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Address by His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma President of the Republic of Sierra Leone On Behalf of the MRU Nations At the African Union Ebola Recovery Conference Malabo Equatorial Guinea

On behalf of the Heads of State of the Mano River Union, I would like to convey our deep appreciation to the African Union for organizing this landmark Conference. Our people, on saying thanks to those who visit them during a funeral say we would have hoped that the event that occasioned this visit had not happened, but that the event occurred and you are here to help us get through it shows you care a lot. No body thought that the Ebola virus disease would strike Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, but that the AU came to our aid in moments of great suffering, sickness and death is a testament to the relevance of our common union. And that you are now organizing this conference to find ways of supporting our countries recover from the tragedy is worthy of our deepest appreciation.

We welcome this opportunity to share our hopes for socioeconomic recovery in the Mano River Union (MRU) nation states. Ebola brought about overwhelming challenges in almost every aspect of life in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Our health systems almost collapsed; in 2014, our economies contracted and projected growth declined from 4.5% to 1.3% in Guinea; 11.3% to 6% in Sierra Leone and 5.9 % to 0.4% in Liberia; farms were neglected; markets abandoned; trade and travel contracted; fiscal balances weakened; revenue decreased; and expenditure shut up to combat the disease.

The combat against the disease has been very difficult. We pushed aside long standing African traditions; mobilized support from around the world, including over 800 health workers sent by the African Union with support from the private sector in the continent; we launched the biggest and fastest social mobilization efforts ever seen in the history of our countries; our communities rose up to the challenge; and thousands of health workers asserted their commitment to saving lives, and many did this even at the cost of their lives

Today, with their resilience, and your support, victory against the disease is almost in sight; the virus has been pinned down to a few neighborhoods in our countries. But the enormous health, fiscal, education, and livelihood challenges brought about by the virus are still upon us. We are here because we strongly believe our African brothers and sisters are very determined to support us meet these challenges.

Ebola is a stubborn enemy that usually stages comebacks, as the recent isolated cases have shown in Liberia. We must therefore put in place the strategy on how to tackle emergency situations and design long-term solution to the healthcare crisis that our countries face today.

As we move from emergency situation to stabilization, all three countries are implementing a robust social and economic recovery program in response to the consequences of the disease and ensure greater resilience. Building this resilience involves rebuilding our health sectors, caring for the survivor, and supporting the orphans and the widows brought unto that very vulnerable position by the virus. It involves getting kids back to schools that remain safe, and shoring up the private sector as a means of rebuilding livelihoods and putting the countries back on the trajectory of growth and promise that were very visible before the virus struck.

In furtherance of these goals, the 3rd Extraordinary Summit of the Mano River Union held in Conakry on the 28th of June 2015 adopted the Sub-regional Post Ebola Socio-Economic Recovery Program, the priorities and costs of the sub-regional Ebola-Recovery Program, as well as the Institutional and Financing Framework to ensure effective implementation.

The sub-regional plan is clustered into two levels: Level One is estimated at US$1.76 billion, focusing on (i) health, water, sanitation and hygiene; (ii) governance, peace and security; (iii) agriculture, fisheries and food security; (iv) gender, youth and social protection; (v) program management and monitoring, and vi) private sector development. Level Two is estimated at US$2.24 billion focusing on (i) sub-regional roads; (ii) energy access; and (iii) information and communication technology.

Based on lessons learned during the outbreak, we believe the African Union would be pivotal in providing health and other related personnel to get our health centers to the necessary personnel strength in the short run and support training of nationals to occupy those positions in the long run. Africans have the necessary contextual and cultural knowledge to effectively push our transition from a few cases to zero, to stay at zero and support the rebuilding of health and other socio-economic infrastructure within the timeframes envisioned in our sub-regional Mano River Ebola Recovery Plans and the individual national recovery plans.

We would like the AU to champion the rebranding of our countries, the Mano River sub region, West Africa and the entire continent as brimming with profitable investment and other opportunities for recovery and growth. Without this rebranding the fortunes of our countries would be constrained by travel, investment and other restrictions that could hamper our recovery and resilience to prevent future outbreak.

