The 19th Multidisciplinary Team Meeting takes place November 10-13, 2025. FAO's Subregional Office for Eastern Africa organizes the meeting to address critical issues affecting agrifood systems in the region.

Regional Context

Eastern Africa holds potential for agrifood system transformation despite overlapping challenges. The region faces conflict, displacement, widening food insecurity and malnutrition, and high input costs.

FAO plays a role in addressing these vulnerabilities while unlocking opportunities for agricultural transformation. The organization works to boost inclusive growth through food system transformation, requiring stronger partnerships, aligned investment, and coherent action to scale climate-resilient agricultural systems.

Meeting Theme

"Strengthening Partnerships and Investment for Accelerated Agrifood System Transformation and Climate-Resilience in the Eastern Africa Subregion"

Meeting Objectives

Review Progress Participants will assess implementation of recommendations from MDT-18 and draw lessons from successes and areas needing adjustment.

Partner Engagement Strategic partners including the African Union Commission, IGAD, East African Community, Parliamentarian Alliances, and member states will discuss challenges, opportunities, and priority areas for FAO's programmatic and policy support. Recommendations will feed into the Africa Regional Conference (ARC-34).

Policy Alignment The meeting aligns FAO support with the regional policy landscape, considering outcomes from the Second Africa Climate Summit, UN Food Systems Summit +4, and the Kampala Declaration on CAADP domestication.

Hand-in-Hand Initiative Review Participants will review progress, lessons, and best practices from the Hand-in-Hand Initiative in the subregion. The meeting will consolidate experiences from the Investment Forum held in Rome before MDT-19.

Country Programming Frameworks The meeting reviews Country Programming Framework status across the subregion to ensure alignment with UNSDCF while capturing lessons for delivering FAO's Four Betters at country level.

Experience Sharing FAO Country Offices will share best practices on how the subregional office can enhance TCP resource use, strengthening organizational visibility, agility, and contribution to SDGs and national development goals.

Administrative and Operational Matters Discussions will cover administrative matters affecting program delivery, subregional communication practices, advocacy, outreach, and human resource issues.

Who Attends

The meeting convenes high-level experts and development partners:

FAO Headquarters and Africa delegates
FAO Representatives, Deputy Representatives, and Assistant Representatives from eight subregional country offices
Office Associates to FAO Representatives
Subregional technical, administrative, and communication teams
Ministry of Agriculture representatives from Ethiopia
Representatives from other line ministries
African Union representatives
East African Community officials
IGAD representatives
East African Parliamentary Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition members
Partner institutions

Event Details

Dates: November 10-13, 2025
Organizing Body: FAO Subregional Office for Eastern Africa
Theme: Strengthening Partnerships and Investment for Agrifood System Transformation and Climate-Resilience
Participants: FAO officials, government representatives, regional economic blocks, development partners
Format: Strategic meeting with reviews, discussions, and planning sessions

Contact FAO's Subregional Office for Eastern Africa or relevant national FAO offices for information about official participation.