Monaco has signed a three-year partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to support fonio production in Senegal, with a focus on climate resilience, rural livelihoods and women’s economic empowerment.
The agreement was signed on October 19 at the FAO headquarters in Rome by Anne Eastwood, Monaco’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the organisation, and Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General. The project will run from 2026 to 2028.
The initiative focuses on fonio, a traditional West African cereal known for its ability to grow in challenging climatic conditions. Working alongside Senegal’s Ministry of Agriculture, the FAO will implement the programme in Casamance, aiming to strengthen the skills and resources of small-scale producers while improving production and processing methods.
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Women, who play a central role in the fonio sector, are a particular focus of the partnership. By improving their access to economic opportunities, the project seeks to support greater financial independence while strengthening the wider agricultural value chain.
The initiative forms part of Monaco’s international cooperation strategy for 2025-2030, specifically its flagship programme dedicated to climate-adapted agriculture. The strategy seeks to help agricultural communities respond to changing environmental conditions while supporting more sustainable food production systems.
During discussions surrounding the signing, Bechdol welcomed Monaco’s continued support for the FAO’s work to combat hunger and malnutrition. She also highlighted the importance of the Principality’s commitment to climate resilience in food systems and the social and economic inclusion of women.
Eastwood, meanwhile, underlined the project’s place within Monaco’s existing development cooperation activities in Senegal. These already include support for agricultural sectors, school feeding initiatives and efforts to strengthen the resilience of rural communities.
By promoting a locally grown crop with significant nutritional and economic potential, the partnership is also intended to contribute to Senegal’s efforts to strengthen food sovereignty and reduce vulnerability to external pressures on food supplies.
Food and nutritional security remain priorities for Monaco’s international development assistance, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger.
The new agreement further expands cooperation between Monaco and the FAO, which already work together on initiatives in Morocco and Mali. Through the Senegal project, both partners aim to support more resilient agricultural communities while creating economic opportunities for small-scale producers.
