Addis Ababa, October 21, 2019 -The Experts Session of the 3rd Ordinary session of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment opened today at the African Union Commission Headquarters.

The 3rd STC on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment orgnaised by the AUC’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, will review the relevant strategic goals and linkages in agriculture, rural development, water and environment related initiatives and their implications on the achievement of the overarching goals set out in the Malabo Declaration; the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the ten-year implementation plan of Africa Agenda 2063 to transform Africa.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, H.E Amb. Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture gave a review of progress the Department had made on the implementation of decisions and recommendations from the last STC in 2017. She also highlighted the programs and initiatives by the department, the most recent being the launch of the Campaign to ‘Retire the Hand held Hoe to the Museum,’ and unveiling of the statue to denote the campaign, in Burkina Faso during the commemoration of the International Day of the Rural Woman, last week October 15, 2019.

Officially opening the meeting, Chair of the Bureau of the STC 2017, Dr. Amadou Sidibe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Burkina Faso, commended the AUC for preparations towards the meeting.

As chair of the bureau elected in 2017, Mr. Sidibe reiterated the bureau’s commitment to work with the commission on the implementation, recommendations and decisions of the 2017 STC and AU decisions.

He further gave a highlight of the work the bureau had undertaken since the last STC. He noted that the STC held in October 2017 was a success and that the Bureau looked forward to concluding all matters and adopting the draft report to present to the Ministerial segment of the STC, commencing on October 24th, 2019.

The STC aims to achieve the following:

a. To review progress in implementation of the decisions that were taken during the first and second ordinary sessions of the STC in 2015 and 2017, respectively;

b. To consider and adopt strategic documents related to Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment for onward submission to the Executive Council for consideration;

c. Adoption of the Terms of Reference of the sub-committees on various from formed in 2017;

d. To dialogue and provide policy recommendations and guidance on topics that are high on Africa’s Development Agenda 2063 including agriculture and food security; rural economic development; resilience, sustainable management of environment and natural resources. The STC meeting will consider and adopt strategic documents and reports related to Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment and to provide policy recommendations and guidance on topics that are high on Africa’s Development Agenda 2063.

For further information contact/media contact:

Ms. Carol Jilombo

DREA Communications

Jilomboc@africa-union.org

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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