Strengthening Africa’s Resilience: Regional Workshop Advances Food Security and Climate Adaptation
A pivotal regional workshop on measuring household resilience to food insecurity amidst climate and socioeconomic shocks commenced this week in Zimbabwe. Hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the event aims to empower African nations to meet commitments outlined in the Malabo Declaration.
Duncan Samikwa, SADC’s CAADP focal point, expressed gratitude to participants, emphasizing the workshop’s significance in advancing the Malabo Declaration’s goals. He remarked, “This workshop reflects FAO’s unwavering dedication to supporting African Union member states.” The Malabo Declaration, adopted in 2014, serves as a framework for Africa’s agricultural transformation, guiding efforts toward sustainable development and food security.
Central to the discussions is enhancing household resilience to climate variability and other shocks, a critical aspect of the Malabo agenda. Samikwa highlighted FAO’s role in resilience measurement, particularly through its Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis (RIMA) methodology. “Since 2017, FAO has been a key partner to the AU, enabling us to assess the resilience of farm, pastoral, and fisher households against climate shocks,” he noted.
Over the five-day workshop, participants will delve into practical and theoretical aspects of the RIMA methodology, including data analysis with the e-RIMA tool and indicator validation. These activities, according to Louis Muhigirwa, Deputy FAO Representative, are vital for “building resilient agricultural systems and livelihoods across Africa.”
Expected outcomes include accurate calculations of resilience indicators for 11 countries—Angola, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—and enhanced capacity among national experts. Participants will also receive certification as RIMA users through a specialized FAO e-learning course.
The workshop’s results will inform the 5th and final Biennial Review of the Malabo Declaration, aligning with FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. Samikwa emphasized the alignment with CAADP’s post-Malabo agenda, set to be adopted in Kampala next year.
“This effort directly supports our overarching goal of ensuring a better life for all,” Muhigirwa concluded, underlining the broader implications of strengthening resilience reporting across the continent.
By addressing gaps in resilience measurement, the workshop promises to empower African nations to report accurately and effectively, fostering a robust network of experts for sustainable agricultural development.
