The Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power on Wednesday met with Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and UN Food Systems Summit Special Envoy, and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, to advance development policy priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration in Africa.
With Adesina, Power discussed a wide range of issues, including the COVID-19 response, climate change, Prosper Africa, Power Africa, food and water security, and nutrition.
“Administrator Power and Dr. Kalibata discussed follow-up from the UN Food Systems Summit to support countries in taking action on their national pathways for the transformation of their food systems and implementing commitments made at the Summit,” USAID spokesperson Rebecca Chalif said about Power’s meeting with Kalibata. “They also discussed how AGRA can support Feed the Future’s in-country efforts, such as reaching farmers with climate-adapted crop varieties and large-scale food fortification, to respond to current crises and build more nutritious, sustainable, and equitable food systems.”
At the United Nations Food Systems Summit, the United States pledged a multi-year, $5 billion investment in Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative.
Chalif said during her meeting with Kalibata Administrator Power “stressed the urgent need for action on nutrition and healthy diets, adaptation to climate change, and building more inclusive food systems, with an emphasis on engaging women and young people.”
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.