Africa is a continent on the rise; we should utilize the enormous diplomatic, cultural and socio-economic resources to mobilize the resources to tell the story that the Mano River basin and the entire continent are not synonymous with Ebola, no more than nations afflicted with other zoonotic diseases like SARs, HNI and Marburg are synonymous with those infections. It is high time we became earnest in telling the better narrative of our sub-regions, regions and the continent as a land of immense opportunities, and that we are deploying our experiences to ensure recovery and growth. But this has to begin with awareness being entrenched within African governments and nations alike. Without this awareness amongst ourselves, we cannot position ourselves to shake off negative branding of the continent.

We also ask that you support adherence to the principles of the New Deal and the Mutual Accountability Framework; and our call for direct budget support to the affected countries and for the cancellation of the sub-region’s debt of $3.16 billion

We are also calling on the AU to support the mobilization of resources for the establishment of a Special Delivery Unit within the MRU Secretariat, backed by a project preparation facility for the preparation of bankable projects for effective implementation of the program.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, support for recovery in the Mano River Basin is support for an integral part of the African Union. In essence, in supporting the affected countries, the African Union is supporting its own resilience, its own recovery and its own growth. The Ebola virus did not infect states; it infected people, real people with families across borders who are looking up to their brothers and sisters in the African Union to support their recovery from this scourge. Your response to this call is one of the greatest tests of the African Union’s commitment to being a union of people. We are here because we believe our continental union will be equal to its commitments.

I thank you for your attention.

OPENING REMARKS
BY

H.E. TUMUSIIME RHODA PEACE

COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT FOR RURAL ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURE

AT THE

RESOURCE MOBILISING ROUNDTABLE TO SUPPORT OPERATIONALISATION OF AFRICA’S AGENDA ON ACCELERATED AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION

AUCC, MULTI-PURPOSE HALL, ADDIS ABABA,
JULY 15

H.E Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency
H.E Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
H.E Mr. Laurent Thomas, Assistant Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Stephane Roberge, First Secretary (Development - Pan Africa Regional Program), Government of Canada
Mr. Kiyoshi Kodera, Vice President, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA
Mr. Mark Cackler, Global Practice Manager for Agriculture, World Bank
H.E Amb.Reuben E. Brigety, U.S. Ambassador to the AU, US Government
Mr. Klaus Rudischhauser, Deputy Director-General, European Commission
Dr. James Mwangi, Managing Director, Equity Bank Holding

Distinguished participants; Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is with great honor that I welcome you all to this important event that aims at strengthening our partnerships in support of advancing Africa’s Accelerated Agriculture Growth and Transformation agenda -our vision for achieving the goals that we set for ourselves in the June 2014 African Union Malabo Declaration.
Agriculture continues to play a pivotal role in African economies, as the livelihoods and businesses of the majority of the population depend on the sector directly or indirectly. It is obvious that the rising demand for food and other agricultural products, hence the fast-growing domestic market, induced by high population growth, rapid urbanization and income growth should continue to spur fast agricultural growthin Africa.
As suchthis dynamic market presents itself as a huge and unique opportunity for transforming African agriculture from a subsistence-oriented towards a more market-oriented sector , propelled by high productivity along the whole agricultural value chains – through the development and expansion of agro-industries and agribusinesses in Africa – with positive impacts on jobs, incomes and quality of life. This is consistent with our vision as enshrined inAgenda 2063 for inclusive growth, sustainable development and shared prosperity.
Dear Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It was in recognition of the strategic position of agriculture that African leaders adopted CAADP in 2003. An important feature of CAADP has been its emphasis on African leadership and ownership and on sustainable and inclusive agricultural development as a key to economic growth and shared prosperity. A decade of CAADP implementation realised a number of encouraging successes as agricultural transformation is increasingly put high on the development policy agenda in most AU Member States. Guided and informed by CAADP principles and practices, the majority of Member States have been formulating and implementing National agriculture and food security investment plans (NAFSIPs). It is not by coincidence that the performance of Africa’s agriculture over the last decade or so, estimated to have grown by 4-5% per annum, has been quite encouraging in spite of the low base. Such progress required deliberate and persistent leadership and commitment for the noble cause.
Evidences indicate that agricultural growth has been largely responsible for the relatively fast and equitable economic growth that many African countries have registeredover the last decade. It is now evident that inclusive and sustained agricultural growth has the most direct and consequential impact on overall economic progress as well as on poverty reduction. A recent FAO report indicates, for example, that Africa has made significant strides in terms of improving food availability by nearly 12% over the past two decades, as well as in declining poverty rate by 23% between 1993 and 2011.
However, the encouraging progresses notwithstanding, the challenges still remain. The total number of undernourished people continues to increase in Africa, despite the decline in the prevalence of undernourishment. And, despite certain improvements, productivity levels are still the lowest in the world. External dependence on food imports is rising, which is unsustainable. Despite the huge potential of African markets, African countries trade less amongst themselves and more with the rest of the world. And, because agriculture is one of the most climate sensitive sectors, vulnerability to climate variability and other related risks has been on the rise. It is, therefore, our considered view thatthe manner in which these are adequately addressed would define the extent to which agriculture can grow sustainably and continues to positively impact overall economic transformation in Africa.

