State partners with Canada to improve security

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has met with Harjit Sajjan, Canada’s Minister of International Development to discuss security partnerships and other areas of mutual and regional interest.

Sajjan, who has served in both the military and the police in Canada and is now in charge of the Pacific Economic Development Agency, praised Kenya’s efforts to battle terrorism and its use of innovation to improve security and increase the economy.

“We know that the best way to build up food security across the African continent is to work with African small and medium-sized agri-food businesses to help them expand and grow. The funding Canada is providing the African Development Bank will help increase food security across the continent while supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” he said

Increased global food poverty necessitates additional investments in climate-smart, natural-based farming solutions.

Minister Sajjan underlined the significance of investing in green agribusinesses on the African continent, particularly those managed by or benefiting women. Agri-SMEs produce, process, and transport 70 per cent to 90 per cent of the food on the continent, implying that they are important job providers and essential to guaranteeing African food security, as well as supporting African-led inclusive and green growth.

“At a time when multiple crises are placing a heavy burden on the continent’s agricultural value chain, we applaud Canada’s continued support with the significant and timely contribution of 100 million dollars to support gender-oriented small and medium-sized agri-food enterprises prioritizing climate resilience. The AfDB will leverage its resources along with Canada’s contribution to greatly enhance our support to these agri-SMEs, which we recognize as a key economic backbone of economies across Africa and a priority for transforming the continent’s agriculture into a major driver of competitive, inclusive, and sustainable green growth,” he said.

The financing announced today comes from the Canadian government’s International Assistance Innovation Program, which aids private sector growth that contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.