African leaders will be, from Feb 17-18 2024 gathering in Addis Ababa Ethiopia for the Annual African Union Summit. This summit will be held on the back of a year that has seen multiple crises but also opportunities, among them, African Union’s admission as a permanent member of the G20 and the first Africa Climate Summit among others. Further, this year’s theme “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa” provides not only relevance but also a solid ground to look ahead to 2024. Not only is tackling the global food crisis vital for education, but it is vital for our continent. Alarming statistics reveal that approximately 282 million people — about 20 percent of the population — faced undernourishment in 2022, marking a staggering increase of 57 million individuals since the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset. Furthermore, 49 million are on the brink of famine, over a billion people struggle to access nutritious diets, and nearly 30 percent of children suffer stunted growth due to malnutrition.
The primary aim of this webinar is to engage in a comprehensive discussion on Africa’s strategic priorities for 2024, specifically focusing on endeavors to eliminate hunger and malnutrition. Additionally, the webinar will conduct a retrospective analysis of significant events, milestones, and missed opportunities from 2023 pertaining to addressing the food crisis. By convening a diverse array of experts and stakeholders from crucial sectors, including the African Union, regional economic communities, youth representatives, and other relevant organizations, the objective is to foster insightful dialogues and collaborative initiatives that contribute to the effective resolution of food and nutrition security challenges in the region.