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A workshop by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) regional office for Africa (RAF) that took place in Harare from 17 to 28 February 2025 enhanced participants’ skills and knowledge in the quest for establishing resilient agri-food systems on the continent.
Below, Spiked Online Media shares participants’ perspectives about the workshop:
Ann Kerins, Human Resources Officer, FAO Headquarters
The FAO Human Resources Division (CSH) and the regional office for Africa (RAF) were pleased to actively participate in this important workshop, providing valuable insights and practical toolkits on FAO’s HR management. It also served as a key opportunity to gather feedback from colleagues at all levels, regardless of contract type, ensuring that HR strategies remain responsive to the needs of FAO personnel and contribute to a more efficient and inclusive work environment.
Diana A. Dotto, FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF)
This workshop was a pivotal step in equipping FAO’s 47 country offices and 4 subregional offices with the skills to effectively program, administer, and operationalize the Four Betters—Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life—toward sustainable agrifood systems transformation, leaving no one behind. By fostering cross-regional collaboration and providing practical tools, it empowered teams to translate FAO’s vision into concrete actions, ensuring more effective, inclusive, and responsive programming.
Betty Komina, Democratic Republic of Congo
I am pleased that this workshop, jointly organized by the regional office (RAF) and FAO country offices, created a valuable platform for experience sharing. The exchange of best practices and lessons learned from different countries strengthened regional collaboration and enhanced the effectiveness of FAO’s interventions.
Katya Neves, Cabo Verde
With participants from varying levels of expertise, the workshop offered a well-structured refresher training that reinforced foundational knowledge while introducing advanced strategies. This not only improved programmatic and operational efficiency but also strengthened networking and peer-to-peer learning, promoting a more cohesive One FAO approach across Africa.
Arlette A Amaizo, FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF)
We used this workshop as an opportunity to provide insights into FAO’s latest developments in project cycle management. By sharing updated methodologies and best practices, we ensured that all colleagues are well-equipped to implement more efficient, results-driven approaches in their respective projects, ultimately enhancing FAO’s impact on agrifood systems transformation.
Marie-Hortense Guei, Côte d’Ivoire
Amidst a changing FAO and a rapidly evolving global landscape, this training was an opportunity for reflection and knowledge sharing. It allowed colleagues to refine their approaches to implementing the Four Betters in their daily work, ensuring more people-centered and effective agrifood system transformations.
Rand Raharijaona, Madagascar
Bringing together colleagues from programming, administration, and operations, the workshop underscored the importance of cross-functional teamwork. Strengthening collaboration across these areas is essential for enhancing program and project management, ultimately improving FAO’s capacity to deliver impactful and sustainable solutions in the field.
Daniel Akutei, FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF)
The Capacity development workshop emphasized the need to strengthen coordination between programming, operations, and administration as key to breaking silos and enhancing FAO’s impact. By working together, teams can streamline processes, improve efficiency, and create a more cohesive approach to resource mobilization, particularly in the ongoing global context. This integrated effort ensures greater effectiveness in project delivery, maximizing FAO’s ability to support agrifood system transformation and achieve sustainable outcomes.
Cheick Abou Kone, Mali
The workshop provided a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange across different levels of seniority, fostering an environment where expertise and fresh perspectives converged. Participants engaged in discussions on the latest developments in FAO’s project management, operational modalities, and human resource management, ensuring alignment with evolving institutional priorities. This exchange not only enhanced individual competencies but also strengthened collective capacity, enabling more effective and efficient implementation of FAO’s programs and projects.
Tigist, Ethiopia
On behalf of all participants from the Subregional Office for Eastern Africa and Ethiopia, we appreciated every aspect of the training—from the refresher sessions to the introduction of innovative approaches and the valuable exchanges among colleagues. This holistic learning experience reinforced our technical capacities, fostered collaboration, and provided practical insights that will enhance our work in delivering FAO’s Four Betters more effectively.
Andrea Russo, Somalia
This capacity development meeting served as a vital refresher in FAO programming and project management, reinforcing our ability to translate the Four Betters—Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life—into tangible results in the field. In fragile contexts like Somalia, where development and stability are deeply interconnected, such fora are essential for strengthening the peace-development nexus. By fostering cross-sectoral collaboration and knowledge exchange, the workshop enhanced our capacity to design and implement integrated interventions that not only address food security and resilience but also contribute to long-term peacebuilding. Strengthening coordination between humanitarian, development, and peace actors ensures that FAO’s work remains impactful, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable communities.
