The Food Safety for Africa (FS4Africa) proposal is designed to address food safety challenges in Africa. Focus is given to addressing food safety issues associated with weak channels for value chain organisation, traceability & authentication of safe food. Food safety challenges addressed include mycotoxin contamination in multiple food crops including food and feed, pesticide residues in grains and vegetables, microbial contamination particularly Escherichia coli contamination, and food adulteration of foods. The aim of the proposed proposal is to improve African food safety systems – with particular attention to the informal sector – through local market transformation enhancing food security and regional trade while reducing negative impacts on the environment, biodiversity, health and society. to By utilizing expertise, skills, networks and tools available within the consortium comprising partners based in Africa and Europe, we aim to address food safety challenges through policy development & implementation of existing policies, implementation of strategies uplift the informal sector using a combination of tools, approaches to transform the informal sector to a mezzanine status utilizing digital tools, communication of strategies, utilization of sound scientific, social and technological approaches. Tools in physical sciences, social science and humanities including in behavioral science, One Health, preservation of biodiversity is given attention in the proposal through implementation of interdisciplinary approaches that given consideration to human, animal, environmental and plant health. By employing strategies that meet "the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The proposed project will leverage on activities of other projects in previous and current EU projects and involve collaboration with the Joint Research Center especially as EC, Knowledge Center for Global Food and Nutrition Security.

Food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture (FNSSA) are among the critical development concerns in Africa. FNSSA is among the policy priorities in many African countries and at the center of the AU/EU international development agenda. FNSSA was the priority R&I area in the AU-EU High Level Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology, and Innovation. This was further substantiated by the establishment of the Pan-African Network for Economic Analysis of Policies (PANAP). StEPPFoS thus, aims contribute to the FNSSA 10-year roadmap and the global transition towards sustainable food systems through the implementation of activities that link PANAP to the FNSSA partnership. Specific objectives are (1) to improved capacities of stakeholders (2) to enhanced science-policy interface (3) to improve strategies that promote scientific support within policy development (4) to expand and strengthen the PANAP Network. StEPPFoS will be implemented through its 8 work-packages (WPs) over a period of 48 months. Capacity building, stakeholder engagements, participatory monitoring, evaluation, and learning are the main methods to be used to deliver StEPPFoS objectives whiles adhering to open science principles and effective data management practices. The consortium is well positioned to deliver these objectives as it draws on the expertise and experiences of its partners drawn from both Europe and Africa credible academic, research, and policy institutions.