It is in recognition of such trends and facts that the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth And Transformation for Shared Prosperity And Improved Livelihoods was adopted by AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in June 2014.Anchored in the principles and values of CAADP, the Malabo Declarationcontains specific commitments defining the 2025 vision and goals – which in effect also constitute the agricultural component of the 1st Ten Years Implementation Plan for Agenda 2063. The commitments are for:
1. Ending hunger in Africa by 2025;
2. Enhancing Agriculture’s Contribution to Economic Growth and Significant Poverty Reduction (agriculture to contribute to at least half)
3. Boosting Intra-African Trade in Agricultural commodities and services
4. Commitment to Enhancing Resilience of Livelihoods and Production Systems to Climate Variability and other related risks
5. Enhancing Investment Finance in Agriculture, and
6. Enhancing Mutual Accountability to Actions and Results

Admittedly these are commitments of a tall order, but clearly they are achievable goals. No doubt, they require exceptional leadership qualities at all levels, in particular high public officials essentially leading the way in terms of ensuring that enabling conditions for effective implementation are put in place and sustained; effective participation of all stakeholders; and constructive engagement with the private sector and other significant actors with unity of purpose.

I am glad to inform you that the African Union Commission and the NEPAD Agency, in collaboration with the RECs, undertook an expedient process that translated the Malabo commitments into results-based Implementation Strategy and Roadmap, anddeveloped aProgramme of Work that broadly defines operational actions and guides implementation at multiple levels,and across sectors, thus building coherence and alignment of efforts that respond to the priorities identified.

Distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen:

You will recall that CAADP was adopted against a backdrop of agricultural policy neglect in Africa. The most manifest form of that neglect had been the investment deprivation of agriculture. So, an important tenet defining CAADP has been the consensus to allocate an increasing proportion of national budgets to agriculture. The decision to allocate at least 10% of public budgetary expenditure was aimed at reversing the trend of the investment deprivation that characterized agriculture, but also as a demonstration of commitment to country ownership and leadership in this predominant sector.

With the benefit of hindsight, we can note with a sense of encouragement that government expenditureon agriculture in Africa had registered an increasing trend over the last decade. Average annual agricultural expenditures by African governments exceeded US$ 10billion in 2010-13 period, compared to an average of about US$ 7billion during 1995-2008. Cumulatively, agriculture expenditures have risen significantly from US$ 55billon in 2003-2008 to US$ 65bilion in 2008-2013.
Since the Maputo Declaration in 2003, more and more countries have been making progress towards the 10% budget expenditure target, with at least 9 countries having annually achieved or surpassed the 10%budget targets, whilst an average of 15 countries had budget shares exceeding 5 percent during 2003–2013. This increased to 18 countries during 2008-2013 period.
Similarly, evidences suggest that the total Official Development Assistance (ODA) to agriculture in Africa increased from a little over 1 billion to close to $ 2 billion in 2011. The growth of Agriculture ODA on average was 4.5% during 2003-2008 but increased to 6.7% in the 2008-2012 period. This period also demonstrates the positive response of the global community as many countries developed their CAADP based National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans (NAFSIPs).

