Joint Press Release: African Union Commission and World Food Programme

African Union Commission Hosts High-Level Stakeholder Roundtable on the Cost of Food and Nutrition in Africa

16 December 2024, ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, — To tackle the persistent challenges of malnutrition and food insecurity in Africa, the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) convened the High-Level Stakeholder Roundtable to advance the implementation of the Cost of Food and Nutrition in Africa (COFAN) studies. The event, held at the AUC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, brought together government representatives, international organizations, donor agencies, and technical experts to mobilize resources and catalyze actions to address the continent's nutrition crisis.

Building on the success of the Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) studies, the COFAN initiative seeks to estimate the social and economic impacts of food insecurity and malnutrition while providing actionable investment priorities for African Union (AU) Member States. Expanding beyond COHA’s initial focus on undernutrition, COFAN introduces new critical components, including the burden of overweight and obesity, micronutrient deficiencies,  the impacts of climate change on food and nutrition security, and the cost of investment in nutrition.

"This wrong hunger trajectory is unacceptable. Africa needs strategic investments and innovative solutions to mobilize political commitments and significant financing. The COFAN studies will provide governments with impactful evidence to prioritize investments and address the pressing nutritional needs of our continent." H.E. Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development at the African Union Commission

The pilot phase of COFAN studies is set to be implemented in eight countries including Egypt, Lesotho, Tanzania, Congo Brazzaville, Senegal, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Côte d’Ivoire. This phase will refine the study methodology and demonstrate concrete results, paving the way for continent-wide adoption by 2026.

The meeting called for increased financial and technical support. H.E. Amb. Cessouma noted, "Your technical expertise and financial contributions are pivotal to ensure the successful implementation of COFAN pilot studies and scale-up. Together, we can transform Africa’s nutrition landscape and human capital development."

The AUC is seeking significant funding and political commitments from Member States, donors, and development partners to ensure the success of the COFAN studies. The outcomes include evidence-based policies and targeted investments to tackle the interconnected challenges of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity, and climate change; enhanced commitment from Member States and partners to implement the COFAN pilot studies; and agreement on modalities and timelines for implementation and mobilization of technical and financial resources to support the studies.

“WFP remains dedicated to ensuring that actionable insights from COFAN translate into policies and interventions that drive food and nutrition security. We reaffirm our commitment continue to work with national governments and the AUC to ensure Africa’s nutrition crisis is addressed with the urgency and expertise it requires to achieve zero hunger,” says Hameed Nuru Director WFP Africa Union Global Office ( AUGO)

Join the conversation on social media with #TheAfricaWeWant, #COFAN, and #NutritionForAll.

For more information on the COFAN studies and to stay updated on the latest developments, please visit  African Union Commission, or World Food Programme

Media Contacts:

African Union Commission

Mr. Derrick Ochuot | Strategic Communication Expert | Directorate of Health and Humanitarian Affairs | Health Systems, Disease and Nutrition Division | African Union Commission | E-mail: ochuotd@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

World Food Programme (WFP)

Jamillah MWANJISI | Senior Advocacy & Resource Mobilisation Expert | African Union Global Office (AUGO) | WFP African Union Global Office |E-mail: jamillah.mwanjisi@wfp.org  | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

About AUC and WFP: The African Union Commission (AUC) is dedicated to promoting sustainable development and improving the quality of life for all Africans. The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, focused on saving lives and changing lives by delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

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