Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development Rajiv Shah moderated a panel discussion today on “Resilience and Food Security in a Changing Climate,” among the opening sessions of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington. From left: Shah, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia; Nkosazana Diamini-Zuma, chair of the African Union Commission, and Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn. (From White House video)

As part of President Barack Obama’s summit with African leaders in Washington this week, the White House announced today new commitments to African countries on food security and climate change, while a coalition of nonprofit groups said it would ask Congress to pass additional food security legislation this fall.

In a fact sheet, the White House said it was committed to provide technical support to strengthen the Africa Union Commission and national efforts to economically empower women in agriculture.

The White House also said the U.S. government intends to join the global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture slated for launch at the United Nations Secretary General’s Climate Summit in New York in September.

In another fact sheet, the White House noted that the Agriculture Department and the Agency for International Development are helping African governments develop institutional capacity to operate science-based animal and plant health and food safety systems, in harmony with international standards.

“The United States is launching a new five-year SPS policy and regulatory program supporting regional economic communities and the African Union’s Year of Agriculture,” the White House said.

“This program will serve to increase laboratory capacity, implement aflatoxin controls, and improve regulatory policies and structures in sub-Saharan Africa, in concert with programs under the Feed the Future and Trade Africa initiatives as well as the Doing Business in Africa Campaign.”

Meanwhile, a coalition of 61 nonprofit groups including Inter-Action released a statement urging Congress to pass legislation this fall “that will ensure continued U.S. leadership on global food and nutrition security and poverty reduction.”

The groups said the legislation “should include the development and implementation of a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to combat hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.”

“This strategy should support country ownership and emphasize the important role of small-scale producers and local food economies,” the statement said.

“It should prioritize sustainable agricultural development, improving nutrition, gender equality and female empowerment, building the resilience of communities, safety nets for the most vulnerable food insecure populations, environmental protection, capacity building, research, and civil society engagement. It should also improve upon existing monitoring and evaluation practices to ensure U.S. taxpayer investments are implemented transparently, efficiently, and effectively.”

▪ White House — Fact Sheet: U.S.-African Cooperation on Food Security
▪ White House — Fact Sheet: U.S. Engagement on Climate Change and Resilience in Africa
▪ Statement of Support for U.S. Global Food Security Legislation
▪ Remarks by Secretary of State John Kerry at Working Session on Resilience and Food Security in a Changing Climate