Participants at the project workshop held 26-29 August, in Nairobi, Kenya./PHOTO; AFDB
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union Commission (AUC) have launched the Strengthening Food Safety Standards and Nutrition in Africa (SFNA) project, a continent-wide initiative designed to bolster food security, improve public health, and unlock trade opportunities.
The launch took place at a four-day workshop held from 26 to 29 August in Nairobi, Kenya.
The SFNA project responds to a pressing health challenge.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa bears the highest burden of foodborne diseases globally, with an estimated 137,000 deaths and 91 million illnesses annually.
These health challenges carry severe economic and social costs, including reduced workforce productivity and constrained regional trade, particularly for agricultural commodities that fail to meet international standards.
Strategic Importance of SFNA
In his keynote address, César Mba Abogo, Director of the Bank’s Joint Secretariat Support Office, underlined the project’s significance and its alignment with the AfDB’s strategic vision.
“This project is not just an investment, but a declaration of the Bank’s unwavering commitment to build resilient food systems from farm to fork, and to improve the quality of life for every African,” he said.
The project sits at the intersection of several key development frameworks, including the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033, which prioritises food security, resilience, and inclusive growth, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous Africa based on inclusive and sustainable development.
It is also aligned with the AU’s flagship programmes on food and nutrition, agriculture, and health.
A Human Rights and Health Priority
Dr. Janet Edeme, AUC Acting Head of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasised that safe and nutritious food is a fundamental human right.
“Vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, older adults, and the immunocompromised, are most impacted,” she stressed. “Therefore, collectively through the One Health approach, we must lay the foundations for resilient food systems and healthier communities across Africa.”
Her remarks highlighted how food safety is not only a public health issue but also critical to equitable development. Unsafe food exacerbates malnutrition and increases health care costs, disproportionately affecting the poor and vulnerable.
Funding and Structure
The SFNA project is financed by an African Development Fund grant of USD 8.57 million. It is structured around three core components:
- Harmonising food safety standards and strengthening laboratory capacity, enabling member states to align with international benchmarks and improve regional and global trade competitiveness.
- Promoting a culture of food safety, gender equality, and nutrition, ensuring that communities and households integrate safe food practices into everyday life.
- Ensuring effective project management, with emphasis on transparency, efficiency, and accountability in delivering results.
The project will be implemented in 10 focus countries: Cameroon, Chad, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania.
Each of these countries faces distinct food safety challenges, ranging from infrastructure and technical capacity gaps to the prevalence of specific food contaminants such as aflatoxins.
Implementation Workshop
The Nairobi workshop equipped project teams with technical and procedural knowledge to ensure smooth implementation.
Participants received training on the Bank’s fiduciary and procurement guidelines and engaged in detailed planning sessions.
Each participating country presented initial work plans and budgets, with priority activities including:
- Strengthening laboratory and diagnostic capacities.
- Developing evidence-based investment plans for food safety.
- Addressing cross-cutting challenges such as aflatoxin contamination, which continues to compromise crop quality, food safety, and trade in staples like maize and groundnuts.
The workshop also facilitated knowledge exchange, enabling member states to share lessons learned and forge collaborations to address shared challenges.
Regional Collaboration for Transformation
The SFNA is designed as a collaborative platform, recognising that food safety challenges transcend borders.
Harmonised standards and coordinated responses are essential to protect consumers, promote intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and expand access to global markets.
“This project embodies a collaborative and coordinated approach, leveraging the collective strength of African institutions to foster regional resilience and accelerate socio-economic transformation – marking a significant step toward a safer, healthier Africa,” said Mba Abogo.
The SFNA project reflects a growing recognition of the link between food safety, nutrition, and Africa’s broader development agenda.
By reducing foodborne diseases, improving nutrition outcomes, and supporting safer trade, the initiative is expected to make measurable contributions to the AfDB’s “High 5” priorities, especially “Feed Africa” and “Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.”
