Despite improvements in African economies, poverty and food insecurity are still deep-seated issues. Hunger kills more than any other disease, and under-nourishment produces severe consequences on population’s health and on its social and economic development.

The Italian Cooperation works to ensure the respect of human dignity, to support economic growth, and the achievement of MDG.

In this respect the Directorate-General for Italian Development Cooperation (DGCS) contributes to FAO’s efforts in fighting food insecurity through the Global Trust Fund for Food Security and Food Safety. Through a five-year intervention in Western Africa, the Fund supports the FSCA programme with a total budget of US$ 20 million: the Programme aims at sustaining food security and sovereignty through the commercialization of agricultural products.

The Italian Cooperation regional offices in Dakar and Niamey collaborate with the project’s Inter-Country Coordination Unit in its mission to coordinate the seven national projects.