AFSI works with an approach that seeks to address and adapt to climate change, to recognize the intersectionality of identities, including gender, and to include as active participants and leaders the youth in project areas. Likewise, we see our work in food safety, plant and animal health as vitally linked to addressing food insecurity and nutrition for peoples across Africa.
Food safety, animal and plant health, and food system resilience can be strongly impacted by issues of gender inequality, low employment capacity for youth, nutritional food access, and climate change, all of which are recognized as important cross-cutting themes for AFSI.
AFSI focuses on increasing women’s participation in solutions for food safety, nutrition, and food system resilience by recruiting women into programming and planning to set research and policy priorities. AFSI also supports women and young scientists and food safety practitioners with exchange programs focused on building capacity of early and mid-career professionals.
The external pressures of climate change are an additional concern for food safety across Africa and indeed the world. Climate change can lead to increased pest pressure on crops and livestock and changes in the occurrence and persistence of vectors for foodborne diseases and contamination.
AFSI works with the African Union, regional economic communities and member states to develop robust food safety management systems that can quickly and decisively act to mitigate the health-related impacts of climate change.
Major SPS Topics
AFSI 