Promoting Africa’s growth and economic development by championing citizen inclusion and increased cooperation and integration of African states.
Promoting Africa’s growth and economic development by championing citizen inclusion and increased cooperation and integration of African states.
Agenda 2063 is the blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the strategic framework for delivering on Africa’s goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.
H.E President William Samoei Ruto (PhD), President of the Republic of Kenya and the African Union Champion on Institutional Reform. H.E. Ruto was appointed during the 37th Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February 2024 to champion the AU Institutional Reform process taking over from the H.E Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda who led the implementation of the reform process since 2016.
The AU offers exciting opportunities to get involved in determining continental policies and implementing development programmes that impact the lives of African citizens everywhere. Find out more by visiting the links on right.
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Dr Dlamini Zuma opening remarks at the Blue Economy meeting with the Norwagean Foreign minsiter HE Morten Hoglund in Oslo, Norway
KEY NOTE ADDRESS Bringing all Stakeholders together after 15 years of the implementation of the PATTEC Initiative
H.E Madam Rhoda Peace Tumusiime,
Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture
African Union Commission
Today, we are gathered here for the Joint 33rd General Conference of the International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC), and the 14th PATTEC Coordinators meeting being held in the city of N’Djamena, the Capital of Chad.. At the onset, allow me to welcome all of you to this important Conference and take this early opportunity to express my appreciation to the Government and the people of Chad for having accepted to host this conference. This kind gesture by the Government and people of Chad is highly appreciated. . I also take this opportunity to thank the ISCTRC Executive Council, my two technical offices; the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources and the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign Coordination Office, the Scientific and the National Organising Committee for working tirelessly to make this event possible. I thank the participants who left their busy schedules to attend this conference, and on behalf of the African Union Commission please accept our appreciation.
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Excellencies, Distinguished guests ISCTRC has its origin in the formation of the Commission for Technical Cooperation in Africa South of the Sahara (CCTA) that was established in 1949 on the realization that overcoming the menace of trypanosomiasis in humans and animals required international cooperation and implementation across national, regional and continental barriers. For the past 66 years ISCTRC, whose secretariat is based at AU-IBAR made important contributions in the fight against African trypanosomiasis and tsetse. As you may recall ISCTRC lobbied, during its 25th meeting held in Mombasa, in 1999 for the recognition of the negative impacts of the Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis as well as the challenges they had on sustainable rural agriculture development and public health, which may hinder the attainment of some millennium development goals in affected countries.. This led eventually to the establishment of the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC).Initiative through a decision of African Heads of States and Government, in Lome Togo in 2000 and PATTEC was officially launched during the 26th ISCTRC Conference in 2001 in Burkina Faso.
PATTEC, as you all know, is a continent wide programme aimed at joint campaigns and collaborative country-wide activities to eradicate tsetse and trypanosomiasis in the 38 states of Sub-Saharan Africa infested with the tsetse fly vector. Under the framework of PATTEC national projects aimed at creation of sustainable tsetse and trypanosomiasis free areas are being implemented. It is also important to note that PATTEC initiative has now a fully-fledged coordination technical Office in the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, AU-PATTEC.
This conference is unique in a number of ways, but most notably because it coincides with the 15th Anniversary of the birth of the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) Initiative. In this conference I have no doubt there are delegates who were there at the 25th meeting of the ISCTRC that was held in Mombasa, Kenya in 1999 where a recommendation was made to establish PATTEC. I thank you for your commitments to address one of the key challenges to socioeconomic development in Africa.
It is my pleasure to note that we are holding the 33rd ISCTRC Conference and the 14th PATTEC Coordinators meeting jointly and at the same time Cerebrating 15 years of the PATTEC Initiative.
The theme of this year’s Conference ‘Bringing all Stakeholders together after 15 years of the implementation of the PATTEC Initiative’ is very befitting as it reflects the strategy that ISCTRC, the AUC technical Offices, -IBAR and PATTEC with various stakeholders will adopt going forward- that is working together- in research and control of both human and animal African trypanosomiasis..
The creation of PATTEC, 15 years ago signalled an important milestone towards the elimination and eventual eradication of trypanosomiasis from Africa. Since the creation of the PATTEC initiative a lot of efforts and gains have been made in the control of trypanosomiasis. However, there is need to accelerate the speed towards the eventual elimination and eradication of the disease given the big burden it poses to rural agriculture and development and the serious challenge it poses to public health. Fifteen years after inception of the initiative we need to reflect on the lessons learned and identify key issues and lessons that will inform our strategies and operations in Tsetse & Trypanosomiasis research and control for the next 10 years.
The timing of the conference is also ripe for it gives us an opportunity to align our strategies and operations in Tsetse & Trypanosomiasis research and control to the realisation of the goals and objectives of not only the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods but most importantly to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 which constitutes the overarching development framework for Africa..
Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis continue to be a big challenge in rural areas of Africa. The loss due to Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) is substantial and it is estimated at US$ 5 billion a year. Human sleeping sickness continues to be a public health challenge in many areas of rural Africa. Although the number of reported cases per year has being declined but lot still needs to be done.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
As you recall, early efforts to contain T&T led to huge reduction of the disease but unfortunately the reduced burden of the disease led to reduced interest among public sector authorities and the continent’s partners in investing in the control of the disease. This led to the re-emergence of the disease and in the 80’s and early 90’s, the disease had re-gained its hold in areas where the disease had been controlled leading to heavy losses in livestock and impacting negatively on the public health. I therefore implore on all the stakeholders not to relent because of the successes in the control and eradication of T&T we are currently experiencing but to double the efforts until the goal of eliminating the last case of trypanosomiasis and the last fly is achieved.
Excellencies
DIstiguished Guests
Ladies and gentlemen allow me therefore to highlight a few more issues we need to observe for effective and sustainable tsetse and trypanosomiasis research and control. Past experiences show that T&T control activities are effective when integrated with other rural development activities. I urge you therefore to consider the integration of Tsetse &Trypanosomiasis control activities in the rural development policy objectives and strategies of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) using the CAADP framework as an entry point. The integration of T&T intervention programmes in rural development strategies is fully justified in recognition of the fact that even in situations where trypanosomiasis is most severe, it is but one constraint on rural growth as well as development and that its eradication is but one instrument to unleash that potential. An effective T&T eradication policy thus must influence the decision making process in a manner that furthers or enhances regional development objectives. T&T eradication policy must be concerned with all rural development issues including human migration and settlement patterns, productivity of livestock and crop production systems and mechanisms to address these issues via T&T eradication.
Excellencies
DIstiguished Guests
Ladies and gentlemen, equally worthy noting is the fact that T&T touches on several sectors, namely: agriculture, wildlife, rural development, tourism, animal health and public health. Therefore there is a need for the various actors that transverse national, regional, continental and global level to form strategic alliances for T&T Research and Control. I observe with appreciation the growing interest and enhanced collaboration between institutions in all areas of Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Research and Control as evidenced by the number of networks and consortia that have evolved over time. Further, the multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to T&T research and control presents as a good example of the feasibility of operationalizing the One Health approach.
Excellencies
DIstiguished Guests
Ladies and gentlemen, availability of quality data continues to be a challenge in evidence based decision making in T&T control. There is therefore a need for investment in quality data collection and analysis to inform sound policy. Geographical Information System (GIS) based data collection, collation, storage, analysis and dissemination offers substantial value addition to decision making. In addition, other novel technologies to control trypanosomiasis need to be generated through operational research. Such novel technologies could be based on biological control or on genetic manipulation of the tsetse fly. Research should also be undertaken to elucidate the effect of climate change on tsetse distribution and the impact onT&T control.
Excellencies
DIstiguished Guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The eminent scientists, young researchers, representative of international organisation and NGO’s , private companies among others, you as the technical experts in this field of T&T have the onerous task of ensuring the success of the control and ultimately elimination/eradication of T&T from our continent. Once, T&T free areas are created, this will facilitate accelerated rural development in the affected countries.
Excellencies
DIstiguished Guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Let me bring to your attention the following: One eminent scientist recently published a paper that was quoted in the Economist, which attributed the actual development level of T&T affected countries to the presence of the Tsetse and came up with a Tsetse Suitability Index (TSI) to prove this since colonial time to date. All countries colonised in various continents, with exception of those in tsetse infested areas of Africa are still lagging behind and continues to face agricultural development challenges and didn’t realized agricultural surplus historically. Current economic performance of T&T continue to be affected by tsetse through channel of precolonial political centralization as the affected region still remain untapped. Africa posses 60% of the Arable surface area yet to be utilised, but as long as Tsetse is present in the continent, we African will not be able to unleash the potential our agricultural sector has in the near future.
With the positive results achieved so far by all of you present here and in your respective countries, we are moving toward the creation of more T&T free aea and elimination of the disease in many parts of the continent, hence I am comvince that the days of T&T are numbered and with the enthusiasm I see in you our main objective will be achieved.
Excellencies
DIstiguished Guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It is my expectation that this joint conference will deliberate and propose appropriate solutions to many of the unanswered questions in this regard. I also urge Partners and African Union Member states to continue with the current effort towards addressing the Capacity gaps that exist for the control and elimination of tsetse and trypanosomiasis. I also encourage research institution and Universities to continue with their research to develop new therapeutic and diagnostic tools for the disease
I thank you for your attention and wish you every success in your deliberation.
