Minister Amongi lauds FAO for expanding social protection

KAMPALA, May 29, 2024 - The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi has commended the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations [FAO] for its pivotal role in expanding social protection to the rural population, and empowering agrifood workers.

Minister Amongi made the remarks yesterday in Kampala while speaking at the ongoing Africa Regional Policy Dialogue on Social Protection at Four Points by Sheraton Kampala where she also said, "Government of Uganda has been closely collaborating with FAO to implement interventions that promote coherence between social protection and agriculture."

"We appreciate FAO and partners for expanding social protection to rural populations and agrifood workers in Uganda and Africa. "Bearing this in mind, it is clear that not only investing in social protection is a moral imperative, but linking to agrifood systems is also a smart economic strategy,” Amongi said.

She added that by supporting rural populations, they can boost agricultural productivity, improve livelihoods and contribute to food security and poverty reduction. "Let's all support and extend social protection programmes. 'The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is committed to developing, and implementing policies that promote social inclusion, reduce poverty, and empower communities," she said.

Ultimately, she said, a robust social protection system can help create a more inclusive and resilient agrifood system that benefits both rural farmers and consumers alike.

She called upon government agencies, civil society organisations, private sector and development partners to join hands in the effort to build a more inclusive and productive society.

The dialogue is jointly organised by the FAO and Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture [FUORUM] in collaboration with the government.

Amongi added that her ministry holds the comprehensive mandate for the policy and program implementation of social protection in Uganda.

She emphasised the pivotal role of social protection not solely within Uganda but across the African continent and globally.

'In Uganda, we uphold social protection as an inherent human right. It is thus our duty as government to ensure that all members of our society enjoy access to fundamental social protection benefits," she said.

She added that the benefits encompass vital services such as healthcare, education, housing, income support and other necessities, thereby facilitating dignified livelihoods.

On his part, Dr. Antonio Querido, FAO Representative in Uganda said the organisation has worked with the Government of Uganda to design and implement interventions promoting coherence between social protection and agriculture. We remain committed to providing technical support to enhance livelihood resilience for vulnerable communities in the country.

Discussions during the dialogue focused on strengthening systems, sharing knowledge, identifying gaps, and proposing strategic actions to scale up social protection across the continent.

Talking about the significance of the dialogue, Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for FAO Africa said:  "Our collective aim is to explore innovative and evidence-based approaches within social protection systems that can effectively address the complex challenges facing rural populations in Africa."

He said the results from the ongoing dialogue in Kampala will inform the FAO Regional Social Protection Strategy and the future of sustainable development in Africa.

"The link between agrifood systems, nutrition, climate change, and inclusive economic development emphasises the need for a comprehensive approach. Climate change introduces new risks, requiring adaptive social protection to support the vulnerable, mostly in rural areas," he added.

https://thecooperator.news/fao-donates-livestock-vaccines-to-karamoja-and-elgon-regions/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news