Monaco signs three-year FAO deal to back Senegal farmers
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Monaco has signed a three-year agreement with the FAO to support fonio farming and women's livelihoods in Senegal as part of its climate cooperation programme.
Monaco's Permanent Representative to the United Nations agencies in Rome, Anne Eastwood, signed a three-year partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization on 19 October at FAO headquarters, committing the Principality to backing fonio production in Senegal. The programme targets climate resilience for smallholder farmers, strengthening rural livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities for women in the sector.
Fonio, an ancient grain grown across West Africa, has drawn renewed international attention for its drought tolerance and low water needs, qualities increasingly valuable as Sahel farming communities confront erratic rainfall. The Monaco-FAO agreement channels funding and technical support toward production chains for the crop, from cultivation through to processing and market access.
The deal forms part of Monaco's broader international cooperation portfolio, which has long prioritised climate adaptation projects in vulnerable regions over direct aid. For Monaco residents following the Principality's diplomatic footprint, the agreement reflects the government's continued positioning on climate finance and food security issues at UN agency level in Rome, an area where Monaco has built relationships with FAO and allied bodies over several years.