African Nutrition Champion Demeke Mekonnen and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed Discuss Elevating Nutrition on Global Agenda at UN FOOD SYSTEMS SUMMIT
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – In a significant meeting held on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake event in Addis Ababa, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia and founder of the YADAM Foundation, held discussions with H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group. The high-level talks focused on strategies for enhancing nutrition within the global agenda, with both leaders strongly reiterating the critical need to place nutrition at the core of Africa’s development.
H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, who also serves as the African Nutrition Champion designated by the African Development Bank, emphasized the continent’s unique challenges and immense potential. He highlighted that despite significant progress in some areas, malnutrition remains a pervasive issue across Africa, impacting human capital, hindering economic growth, and compromising societal resilience. The discussion underscored that for Africa to achieve its ambitious development goals, including those outlined in Agenda 2063, robust and sustained investment in nutrition is paramount.
Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed echoed these sentiments, stressing the United Nations’ commitment to supporting African nations in their efforts to combat malnutrition in all its forms. She recognized nutrition as integral part of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty eradication, improved health, and quality education. The dialogue explored avenues for greater international cooperation and resource mobilization to support country-led nutrition initiatives across Africa.
Both leaders reaffirmed their shared conviction that nutrition should not be viewed as a standalone issue but as a fundamental pillar underpinning sustainable development. Their discussion underscored the urgency of translating commitments into concrete actions on the ground, advocating for integrated approaches that address the root causes of malnutrition, from food insecurity and inadequate healthcare to limited access to education and clean water.
