AfDB and African Union Launch Food Safety and Nutrition Project for Africa

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union Commission (AUC) have officially launched the Strengthening Food Safety Standards and Nutrition in Africa (SFNA) Project, a new continent-wide initiative designed to tackle foodborne diseases, improve public health, and boost intra-African trade through safer and more resilient food systems.

The project was formally introduced at a four-day regional workshop from 26–29 August in Nairobi, bringing together representatives of participating countries, experts, and development partners.

Addressing a Silent but Deadly Crisis

Foodborne diseases represent one of Africa’s most pressing yet underreported public health challenges. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), contaminated food leads to 137,000 deaths and 91 million illnesses every year across the continent. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are disproportionately affected.

In addition to the human toll, unsafe food undermines agricultural productivity, drives up healthcare costs, and limits Africa’s competitiveness in regional and international markets. Weak food safety systems, fragmented standards, and limited laboratory capacity continue to exacerbate these challenges.

A Strategic Priority for Africa’s Future

Speaking at the launch, César Mba Abogo, Director of the AfDB’s Joint Secretariat Support Office, stressed the project’s transformative role:

“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.”

The SFNA is fully aligned with the AfDB’s High 5 priorities — especially “Feed Africa” and “Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa”. It also supports the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and its flagship programmes on agriculture and food security.

Building Safer and More Nutritious Food Systems

The $8.57 million project, financed through an African Development Fund (ADF) grant, will focus on 10 pilot countries: Cameroon, Chad, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania.

The initiative is structured around three key components:

1. Harmonizing food safety standards and strengthening laboratories to enable effective monitoring, testing, and control of food contaminants.

2. Promoting a food safety, gender, and nutrition culture, with special attention to vulnerable groups and the empowerment of women in food systems.

3. Ensuring efficient project management and accountability, including transparent procurement, financial oversight, and results tracking.

A One Health Approach

Dr. Janet Edeme, Acting Head of Agriculture and Food Security at the AUC, highlighted the human rights dimension of food safety:

“Access to safe food and proper nutrition is a basic human right and integral to realizing Africa’s Agenda 2063. Vulnerable populations are most impacted. Through the One Health approach, we must build resilient food systems and healthier communities across Africa.”

The One Health approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, a critical framework for addressing threats such as aflatoxin contamination, zoonotic diseases, and unsafe agricultural practices.

Strengthening Capacities and Regional Integration

During the Nairobi workshop, national representatives presented their initial work plans and budgets, identifying priority areas such as:

• Expanding laboratory capacity and upgrading testing facilities.

• Developing evidence-based food safety investment plans.

• Addressing contaminants like aflatoxins, which threaten both human health and agricultural exports.

• Integrating nutrition-sensitive policies into national food strategies.

The workshop also trained project teams on AfDB’s fiduciary and procurement procedures, ensuring effective delivery across all participating states.

Regional and Continental Impact

The SFNA project is expected to generate wide-ranging benefits for Africa, including:

• Reduced burden of foodborne diseases and related healthcare costs.

• Improved consumer confidence in locally produced food.

• Greater regional trade opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), thanks to harmonized food safety standards.

• Enhanced resilience of food systems against climate change and market shocks.

A Collaborative Path Forward

“This project embodies a collaborative and coordinated approach, leveraging the collective strength of African institutions to foster resilience and accelerate socio-economic transformation — marking a significant step toward a safer, healthier Africa,” Mba Abogo concluded.

By addressing both health and trade dimensions, the SFNA project is positioned to serve as a model for regional cooperation in tackling systemic food safety challenges and advancing Africa’s long-term development goals.