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen
These are encouraging trends, but by no means adequate to respond to the enormous and growing challenges that we must meet through operationalization of the Malabo Commitments. We will continue to work with African governments and all relevant stakeholders and development partners towards ensuring that the Malabo commitment of “enhancing investment finance” both public and private is realized. It is at this juncture that I wish to call on our strategic partners to step up their efforts in terms of enhancing investment finance to support Africa achieve its goals.
It goes without saying that the transformational agenda – as part of Africa’s industrialization drive through development and expansion of agro-industries and agribusinesses propelled by high and sustained productivity along the whole value chain – cannot be achieved without the co-leadership, ownership and active participation of the private sector. To this effect, we have been working with African governments and business leaders, both African and foreign, to facilitate a constructive dialogue aimed at enhancing investment in agriculture. This engagement will continue.
You may have already noted that enhancing mutual accountability for results and impacts is one of the commitments of the Malabo Declarations. The African leaders expressed their readiness for a peer review to be conducted every two years, starting from 2017 on the progress made in the realization of those goals. Definitely, progress on achievement of the goal of enhancing investment finance shall be one of the parameters against which we will all be judged.
We,from the African Union Commission and NEPAD Agencyare carrying out significant efforts to work with our Member States in creating the enabling conditions to sustain the current recovery, in addition to continuing to raise public and private financial resources foragriculture. Our efforts will continue to be guided byour evidence based policy planning and implementationstrategies in increasing the number of our countries that are subscribing to the more comprehensive, technically robust, and inclusive mutual accountability frameworks.
In summary, wewill continue to create the conditions for even higher returns to investments in agriculture.We will continue to ensure that African countries continue to invest more responsibly in agriculture both from the private and public sources. We, therefore, call on our partners to work with us to sustain the growth that we have registered in the last decade in terms ofsignificantly raising investment finances.
I thank you.

Malaria Financing For A New Era: An Exceptional Case For Investment

A High Level Luncheon At The 3rd International Financing For Development Conference

Economic Commission For Africa (ECA) – Africa Hall

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Monday, 13 July, 2015 13:15 – 14:45

Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and Chair of the 3rd International Financing for Development Conference, Excellency Hailemariam Desalgne

Excellency, Secretary General of the UNSG

Heads of State and Government

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen

I am honoured to participate in this this event, with its focus on Malaria Financing for a new era – An Exceptional Case for Investment. The Prime Minister, as current Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance continues to provide stewardship to the fight against malaria and the broader struggle for health for all on the continent.

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen

The African Continent is indeed on a path towards eliminating Malaria, with malaria incidence reduced by 34% in Africa, expressed in an estimated 337 million less malaria cases and 3 million deaths averted between 2001 and 2012.

Malaria mortality rates declined by 54% overall and by 58% among children since 2000. Nine countries in our continent, (Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Eritrea, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa and Swaziland) are on track to achieve higher than 75 percent decrease in malaria incidence and therefore the MDG 6 targets. Three countries: Zambia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia are also expected to achieve a 50 to 75 percent decrease in malaria incidence.

There were also increases in funding and implementation for malaria control programmes over the past decade. International disbursements for malaria control significantly increased, rising from less than US$ 0.5 per case in 2000 to more than US$ 8 per case in 2012.

These increased funds were focused on Africa. New data suggests that for every US $1 invested in malaria in Africa, an estimated 40USD in Gross Domestic Product is generated in return. It is therefore not just a health issue, but also an economic issue.

Despite these results, Africa continues to account for 82% of malaria cases and 90% of malaria deaths. Malaria causes out-of-pocket expenditure for households and an estimated cost of US$ 12 billion each year in lost productivity in Africa alone. We must therefore ensure a concerted push to reach the target of eliminating malaria.

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen

Agenda 2063, adopted by Africa, capturing our aspirations and framework for development over the next 50 years, place special emphasis on investments in African people - children, young people, its men and women - as our most precious resource. Our Common African Position on the post-2015 Development agenda therefore emphasises universal coverage and access to health services and well-being.

The implications for Malaria are clear. Elimination of Malaria by 2030 as per the call of the African leaders through the Abuja +12 means frank review of what works, renewed commitments to mobilize domestic and international resources, strengthening effective strategies to address malaria and strengthening health systems and access to basic services. We know that malaria was eliminated across the globe, we know how they have done it, we must look at what has worked and try to accelerate the elimination of malaria.

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen

While we advocate for shared responsibility, but differentiated responses and global solidarity, external resources alone will not deliver sustainable access to health and universal coverage for Africa.

Statistics already show that Africa is indeed responsible for a significant proportion of its development finance as more than $527.3 billion comes from domestic revenues compared to $73.7 billion in private flows and $51.4 billion in official development assistance. Africa is taking its responsibility seriously, of course it will move faster with support. It is always the last mile that is most difficult, if we can all commit ourselves to fund this last mile. As Africans, our leadership is continually engaged. No Summit goes pass without a focus on malaria.

