Tokelo Khausela
THE African Union (AU) has extended King Letsie III‘s term as its Nutrition Champion for the next two years.
The decision was taken at the 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Summit held over the weekend in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
King Letsie III has led the AU’s continental nutrition agenda since 2016.
A press statement from the Lesotho Embassy in Ethiopia, announcing the extension, said His Majesty has had an impactful journey in collaborating with policy makers to promote nutritional issues on the continent over the years.
“Over the years, the King has addressed and made contact with many stakeholders, particularly policy makers in health, agriculture, nutrition, environment, climate change and finance sectors among others to craft solutions to the continent’s hunger and nutrition challenges,” part of the statement read.
“Approximately 59 million children under the age of five in Africa are reportedly stunted, with the impact being long lasting, irreversible damage to childhood.”
Lesotho’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union Commission, Ntšiuoa Sekete, said in the same statement His Majesty had often urged focus on investment of essential financial and material resources to engage Africa’s society on nutrition, focusing on children and vulnerable groups.
“The King’s continued championship will reinforce existing levers to sustain resources for nutrition in Africa. We are pleased and grateful that His Majesty the King has immersed himself in this important mandate and for the remarkable work he has done to advance continental efforts and agenda on nutrition,” said Ms Sekete.
Ms Sekete also said the AU, through its Commissioner of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Minata Samate Cessouma, has acknowledged His Majesty’s role, impact and dedication to the mandate, but most importantly, willingness to serve the people of Africa.
In March 2023, at a high-level event on nutrition financing held in Maseru, King Letsie III called on AU leaders to put in place practical and sustainable financing mechanisms to deliver improved nutrition outcomes.
Again last year, during the COP28 summit held in Dubai, King Letsie f launched a position paper entitled: “From Commitment to Action-Integrating Nutrition Financing in the Climate Change Framework. The paper urged nations to promote and focus on nutrition issues.
Speaking during that Dubai ceremony on behalf of the King, Minister of Energy Professor Nqosa Mahao, emphasized the pivotal role of the position paper which exhorted African leaders to prioritize the strategic utilization of climate finance to bolster food systems that are not only robust and healthy but also sustainable and equitable.
He said transitioning towards sustainable, climate-resilient, and healthy diets did not only mitigate health and climate change costs but also fortified food security in the face of climate-induced challenges.
The paper highlighted the crucial link between climate change and nutrition and argued for integrating nutrition considerations into the climate financing framework.
