Pan-African ministerial delegates have received news from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of a proposal that will include investment for building critical hydropower and agricultural irrigation systems across the African continent.
Speaking at the Water for Energy and Agriculture in Africa meeting in Sirte, Libya, FAO suggested convening a world summit of heads of State and government next year aimed at finding $30 billion a year for investment in the continent’s water and rural infrastructure, needed to provide food and energy for its expanding population.
Sub-Saharan Africa – already suffering from the world’s highest rate of malnourishment – needs to triple its food production by 2050 to feed a population predicted to balloon to 2 billion people, while also expected to be the hardest-hit by climate change.
The three-day conference, which brought together ministers from 53 African countries, was organized by FAO in collaboration with