Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou spoke yesterday by telephone with the former President of the Republic of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou. He was named ?Champion of the Great Green Wall? by the member states of the Great Green Wall initiative and tasked by the United Nations Secretary General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission with evaluating the current situation in the Sahel.
They discussed the Great Green Wall initiative and its Accelerator, which seek to combat the effects of desertification in the Saharan and Sahelian countries. Their conversation also covered the issue of global food security and the FARM initiative, which was launched by France and endorsed by the European Council in late March of this year, in particular with regard to strengthening the African continent's sustainable agricultural production capacities.
The conversation also touched upon broader issues of security, governance and development in the Sahel. They spoke extensively about prioritizing education for girls.