The report discusses a collaborative FAO-IGAD project (2018–2021) aimed at reducing post-harvest losses (PHL) to strengthen food and nutrition security in eight Eastern African countries. PHL contributes significantly to food insecurity, with losses as high as 40–50% in perishables. These losses affect not only food quantity but also nutritional quality and market value. The project aligned with the Malabo Declaration and SDG 12.3, seeking to halve PHL by 2025 and 2030, respectively.
Key achievements included the development of a regional strategy for PHL management, country-level assessments of critical loss points for key commodities, training workshops, and capacity building for policymakers and stakeholders. The strategy promoted improved storage, policy coherence, private-sector engagement, and adaptive research. FAO also supported project sustainability through training master trainers, incorporating gender inclusivity, and raising environmental awareness.
The initiative encouraged national adoption of the PHLM strategy, ongoing capacity development, and cross-country knowledge exchange, contributing to long-term resilience and improved food systems governance in the IGAD region.
Resource type:
Initiatives
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