Commonwealth Secretariat and Nigeria Collaborate to Address Food…

Over 80 experts gathered at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London to discuss critical solutions for food security and climate finance, prompted by global development spending reductions. The meeting, co-hosted by Nigeria’s Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology, emphasized the interconnected challenges these domains face. Participants shared strategies for integrating innovative climate-smart agricultural practices with funding mechanisms and underscored the necessity for improved data management. The discussions concluded with actionable recommendations targeting the enhancement of food systems and resource mobilization efforts.

The Commonwealth Secretariat convened a significant gathering with over 80 experts at its headquarters in London, focusing on the urgent challenges at the intersection of food security and climate finance amidst global cuts in development spending. This event, a Roundtable on Climate Finance and Food Security, was co-hosted by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology. Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland KC, articulated the critical nature of these issues in a pre-recorded message, emphasizing the connection between access to nutritious food and resources for climate adaptation.

Further addressing the assembly, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, the Nigerian Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, advocated for innovative solutions to integrate climate finance and food security. He reinforced Nigeria’s agricultural significance, noting that it constitutes 25% of the nation’s GDP and supports 70% of the workforce, despite facing pressing challenges such as deforestation in the south and desertification in the north.

Participants also discussed the broader implications of agriculture on food security, highlighting that mere agricultural activity is insufficient without proper crop nutrition. Acknowledgement was given to the complexities linking climate change with land health and nutrition. Attendees engaged in smaller discussions to cultivate strategies that blend climate-smart agriculture with global financial mechanisms, grappling with carbon credits seen as overly complicated by some delegates.

Digital tools were highlighted as essential for advancing climate-smart agriculture, with the need for enhanced coordination and data harmonization within countries to bolster digital solutions. It was emphasized that creating shared spaces for data exchange is vital to diminish conflicting national statistics, ultimately supporting climate finance access. The roundtable’s recommendations emphasized a holistic approach to food systems, addressing interconnected challenges such as infrastructure, soil management, and market access.

The session concluded with directives focusing on improving agricultural practices, enhancing irrigation systems, and ensuring the collection of quality data related to agricultural productivity and climate variables. The Commonwealth Secretariat intends to leverage insights from the discussions to inform cross-sectional initiatives and strategies for unlocking finance through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, which has been operational for a decade.

The roundtable addressed the urgent need for integrated approaches to confront food security and climate finance dilemmas under current global economic constraints. Key recommendations included holistic national food system strategies, enhancing agricultural productivity while addressing underlying climatic issues, and improving data collection processes. The Commonwealth Secretariat aims to utilize the insights gained to strengthen collaborative efforts in mobilizing necessary financial resources for climate adaptation and food security initiatives.

Original Source: thecommonwealth.org