FAO and PAFO sign new partnership agreement to support family farmers in Africa

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has signed a five-year partnership agreement with the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) that will see farmers have a greater voice in policy processes, and farmers’ associations in Africa strengthened.

It is the first time the two organizations have put in place a formal partnership. PAFO represents over 70 small-scale farmers and producers’ organizations from 49 countries in Africa, and FAO is the UN organization working for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.

“FAO has been enjoying a good working relationship with the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization since its establishment and we are pleased to forge this partnership in a more formal way to support Africa’s farmers, including women and young people,” said FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa Abebe Haile-Gabriel.

“PAFO and its member networks hope that this partnership will engender more proactive political engagement, advocacy to raise the voice of farmers towards high-level policy dialogues, to develop farmers’ organizations capacities, to support and deliver effective services to their members, including family farmers, women and youth,” said Kolyang Palebele, newly-elected President of PAFO.

Working together for Africa’s farmers

The work program supporting the partnership focuses on several areas including developing the capacity of farmers’ organizations across Africa to best serve their members and represent them effectively at high-level policy dialogue processes and other fora.

FAO will also collaborate with PAFO to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in agriculture, sustainable agro-ecological approaches, and agriculture as an attractive business opportunity for youth.

The program of work also includes the Yenkasa Africa initiative which encourages the sharing of useful information among farmers, and which raises the voices and issues of family farmers on local radio stations and other platforms across Africa.