Abijan Declaration On The African Union

THEME OF THE YEAR 2022:

“Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on The African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Capital Development”

A CALL TO ACTION

“Accelerate investment, implementation and coordination to improve nutrition and food security in Africa”

We, the Leaders of Governmental Action of the Member States of the African Union, meeting in Abidjan, on 8 December 2022, as part of the implementation of the roadmap of the African Union Year of Nutrition 2022 theme on Nutrition Resilience and Food Security to examine the multiple challenges posed by hunger and malnutrition in all its forms and identify actions and strategies to address them,

Salute the leadership of H.E. ALASSANE OUATTARA, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, for his advocacy with his peers which led to the adoption by the African Union of the theme for the year 2022 and for hosting this high-level meeting jointly organised by Côte d’Ivoire and the African Union,

Let us also salute HIS MAJESTY LETSIE III, King of the Kingdom of Lesotho and African Union Champion for Nutrition, for his actions to promote nutrition on the Continent,

Express our gratitude to the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) for their efforts in promoting the nutrition agenda on the continent since 2018

Commend the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, as well as all partners and stakeholders for their cooperation and support in advocating for an enabling environment for financing and investing in nutrition in situations of peace and stability, as well as in times of conflict and crisis of all kinds.

Considering the long-term vision of Africa’s Agenda 2063, as well as the common African aspirations adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union based, inter alia, on the potential for well-nourished and healthy populations with a special focus on women, adolescents and children;
Taking note on the continental policies and key commitments of the African Union, including the Malabo Declaration on Nutrition Security for Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa [Assembly/AU/Decl.4 (XXIII)], which recognizes that food security without improved nutrition is not conducive to the desired inclusive socio-economic outcomes, given the increasing number of people affected by hunger and malnutrition; the African Regional Nutrition Strategy 2015-2016; the Conference Decision on Home School Feeding for 2016 (Assembly/AU/Dec.589 (XXVI)), among others.