It is for this reason that we continue to redefine and engage our partners - including the UN and other international agencies - on the nature of our relationships, and how they can work with us, as we build an Africa that is integrated, peaceful, people-centered, prosperous, and indeed that is malaria-free.

Lets work together, lets push harder, the last mile is always the most difficult.

Thank you very much for your attention

OPENING STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE 27TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BY HONOURABLE SIMBARASHE S. MUMBENGEGWI THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE CHAIRPERSON OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: 11 JUNE 2015: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Your Excellency, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma;
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Hon. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane;
Hon. Ministers of the African Union Member States;
Members of the Permanent Representatives Committee and other Senior Government Officials;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities;
Invited Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Comrades and Friends;

I wish to welcome you, Honourable Ministers, to the 27th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council. Let me express my profound gratitude and appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of South Africa for the warm welcome and the usual legendary hospitality accorded to me and my delegation, since our arrival in this bustling cosmopolitan city of Johannesburg. The excellent state-of-the-art facilities placed at our disposal provide us with the environment necessary for conducting our deliberations in preparation for the Assembly.
I wish to thank the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma, and through her, all African Union Commission Staff for the sterling preparatory work. Your critical role in facilitating the functioning of our Union and its Organs, is fully appreciated.

Let me commend the Permanent Representatives Committee for their efforts and diligence in preparing for this meeting.

Honourable Ministers,
We held our 2nd Ministerial Retreat on 9 and 10 June 2015, during which we successfully deliberated on the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of the African Union Agenda 2063 and its Financing Mechanisms; and Streamlining and improving the Working Methods and Rules of Procedure of the African Union.

In relation to Streamlining and improving the working of our Union, one cannot over-emphasize the importance of according ample and unbridled time to our Heads of State and Government to attend to issues that are strategic to the Continent. In line with this, it is imperative to review the Working Methods and Rules of Procedure of the other Organs of the Union in order to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of their various mandates.

Honourable Ministers,
As you will recall, the Assembly, at its 24th Ordinary Session held in January 2015 in Addis Ababa, took the strategic Decision to progressively increase Member States funding of the Union to make sure that at the end of five years, starting from 2016, Member States will be financing 100% of the Operations Budget, at least 75% of the Programmes Budget and at least 25% of its Peace-keeping Operations Budget. That Decision, inevitably brings with it added responsibilities for Member States, particularly in the area of assessed contributions. The Decision was not only necessary, but was an important step taken by our Principals to ensure African control over and ownership of the Union and its programmes and activities. The old adage, “he who pays the piper calls the tune,” becomes relevant in our situation.

It is therefore imperative that as we seek alternative sources of financing the Union, our organisaton should take measures to ensure that we operate within the confines of our Budget. This would enable the Union to avoid overdependence on our cooperating partners.

Honourable Ministers,
As we conduct our deliberations, let us also remember the challenges that are facing our great Continent. In so doing, let us take heart in the knowledge that none of these challenges are insurmountable. Africa, through the African Union Commission, took the lead to fight against Ebola, together with the support of the African private sector. This was no mean achievement as it showed what we can achieve with unity of purpose. Further, it was a clear demonstration of the desire and readiness of the African private sector to participate in the development of Africa.

Dear Colleagues,
I would like to emphasize the need to institute strong follow-up mechanisms as we prepare ourselves for the implementation of the First Ten-Year Plan of Agenda 2063. There is an old Chinese saying which says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” We have already taken that decisive first step. The journey over the next 50 years will be long and may even be riddled with many hurdles which we must overcome together as we move towards our desired destination. With our collective knowledge, wisdom and political will, we should be able to achieve what is envisaged in the Agenda 2063 blueprint.

Honourable Ministers,
The African Union theme for 2015, is “Year of Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063.” It is noteworthy that more than half of the population on the Continent are women. They form the backbones of our nations, regions and the continent, at large. It is, therefore, only logical to conclude that no sustainable development can take place without the input and involvement of African women. It is important that as we embark on the implementation of the Agenda 2063 blueprint, we ensure that the most important factor in our development process, the women and the youth, are given pride of place, not as an act of charity, but as clear recognition of their essential role in the actualisation of the seven aspirations under the Agenda 2063 blueprint, to lead us to an Africa that is, “integrated, prosperous and peaceful, driven by its citizens, and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”

Honourable Ministers,
It is now my singular honour and privilege to declare this, the 27th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, officially open.

I thank you.
Dates:
Jun.11.2015