How FAO and West Africa Marked 2025 World Food Day
World Food Day (WFD) 2025 was celebrated on Thursday, 16 October, across all 15 West African nations under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.” This year’s event marked the 80th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and served as a reminder of the urgent need for collective action to build sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems.
In Senegal, the celebration was held at the esplanade of Dakar’s Regional Express Train (TER) Grand Station. Organized by FAO, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock (MASAE), the event brought together representatives from government institutions, UN agencies, private sector players, civil society organizations, academic institutions, grassroots groups, project beneficiaries, and members of the public. Together, they celebrated progress while reaffirming their shared commitment to achieving food systems that are fair, climate-resilient, and inclusive.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, Acting Subregional Coordinator for FAO in West Africa and Acting FAO Representative in Senegal, emphasized that World Food Day represents more than just a global commemoration—it is a call for solidarity around the right to food. “Every 16 October, in more than 150 countries, millions unite around one universal cause: ensuring that every person has access to adequate, safe, sustainable, and nutritious food. Food is not a privilege; it is a basic human right,” she stated.
Ms. Stephen-Tchicaya noted that the inequalities between hunger, obesity, and food waste reflect a deeper structural imbalance in agrifood systems. She described this year’s theme as “a rallying cry for cooperation, collective action, and shared responsibility that cuts across borders and generations.” She also acknowledged the enduring partnership between FAO and Senegal, which began in 1977, highlighting their joint efforts to strengthen national institutions, empower producers, and support rural livelihoods.
Representing the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Ibrahima Diouck, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, commended FAO for its consistent support in advancing Senegal’s journey toward food sovereignty. “Achieving food sovereignty is not the work of one ministry alone—it is a national mission. It requires the participation of all stakeholders: young people and women in agribusiness, development partners, donors, and citizens who choose to consume local products and adopt healthier, more sustainable food habits,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations system, Ms. Aminata Maïga, UN Resident Coordinator in Senegal, reaffirmed the collective resolve of UN agencies, including FAO, WFP, IFAD, UNDP, and UNICEF, to work hand in hand with the Senegalese government and development partners. “We remain fully committed to strengthening local value chains, advancing agroecological practices, encouraging farmer-led innovation, and supporting young and women entrepreneurs who are reshaping the future of food,” she affirmed.
Ms. Maïga also celebrated the importance of local foods as a cornerstone of cultural pride and economic resilience. “Today, we honor our local treasures—millet, fonio, cowpea, hibiscus, moringa, fish, and tropical fruits. These foods reflect our creativity and endurance. To eat local is to defend our culture, our health, and our environment. It is an act of sustainability and patriotism,” she said.
The festivities continued with an exhibition and public tasting of traditional Senegalese dishes made from local ingredients, celebrating the country’s vibrant culinary identity. Commuters on the TER train joined in sampling innovative recipes such as eggplant juice, moringa drinks, and fonio-based meals—an engaging display of how local produce can power modern, nutritious cuisine.
Similar commemorations took place across Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Each country hosted its own range of activities—from exhibitions and radio programs to policy dialogues and nutrition awareness campaigns—all reinforcing one message: that Africa’s food future depends on collaboration, innovation, and the shared will to ensure that no one is left behind in the quest for a hunger-free continent.
