A high-level delegation led by Hon. Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Mrs. Rohey John-Manjang, held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Kaveh Zahedi, Director of the FAO Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Environment, during COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The meeting aimed to seek support for funding the implementation of the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and to strengthen collaboration on food security in the face of increasing climate challenges.

In her remarks, Hon. John-Manjang expressed appreciation for FAO’s ongoing contributions to the country’s national food security efforts. She noted that climate change adversely impacts both the social fabric of farmers’ communities and the agro ecological landscape. The Minister also highlighted the FAO’s significant support in the forestry sector, including inventory initiatives and targeted assistance that have enhanced forest cover. She underscored the need for more scientific approaches in forest inventory, incorporating advanced data management, and promoting organic farming practices to minimize the use of chemicals in agricultural food production.

Hon. Lamin Dibba, the Ambassador to the UN, emphasized the country’s vulnerability to various climate change effects, particularly in agriculture and sustainable natural resource management. He pointed out that these are central themes in the country’s climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, outlined in the recently developed NDC. He praised the cooperation with FAO in crafting the strategic framework for these areas.

In response, Mr. Kaveh Zahedi reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the NDC. He expressed interest in understanding how food and agricultural systems are integrated into the NDC to explore larger investment opportunities. He also highlighted that the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) are primary funding sources available through FAO for such initiatives.