Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve food safety and sustainable food systems in Africa. This MOU is an integral part of GFSI's new capability strategy approach and contributes to the U.S. government's Global Food Security Strategy through Feed the Future, a whole-of-government platform that works to end hunger and malnutrition and build sustainable, resilient food systems.
The partnership reflects and advances USAID's and GFSI's shared interest in promoting food safety as a key component of food security and nutrition. Access to safe food is critical for nutritious diets and overall health. Consuming unsafe foods can cause illness and result in economic losses from decreased productivity. Recent shocks to the global food system have made it even more difficult for vulnerable communities, particularly in Africa, to access affordable, safe, and nutritious foods.
Under the signed MOU, USAID and GFSI will support small and medium food businesses in Africa to improve their food safety management systems by connecting them to technical, educational, and financial resources. Potential businesses will be identified to participate in a pilot phase of GFSI's new capability building framework, with a particular focus on women-owned business. The framework will focus on facilitating regulatory compliance, information-sharing, and market access. Additionally, the partnership will support new research on nutritious value chains and provide guidance on measuring the framework's contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals.
