In a move aimed at developing regional leadership in food transformation and equipping policymakers in North Africa and the Middle East, Ahmed Bouaari, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, and Abdel Hakim El Ouard, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), signed a letter of intent today during the 17th international agricultural exhibition in Meknes to establish a regional academy for leadership development in agricultural and food system transformation in Morocco.
The signing ceremony, attended by senior officials from the UN organization and the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, as well as numerous stakeholders in the field of agricultural and food system transformation, emphasized that “the academy to be established in the Kingdom of Morocco aims not only at training and capacity building; it is expected to become a provider of data and research for policymakers in the region regarding this field.”
The choice of Morocco to host the academy reflects “the objective confidence of the UN organization in Morocco’s commitment to ensuring food security and adapting to the impacts of climate change,” according to official statements made during the signing ceremony.
Ahmed Bouaari stated that “the establishment of the regional academy for leadership development in food systems transformation in Morocco reflects the FAO’s trust in the Kingdom,” noting that this will “enhance the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to policies that ensure food security and adapt to climate changes.”
In his speech at the signing ceremony, Bouaari emphasized that “in the context of climate changes and global geopolitical challenges, the needs and expectations related to food security are being redefined,” stressing that “it is necessary to equip ourselves with skills capable of effectively managing governance of the agricultural food system at various levels.”
The government official pointed out that “capacity building and training in agricultural and food system transformation will enable the development of the skills of all stakeholders working in this field,” explaining that “the establishment of the academy is fundamentally aimed at strengthening the capacities of national and regional institutions in this area.”
Bouaari also predicted that “the establishment of this academy in the Kingdom of Morocco will lead to partnerships with public institutions, institutes, and research centers in the field of agriculture,” asserting that “Morocco is honored to host this academic framework on its soil.”
In the same context, Abdel Hakim El Ouard, the FAO’s regional representative for North Africa and the Middle East, stated that “the creation of the academy is a new step in the pursuit of developing agricultural systems in the region,” adding that it “embodies the organization’s sincere commitment to supporting governance in these systems.”
El Ouard mentioned in his speech during the signing ceremony that “the establishment of the academy arises from a collective determination to address the challenges facing agricultural systems in the region, especially the lack of leadership in this area,” explaining that “the organization seeks through this step to fill this gap.”
The FAO’s regional representative further elaborated that “the academy will not only be a training center; it will also be a center that provides solutions through data and continuous communication with graduates,” adding that it “aims to explore complex policy pathways in this field.”
In this regard, the aforementioned UN official affirmed the “efforts to support capacities in transforming agricultural value chains to achieve inclusive growth, particularly through providing innovations and digital developments.” The academy also aims to “enhance the capacities of all stakeholders to design forward-looking agricultural policies,” and “to develop regulatory frameworks to gather the necessary investments to achieve the goals of transforming agricultural systems,” noting that the FAO “is ready to engage African (southern) countries in this initiative.”
The FAO’s regional representative proposed that the academy be one of the initiatives presented for the Hassan II Great World Water Prize.
According to information presented by the FAO through one of its officials during the same event, the regional leadership academy for developing leadership in agricultural and food systems aims to empower regional leaders and enhance their capabilities in the field.
The same source confirmed that the new academic institutional framework will focus on “filling the gaps in policy analysis and data to ensure evidence-based policies in the fields of food security and nutrition,” explaining that the complex and evolving nature of food systems in the Middle East and North Africa indeed calls for a radical transformation, adding that the region has shown “an urgent need to enhance leadership and improve decision-making capacities in agriculture, food security, and related sectors.”
