Development Partners and Government Convened to Deliberate on Ethiopian Food System and Nutrition Transformation Agenda
Addis Ababa, May 13, 2024 – the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) reaffirmed its dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) when presenting the Ethiopian Food and Nutrition Systems (EFSN) today at the Ministry of Finance (MoF). The event, titled “Ethiopian Food Systems and Nutrition Transformation (EFSN) – Onboarding Ethiopia’s Development Partners (DPG),” marks a pivotal step towards transforming the nation’s food systems.
DPG Heads of Agencies and Ambassadors attended the event where Dr. Girma Amentie, Minister of Agriculture, and Dr. Mekdes Daba, Minister of Health, delivered speeches emphasizing the government’s harmonized approach to food systems with national initiatives like the Sekota Declaration. The government has allocated ETB 697 million for the Sekota Declaration’s third expansion phase, aiming to grow to 700 hundred woredas and avert stunting in 5.7 million children by 2030.
The Ethiopia Food Systems & Nutrition (EFSN) transformation agenda includes 24 game-changing solutions addressing critical challenges in food systems. The strategy is labeled as a social movement involving all stakeholders, from farmers to government officials, and is distinct from typical projects. It aligns with the UN’s 5 Ps (people, prosperity, peace, partnerships, planet) and focuses on milestones such as ensuring access to safe nutritious food for all, shifting to sustainable consumption patterns, boosting nature-positive production, advancing equitable livelihoods, and building resilience to shocks and stresses.
The EFSN Transformation agenda has undergone a rigorous process of identifying, selecting, and finalizing game-changing solutions and has undertaken a country diagnostics study. The roadmap and country diagnostics aim to understand the status of the food systems and recognize that business as usual cannot continue. In the meeting it was noted that projects being implemented by DPG are aligned with 160 out of the 165 EFSN interventions, and that an additional budget of 1.9 billion ETB is required to address shortfalls.
The government calls for support in establishing a Technical Support Unit (TSU) and regional implementation of the EFSN agenda. The DPG has been invited to participate in fast-tracking progress towards the vision shared by all stakeholders.
H.E. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance, highlighted the importance of food self-sufficiency, sustainable natural resources management, and creating favorable conditions for crops like wheat, rice, and maize. He emphasized the crucial role of peacebuilding in strengthening EFSN for marketing and production and the need for diversification and sustaining the economy.
The Q&A session addressed the integration of existing platforms like the DPG Rural Economic Development & Food Security (REDFS) Working Group, the role of the private sector, and the commitment of commercial banks. Participants stressed the urgency of discussing general macro-economic systems/policies, especially concerning the private sector.
The Ethiopian government is poised to lead a transformative journey towards a resilient, equitable, and sustainable food system. With the collective effort of all partners, Ethiopia aspires to be a beacon of progress in the global fight against hunger and malnutrition.
