The Purchase from Africans for Africa programme (PAA Africa)

Photo credit: FAO

FAO and WFP have long been partnering to promote food and nutrition security of vulnerable communities.

Public procurement in Africa benefitting family farmers and schools

Innovative partnership operational in five countries

VIDEO: http://youtu.be/f12eaA-8D3g

An innovative partnership spanning five African countries is providing important lessons on how governments can procure food for public institutions, such as schools, directly from small-scale family farmers. Modelled on Brazil’s achievements in fighting hunger and poverty, the Purchase from Africans for Africa programme (PAA Africa) helps promote local agricultural production while also improving livelihoods and nutrition.

Lunchtime at a school in Ethiopia. – http://www.fao.org/typo3temp/pics/5b5b597b1c.jpg

PAA Africa is implemented by Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger and Senegal with technical leadership and expertise from FAO and the World Food Programme (WFP). Now entering its third year, the programme is yielding promising results as detailed in a recently released report.

As the PAA Africa programme shows, in developing countries the purchasing of produce from family-farmers – often among the most marginalized groups – can contribute towards government efforts to combat rural poverty.

“Public purchasing from local producers  adds value to local markets by integrating small-scale family farmers and by channelling demand – in this case from schools – for their produce, contributing to food security and diversity,” said Florence Tartanac, of FAO’s rural infrastructure and agro-industries division.

Read the full article: FAO