In this exclusive interview, the Director-General for International Cooperation and Development at the European Commission (EC), Stefano Manservisi, shares his views on the agricultural and food security challenges for the EU and its ACP country partners.
Could you outline the EU’s priorities in development cooperation for the next 4-5 years?
EU development policy priorities are part of a long-term vision. The Lisbon Treaty provides the legal basis and the main focus, i.e. eradicating poverty and increasing welfare – in line with commitments taken by the UN. Under this framework, the European Parliament, the Council, and Commission agreed on the European Consensus on Development in 2005.
The development cooperation paradigm has changed since then and the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs represent this change. I underline the interconnectedness that the 17 SDGs exemplify. EU development policy has evolved in parallel, together with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and our own EU Global Strategy.
We are currently outlining the strategy for the Union’s development policy and we aim to adopt it as the new European Consensus on Development, together with the European Parliament and the Council.
Eradicating poverty, addressing inequalities, providing jobs and opportunities, leaving no one behind, in short: increasing global welfare is the aim. In order to achieve this, we need to address current challenges, which are many, but I would underline five objectives to work towards: 1) peace and security; 2) manageable mobility and migration; 3) growth and jobs; 4) renewable energy and climate; and 5) greater equality.
The European Consensus on Development should define ‘how’ we work. I see it as the framework to guide our investments for the future of the planet and its people. Development aid funds are important, but they are only one instrument to support partner countries. Appropriate policies – including our own – are key. We need to make the best use of domestic resources and support a strong private sector to be the backbone of a well-functioning economy. We need to develop tailored partnerships with different countries and target the majority of our grant support to those most in need. Stronger and broader partnerships are central to our approach: between countries, continents, and different sectors.
What are key priorities that the EU, specifically DEVCO, will implement regarding agricultural development in ACP countries in the framework of the SDGs?
Agriculture, rural development, and food security have long been priorities in our efforts – especially since the food crisis in 2007/2008. We have learned the importance of keeping agriculture at the top of the agenda – and its strong connection with other key challenges, for example security and migration. Rural development and food security will therefore continue to figure prominently in our engagement with partner countries; it is clear that food and nutrition insecurity is a long-term challenge requiring sustained policy attention and investments. For example, more than 60 countries have chosen sustainable agriculture and food security as one of the main sectors for EU assistance over the 2014-2020 period, leading to cooperation programmes worth around €9 billion.
Additional (and enormous) challenges to food and nutrition security remain worldwide. Natural disasters, such as El Niño, increasingly drive food crises, which is why we need to keep food and nutrition security - as well as agriculture - at the forefront of global, continental, and national policy agendas.
But the contribution of agriculture and land-use change to heat-trapping greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, already around 25%, are likely to increase. Therefore, it requires working to support climate-smart food systems that improve agricultural productivity, greater resilience to climate change and to reduce GHG emissions.
What initiatives are supported by the EU regarding agribusiness development and linkages with smallholder producers?
Some 70% of the world’s poor live in rural areas. Agriculture, including livestock, aquaculture and fisheries, are the main source of income and employment. In many countries, more than 50% of people work in the agricultural sector. This is the case in Africa, where agriculture accounts for about a third of the continent’s GDP and more than 60% of employment is related to agriculture.
Sustainable and climate-smart agricultural production and fisheries are therefore key and have the potential to stimulate broad-based income growth. Agricultural growth often goes hand-in-hand with labour intensive operations, providing jobs and economic opportunities for rural and urban households, as well as agribusinesses. By providing economic opportunities in rural areas, agriculture can also reduce rural-urban mobility and mitigate urbanisation.
EU support is not limited to increased agricultural production; it also covers areas such as agricultural processing, infrastructure, and market development in order to achieve results and have a real impact on growth.
Efforts to improve regulatory environments, business development, and access to finance, especially for micro-, small- and medium-sized businesses are part of our agenda. Linking smallholders with markets by working with the local and international private sector can boost inclusive growth – benefitting vulnerable groups, including youth, women, disabled people, and subsistence farmers.
We will increasingly use innovative tools such as blending, to encourage private actors to complement EU funding in areas such as sustainable agriculture and energy. Our objective is to encourage private sector partners to engage in responsible investment. The European External Investment Plan (EEIP), which was proposed by the EC on 14 September 2016, is an example of such an innovative initiative. The Plan seeks to strengthen our partnerships, promote a new model of participation by the private sector, and contribute to achieving the SDGs by supporting investment in Africa and the European region. We estimate that the EEIP could mobilise up to €44 billion of investments. The proposed new European Fund for Sustainable Development will build on existing blending instruments, refocusing them to pursue the SDGs.
Agribusiness goes beyond economy; providing attractive jobs for young people and harnessing mobility, particularly in Africa, are central elements of the social and political stability equation.
Rural youth migration in Africa is one the most important drivers migration to Europe. Are there any specific inititiaves in the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa to address rural youth and the challenges faced in rural areas?
Rural youth is a priority for the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. Young people often do not have access to basic services and quality education. Strategies for sustainable development will be successful only with a strong commitment to strengthen opportunities for young people – supporting entrepreneurship and professional training to promote social cohesion and political participation of youth, to protect youth and prevent radicalisation, especially in remote and poor areas of the region.
For example, in Ethiopia, we implemented a project on resilience and creation of economic opportunities, targeted at young people. This is a project with a large scope: 1.2 million people are involved, roughly 1 out of 3 inhabitants in the geographical clusters from the most vulnerable communities. Another example is a project supporting job creation by improving the cashew nut sector in Mali. This project will be implemented by the Spanish Development Agency (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo). With funding of €13 million, the project will benefit local populations in the regions of Sikasso, Kayes and Koulikoro, especially targeting producers and local associations and cooperatives, with a focus on youth and women. The project’s main objective is to contribute to sustainable development by enhancing the cashew nut value chain.
From your point of view, what role do you envisage for CTA in advancing the agriculture and food security goals of the SDGs?
CTA has extensive expertise in agriculture and rural development in ACP countries and serves as a useful platform to exchange ideas. CTA’s priorities are aligned with our own priorities in the agriculture and food security, notably the emphasis placed on nutrition and the development of value chains in support of inclusive agriculture. I trust that our cooperation willcontinue to be fruitful. We are about to sign a new multi-annual work programme with the CTA, which is built around the common priority of attaining the SDGs. The work programme focusses on smallholder value chains, conducive agricultural policies, and knowledge management. The increased focus on links with the private sector, especially small and medium-sized businesses will help improve CTA’s impact on food and nutrition security in EU partner countries.
CTA’s contribution to efforts to achieve zero hunger, food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture goal (SDG 2) and in promoting progress towards ending poverty in all its forms, everywhere (SDG 1) will be important. I expect CTA to also help in reducing food waste (SDG 12), building greater climate resilience (SDG13), promoting sustainable fisheries (SDG 14), and contributing to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15).
