of sub-regional organisations of the needs of their Member States. Dr. Samkange pledged his organisation’s commitment to providing assistance on procurement and logistics processes with SADC Member States to ensure efficient deliveries of food and agricultural goods in the region. He added that the WFP will advocate with GAFS partners to address specific needs identified by SADC countries.
During the meeting, the two parties expressed concern over the current high costs of food, fuel and fertilizers that SADC Member States are facing which will exacerbate hunger, especially for vulnerable people in the region. On this note, the two parties underscored the need to accelerate efforts towards securing fertilizers at a reasonable and sustainable price by working with WFP, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The meeting between SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration and the WFP Senior Director for Strategic Partnerships, comes a month after a meeting of technical team from SADC and WFP which was held in September, 2022 to explore possible areas of collaboration to address the challenges facing the region.
