FAO to build hydropower across Africa

The Food and Agriculture Organisation has made a proposal to build hydropower across the African continent.

The proposal which will include investment for building critical hydropower and agricultural irrigation systems across the African continent was made at the Water for Energy and Agriculture in Africa meeting in Sirte, Libya.

At the three-day conference last week, which brought together ministers from 53 African countries, the FAO suggested it would convene a world summit of heads of State and government next year aimed at finding $30 billion a year for investment in the continent’s water and rural infrastructure, needed to provide food and energy for its expanding population.

Sub-Saharan Africa which is already suffering from the world’s highest rate of malnourishment – needs to triple its food production by 2050 to feed a population predicted to grow to 2 billion people. The region is also expected to be the hardest-hit by climate change and its effects.

The meeting was organized by FAO in collaboration with Libya, the African Union, the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), the African Development Bank and the Economic Commission for Africa, among others.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi