Solomon Islands Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and Permanent Representative to the European Union, His Excellency Mr Moses Kouni Moses, expressed grave concerns towards the current challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on Food insecurity.
Ambassador Mose was one of five panellists for the 4th Global FAO SIDS Solutions Dialogue, held virtually on 18 April 2023.
The event was a joint initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Liaison Offices in Brussels, Geneva, and New York and the FAO Office of Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries (OSL).
His Excellency Ambassador Mose presented a statement on behalf of the OACPS SIDS Forum which he chaired for the last 12 months. The OACPS SIDS Forum is a consultative and subsidiary organ of the Organization for the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and brings together the 39 SIDS of the 79 Members-strong OACPS, to determine and coalesce around common priorities and interests, including the need for stronger climate action.
In his statement, Ambassador Mose reaffirmed that food security and access to climate finance are the two key priorities for the OACPS SIDS. Ambassador Mose further stated that the OACPS SIDS Forum is planning to convene a Resource Mobilisation Conference in 2023 and to prepare for that the OACPS SIDS Forum is developing an OACPS Multidimensional Vulnerability and Resilience Index, an OACPS State of Climate Finance Access report and OACPS NDCs Factsheets.
Speaking on a regional perspective, Ambassador Mose said, “Pacific peoples continue to grapple with increasing levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, with rising incidences of adults suffering obesity, and malnutrition cited as the key risk factor for the burden of non-communicable diseases”.
Ambassador Mose further recommended that in addressing these challenges, the OACPS SIDS require “a combination of improved food governance, education programs, and incentives for sustainable and healthy food that can help transition diets as well as Investments in food safety infrastructure and further added that legislation to facilitate access of SIDS food producers to markets is also needed”.
In concluding his statement, Ambassador Mose strongly believes that with the review of the SAMOA Pathway, the OACPS SIDS should reflect and reimagine new development approaches to address food insecurity, and genuine durable partnerships.
- MFAET PRESS RELEASE
