Independent Dialogue
Geographical focus:
No borders
Main findings
a. MSMEs are important at every stage of the food value chain and for every commodity type. Therefore, MSMEs should be included in any public or private sector efforts to increase the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious foods. b. In transforming the food systems in Africa, MSMEs must not only look beyond innovation/ game changing solutions but think, speak and act as one voice. Their ability to accelerate food systems transformation is directly dependent on how they become successful in working together as collaborators in competition. A mindset-shift by MSMEs in the
... Read moreway of thinking and doing’ business is sine qua non c. The MSME financing landscape has and continues to shift especially with climate change financing with opportunities for African producers and entrepreneurs such as the Green Climate Fund. Aggregation of smaller enterprise groups through associations/cooperatives presents as a more ‘bankable’ units for accessing such capital. d. MSMEs are facing myriad challenges such as weak food control systems, limited consumer’s purchasing power, lack of harmonized food regulations in the region and poor private-public partnerships. By providing simple, relevant and harmonized food standards, codes of practice and guidelines; Codex can play a crucial role in helping MSMEs to access markets and trade be it national, regional or international. e. The integration of Infrastructure development, urban planning and rural development provide opportunities to ensure consumers have access to affordable nutritious foods, support informal food vendors’ livelihoods, and reduce food loss. f. There is urgent need to localize food chains hence not entirely dependent outside components as recently exposed by covid-19 pandemic. This will build resilience to shocks and stresses, promote local consumptions and local industries while maintaining quality and food safety standards. Member states can learn from each other and harmonize policies and practice across the system, while maintaining integrity of local food systems. g. United Nations Agencies (FAO and the WTO) should provide governments with the means to establish a framework to facilitate trade on the basis of internationally agreed food standards such as through the joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission where governments establish science-based food standards. h. Engagement is required to resolve trade frictions that inevitably arise, and to keep trade rules up to date with current challenges. To participate and engage internationally countries need to invest adequately in food safety and food control; as well as develop domestic capacity to effectively coordinate between all stakeholders. i. There is need to feel the weight of the African Union Member States policy on enabling MSME Banking facilities. Countries need to be more deliberate at the national level; and each member state should focus on how to improve the productivity of the farmers and the MSMEs, by ensuring that the capacities of the development banks/ financial institutions are functioning as expected. j. Many enterprises have slowed down due to lack of appropriate technologies and infrastructure (i.e. Production, processing, storage, and distribution). Therefore, the African Member State governments should be deliberate to ensure that there are appropriate and specific technologies and facilities for each category of enterprise. k. Local Governments do not have sound data on local food systems even if local markets contain traditional produce, much of it is of high nutrient value and resilient to climate change stress. l. The dialogues will not end with the UNFSS; Africa will continue to capture real progress in implementation of the game changing solutions using indicators appropriate for measuring food systems sustainability, among them key measures for the natural environment and resilience. Mainstreaming new indicators in the CAADP Malabo biennial review template will be necessary to track implementation of the game changing solutions and domesticate hem into practice towards the transformation agenda m. Post UNFSS 2021, AGRA commits to progress working on policy actions and policy frameworks, aiming for systems change and positive and lasting transformation of the food systems. Read less
Action Track(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Finance, Governance, Innovation, Policy, Trade-offs, Women & Youth Empowerment
