In July 2013, a High Level Meeting of African and International Leaders on Ending Hunger in Africa was held in response to the recommendations made by AU Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dhlamini-Zuma and other leaders to convene a meeting on “new, unified approaches to end hunger in Africa”.

It is from these developments that the idea of the theme for commemorating this year’s Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security arose. - “Towards African Renaissance: Achieving the Right to Adequate Food and Nutrition””. Representatives from the government of Niger, AUC-NEPAD Agency, United Nations system, development partners and the youth of Niger attended this year’s event. The objectives for the 2013 commemoration include, sensitizing stakeholders on the importance of joint initiatives in the fight against hunger and malnutrition and highlighting the importance of Universal Access to nutritious food as a fundamental human right. 

“‘Africa must feed itself’ is not a farfetched dream. True, it spells a mammoth task, but it is also within our reach to realize it.”, said H.E. Mrs. Fatima Haram Acyl, AUC Commissioner for Trade and Industry, speaking on behalf of the AUC Deputy Chairperson, H.E. Erastus Mwencha in her opening remarks at this year’s commemoration of the Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security in Niamey, Niger.

‘’Although resources are scarce, we can definitely feed ourselves because an empty stomach cannot achieve anything’’’ said Niger Prime Minister  H. E. Brigi Rafini. He spoke on the ‘’3N’’ initiative which stands for ‘’Nigeriens nourish Nigeriens’’. Started in 2011, the initiative includes programmes that seek to diversify agricultural production to increase cereal yields; use improved seed varieties that have shorter gestation periods and are better able to withstand erratic weather and irrigate more land. 

The commemoration started with a pre-event technical meeting in which modalities of the upcoming commemoration were discussed.  “Going forward, we will need to focus on preventative measures in reducing hunger and malnutrition instead of being reactionary “agreed the panelists

After the opening ceremony, parallel sessions took place in which various Food and Nutrition Security related topics were discussed. While one session addressed initiatives such as The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA), Nigeriens Nourish Nigeriens (3N) and Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN), REACH, etc., the other session focused on Nutrition for economic development. One of the decisions taken during the parallel sessions was the need to produce a Framework for Food and Nutrition Security that African countries can base their policies on.

 “To achieve our objectives of eradicating hunger and malnutrition, nutrition actions and solutions will continue to require stronger alliances between all sectors: State actors, non-government organizations, industry, media, educators, local leadership and religious groups. Everyone has a role to play.” said NEPAD Advisor for Food and Nutrition Security, Ms Boitshepo Giyose.