Technical Working Group on the Facilitation of the Africa-Arab Joint Action Plan (JAP) on Agricultural Development and Food Security Meet in Cairo
League of Arab States Headquarters, 17th and 18th May, 2015, Cairo, Egypt - The Meeting of the Technical Working Group on the Facilitation Unit of the Africa-Arab Joint Action Plan (JAP) on Agricultural Development and Food Security was held on 17th and 18th May, 2015 at the premises of the League of Arab States, in accordance to the decision taken by the Steering Committee meeting held in Kampala, Uganda dated 17/4/2015 on Agricultural Development and Food Security.
The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Zied Alsban the new Director of the Africa-Arab Co-operation Department at the League of Arab States and Mr. Nadir Fath Elalim, on behalf of H.E Ambassador Abdelhamid BouZaher, the Head of the Permanent Delegation of the African Union Commission to the League of Arab States. In his opening remarks, Mr. Zied Alsban welcomed all participants to the meeting and reaffirmed the League of Arab States’ commitment and readiness to further enhance its relationship with its partners especially with its African partners. He emphasized the significance of the seven mechanism adopted by the Second Africa-Arab Summit held in Sirte, Libya in 2010.
Mr. Nadir in his remarks welcomed all participants and congratulated the new director for his appointment and wished him success in his job. He also emphasized on the importance of the implementation of Decision ( 3) concerning Agricultural Development and Food Security of the third Africa –Arab Summit Held in Kuwait November 2013.
Dr. Alhaj Attia Habib, in his remarks on behalf of Dr.Tariq El-Zadjali, the Director General of the Arab Organization for Agriculture Development (AOAD) stressed on the proposal made by AOAD for a new mechanism for the facilitation unit and called for support for this new mechanism.
Dr. Hassan Elhassan on behalf of Dr. Khelef the Director-General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) welcomed participants from both sides and highlighted the role of the two organizations(AU and LAS) in formulating polices and strategies in the agricultural sector.
The meeting discussed the existing mechanism of the Facilitation Unit and noted that it is fraught with problems and challenges. Consequently, the meeting adopted a new mechanism for the operationalization of the Facilitation Unit. Under this new mechanism, a three-tier system would be used, namely the coordination team, technical advisory committee and the steering committee. The meeting also examined information on the Implementation of the Agriculture Investment Mapping Process (work plan to December 2015).
Finally the meeting arrived at a number of decisions that would permit the actual implementation of (JAP) which will be adopted by the Third Africa-Arab Ministerial meeting of agricultural development and food security plan to be held in Kampala, Uganda 19-23 October, 2015. EAH/
For further information contact
African Union Permanent Delegation to the League of Arab States
AU-Cairo@africa-uion.org
EglalA@africa-union.org- 00201143333288
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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