The AU has been making commitments to international institutions that are addressing hunger and poverty at global level. It has voluntarily been committed to the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. It has made statements regarding its dedication to pursue the mission, objectives and principles of the Alliance. This is expressed in the Alliance’s terms of reference and governance framework. Based on this, it collaborates with other members to achieve effective solutions for addressing poverty and hunger worldwide, as presented here.
The AU has recognized that hunger and malnutrition are the vicious expressions of relentless, structural poverty and inequality in African countries, which Ethiopia seriously recognizes the need to end it. Ethiopia has expressed in its development plans that poverty and hunger in all their types and aspects have to be drastically reduced. The people have to be free from hunger and poverty through effective implementation of the development plans.
The alarming growth in the number of people facing food insecurity and poverty in recent years is acknowledged by the AU member states. It is noted that despite significant efforts made in the past and current, some African countries are not on track to meet the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as inequality, poverty and hunger is on the rise.
However, there is a significant rise in “collective ambition” as well as improvement in shared and joint alignment and coordination for the fight against hunger and poverty. These measures are urgently needed in view of the seriousness of the impacts of hunger and poverty on parents and their children. It is, therefore, a basic requirement that all concerned global institutions assist African countries in their effort to reduce and eradicate poverty and hunger from the continent. In this regard, the implementation of the Ethiopian growth and development plans may be used as a guide for some of the African countries.
In the effort to minimize the impacts of poverty and hunger on the productive capacity of the human resources of the African continent, it is imperative to endorse the mission of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. There is, therefore, a need to accelerate efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty while reducing inequalities.
Economic and social efforts will contribute to the revitalization of global partnerships for sustainable development. These efforts also contribute to the achievement of other interlinked sustainable development programs that enhance inclusive and fair distribution of income and services in the long-run. In this effort for guaranteeing sustainable development, it is crucial for Africa, including Ethiopia, to act on large-scale and integrated approaches. These need a combined effort at the international, regional, national, and local levels. Such effort is based on the recognition of the interconnected nature of challenges and solutions to hunger and poverty.
Generally, hunger and poverty call for social protection with access to goods and services that can help the poor and vulnerable people. Such a strategy of social protection overcomes structural barriers and drives investments in the areas that engage the people affected by hunger and poverty. Such engagements include interventions in areas that contribute to food security and nutrition, early childhood support, education and skills development.
Also, employment opportunities, health care services, access to finance and extension services enhance the productive capacities of Africans, including Ethiopians. Research and agricultural inputs, in line with plans and programs for rural development, help in engaging the rural people of Ethiopia in productive employment. Thus, AU’s approach to address hunger and poverty will generate output, employment, income for Africans. In this continental endeavor, Ethiopia’s experience in implementing development plans and programs is of the essence.
It is essential to recognize the importance and positive impact of the capacity to implement national economic policies and programs. The instruments of implementation are local and inclusive policy instruments and programs, focused on the poorest and most vulnerable. Ethiopia has the experience of engaging its poor people during the preparation of plans and programs that are relate to the improvement of their income as well as food security and nutrition.
In the areas of poverty reduction and social protection, Ethiopia has given priority to gender equality, decent work, and capacity to produce more. In this regard, special attention has been given to skills’ development, family farming and smallholder agriculture, food security, and health care services. Focus is also given to building resilience against hardships such drought, rainfall and flood, deforestation and diseases that negatively affect the lives of the rural people of Ethiopia. There is an agency for the prevention and control of disasters that may destroy the lives of the poor people if left uncontrolled.
AU acknowledges the Global Alliance’s reference to policies that are collectively built. It recognizes and applies the robust evidence to reduce hunger and poverty. Some African countries also determine their actions to reduce hunger and poverty guided by the experience of the global and regional communities. This approach is applicable as a general guide to relevant action and does not imply copying of any specific policy instrument or program.
Therefore, by joining the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, a country commits itself to do its best efforts, in its own field of action, and according to its own national policy and program. It applies its capacities, priorities, preferences, procedures, and legal arrangements and framework for poverty reduction. The Alliance supports the implementation of policy instruments and programs at country level as needed, including the sharing of experience, the mobilization of resources, both public and private, at a required level. This calls for domestic policy implementation commitments by African countries, including Ethiopia.
The AU has a role in the regional implementation of policies and programs against hunger and poverty. It provides guidance and support to national policies and programs. The AU is also committed to make its efforts to implement, improve, and scale-up the implementation of policy instruments of the Alliance. It also encourages member states to implement programs from among those contained in the Alliance. It chooses relevant policy basket for use by African countries, including Ethiopia. These policy instruments and programs are provided to member states for adapting to their specific conditions, realities and opportunities presented in their countries. In this respect, the AU commits itself to ensure the implementation or improvement the policy instruments or programs. These instruments include the Global Alliance’s reference basket indicated below.
(1) Strengthening national and regional policies to promote agriculture, food security, and rural development;
(2) Enhancing investment in agriculture, including irrigation, research, and extension services;
(3) Promoting social protection programs, including cash transfers, school feeding, and food assistance;
(4) Improving access to markets, finance, and technology for smallholder farmers and rural communities;
(5) Enhancing nutrition education and awareness, particularly for vulnerable groups;
(6) Strengthening disaster risk reduction and management efforts to mitigate the impact of climate-related shocks;
(7) Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in rural development.
The AU is fully committed to using the above policy instruments and programs for enhancing regional coordination and cooperation to address challenges. These commitments will be realized using the following measures: (a) developing and implementing national and regional agriculture and food security policies; (b) establishing a continental monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress; (c) providing technical assistance and capacity building to member states; (d) mobilizing resources and partnerships to support implementation; (e) conducting regular reviews and assessments to inform those responsible for policy adjustments.
Based on the above policy instruments, the AU also reaffirms its commitment to eradicate hunger and poverty on the continent. The concerned entities fully recognize the urgent need to address the root causes of hunger and poverty in Africa. They ensure that all Africans, including Ethiopians, have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. Ethiopia is totally committed to observe good practices throughout the implementation of such policy instruments and programs.
Ethiopia ensures maintaining effective systems for seeking domestic resource mobilization for funding hunger and poverty programs. It also provides for appropriate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, with adaptation and improvement based on social involvement and consultation. The country ensures stakeholders’ engagement thereby minimizing negative impacts and looking for techniques to adequately manage its policy and program on poverty and hunger.
Ethiopia commits itself to share its own experience with African countries and provide appropriate help and support within its means. It also cooperates with the AU member countries to implement, improve, or scale-up the implementation of policies and programs. Ethiopia also commits to implementing the programs and other activities related to sharing lessons on cooperation in support of the objectives of the AU in combating hunger and poverty in the continent.
Sharing of lessons is conducted through strengthening cooperation among member states, regional economic communities, and international organization. Also, sharing of knowledge, expertise, and best practices in food security and rural development is given priority. Rural development activities require the provision of technical assistance and capacity building to African states for enhancing policy and program implementation. The AU supports the development and implementation of regional and national policies, strategies, and programs.
Ethiopia is committed to enhancing the environment conducive for agriculture and food security investments. These investments are instruments for eradicating hunger and poverty from the country. However, there is a need for fostering partnerships with global organizations, civil society, and the private sector to leverage resources and expertise for poverty reductions and eradication. AU’s approach to addressing hunger and poverty is practically supported by Ethiopia that has successfully shared its experience with some African countries.
BY GETACHEW MINAS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 13 MAY 2025
