The World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence Against Hunger Brazil, along with the Government of the Republic of Congo, the Brazilian Government, and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), has launched the project ‘Enhancing Family Farmers’ Access to Local Markets in the Republic of Congo through South-South Cooperation‘ funded by IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa). The project aims to assist family farmers to access local markets in Congo with the initial implementation in Bouenza, Plateaux and Pool. Strategies imply in institutional strenghtening of ministries, training of farmers cooperatives and school feeding plans.
On March 11, the second field visit to Brazil will take place at Maricá and Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, where members of the delegation – consisting of representatives from the Congolese government, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC, in Portuguese), the National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE, in Portuguese), the WFP Country Office in Congo, and the Centre of Excellence Against Hunger – will visit family agriculture initiatives, agricultural cooperatives, Quilombola communities, and public schools. Various workshops conducted by government agencies will also occur. INCRA will discuss land issues and agricultural production, the Public Defender´s Office will address monitoring practices, and FNDE will present themes such as resource mobilization and the elaboration of school feeding menus.
The visit will be finalized at March 21st with inter-ministerial meetings to consolidate the gathering of information and discuss the next steps in implementing strategies in improving food and nutrition security in Congo, benefiting family farmers, and increasing their access to local markets.