Meshack Malo urges global food security efforts to reach African communities

Meshack Malo, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative to Ghana, has emphasized that the global call for food security must extend beyond high-level international meetings to reach local communities across Africa and the rest of the world. Addressing the World Food Forum 2026, Malo stressed that the central message of World Food Day should not be confined to the halls of power in Rome. Instead, he argued that the momentum generated by global leaders must translate into tangible, ground-level actions that transform food systems and improve the lives of those most affected by food insecurity. Malo participated as a co-moderator for the ceremony held at the FAO headquarters, working alongside Shalina Miah, the Deputy Director of the FAO’s Resource Mobilisation Division. Their joint leadership during the session highlighted the critical link between resource mobilization and the practical implementation of food security initiatives. By bringing his perspective as a representative based in Ghana, Malo underscored the necessity of ensuring that international strategies are designed with the specific needs of African agricultural landscapes in mind, particularly regarding the resilience of local food chains. The discussions at the forum pointed toward a broader strategy of inclusivity, aimed at ensuring that the call to action associated with World Food Day resonates within rural and marginalized communities. This focus is intended to bridge the gap between high-level diplomatic discourse and the everyday realities of smallholder farmers who form the backbone of the African agricultural sector. As the forum concluded, the emphasis remained on creating a unified global effort that empowers local actors to drive the sustainable transformation of food systems, ensuring that no community is left behind in the fight against hunger.