2015 International Day of Democracy
“Theme: Space for Civil Society”
On this day 15 September, which marks the International Day for Democracy, we recall the founding vision of the African Union of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens… ” This year’s International Day for Democracy theme of “Space for Civil Society” could not be more relevant for our vision, since civil society is one of the vehicles by which civic participation and involvement can be promoted. The theme also bodes well with the seven aspirations of Africa’s global platform of action, Agenda 2063: the Africa We Want. In particular Aspirations three and six which foretell of an Africa “of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law” and “whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people…”
Agenda 2063 confirms that people should be and are at the center of our plans over the next fifty years, and thus civil society is an integral part for the pursuance of our agenda and our longer-term objectives. The role of the African civil society remains pivotal, we all recall that it was the Pan African Women’s Movement in 1962, which was civil society driven in character, that was the fore bearer to a Pan African continental platform of action and organization, the Organization for African Unity (OAU). We will also recall that in that year the Pan African Youth Movement (now Pan African Youth Union) was established.
We therefore cannot proceed on our development trajectory without the involvement of civil society. However, civil society also has a responsibility to the African citizenry to pursue the aspirations of the African people to live their lives in dignity and with equal opportunities. For today’s civil society on the continent they must put Africa first since they also share a joint responsibility to pursue the African Renaissance and Pan Africanism. No more should our civil society receive instructions from elsewhere but from our people. No more should the civil society be utilized to counter our progress as united nations of this continent. To effectively undertake this progressive tasks, Africa’s civil society must also unite behind a common agenda, as advocated for by Agenda 2063. Africa’s civil society must unite behind common goals and objectives, whilst pursuing progressive partnerships with Africa’s and the world’s public and private sectors. For our part as the African Union, and because we value the inputs of the progressive civil society, we established the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) in 2002. The ECOSOC offers an opportunity for African civil society to play an active role in charting the future of the Continent, organizing itself in partnership with African governments to contribute to the principles, policies and programmes of the Union. More needs to be done to strengthen this vehicle since we also believe that ECOSOC is an integral part of the unity, democratization, prosperity and lasting peace journey of the continent.
Women and young people are the majority in all our societies, they are therefore critical to democracy and to the vibrancy of African civil society. As we celebrate 2015 as the Year of Women’s Empowerment for the realization of Agenda 2063, they need to mobilise and organize, to take their rightful place in our societies, in all spheres of human endeavor.
We therefore take this opportunity to encourage Member States of the African Union to strengthen the participation of civil society bodies in ECOSOC and other platforms offered by the Union. In the end the States must create an enabling environment for the progressive and Pan African civil society to organize, assemble, and express themselves in an orderly and constructive manner.
That will ensure the protection of our hard earned freedoms. Afterall our freedom was not free, we all have a shared responsibility to protect it and ensure that our people live a quality life. As we pursue these objectives and other ideals we must place Africa first.
Dr. NkosazanaDlamini Zuma
Chairperson
African Union Commission
Education Science, Technology and Innovation
Technical and Vocational Education and Training
for the Youth 2015 in Africa
Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025
CESA 16-25
Special Session of the Fridays of the Commission: “Petition to the United Nations General Assembly proposing that 9th September be declared the World Great Apes Day and seek to build support for the initiative
Statement of H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,on the occasion of
Africa Day at the XIV World Forestry Congress 7 September 2015, Durban South Africa
Your Excellency, Mr Senzeni Zokwana, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa,
Dr Jose Graziano da Silva, Director General Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
Your Excellency, Mrs Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture,
Dr Raymond Mbitikon, Secretary General, Central African Forestry Commission,
Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO, NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is with great pleasure to welcome you to the 14th World Forestry Congress, which we as Africans are proud to host for the very first time. We are grateful to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the global community for this opportunity. My sincere appreciation goes to the Government and people of the Republic of South Africa for their warm welcome, gracious hospitality and excellent arrangements for this Congress.
The theme of “Addressing Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management” is timely since the global community is working on finalizing discussions on important global processes with far-reaching consequences on the sustainable management of the world’s forest resources. The expected adoption of Sustainable Development Goals and the anticipated agreement on climate change at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP21 in Paris at the end of the year are beacons of hope to squarely put forests and the resources and services they provide in the development context. I trust that this Congress will provide further insights and opportunities as the global community concludes these landmark agreements.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The African Union attaches high premium to African forests. Forests constitute one of the most ancient and most important habitants for humans and our precious wild flora and fauna; they constitute a source of livelihood in terms of fruits and food as well as wood for construction, just to mention but a few vital uses. They also constitute catchment areas for many of our invaluable rivers and lakes, which are key sources of fish and a means of transportation, in addition to them being also tourism destinations.
Our forests are considered among the three lungs of the world because of their sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere. This is a significant contribution by Africa to global solutions to climate change. Indeed, forests are recognized as indispensable in adapting to, and mitigating the negative impacts of climate change and desertification.
In light of these opportunities, challenges and prospects, the Africa Agenda 2063 portrays a continent whose forests and other natural resources are sustainably managed for the inclusive growth and shared prosperity of all African peoples. Africa is taking bold steps in mainstreaming into the planning and development matrices aspects of sustainable natural resources management. The June 2014 Malabo Summit of the Africa Union called for the elaboration of a regional sustainable forest management framework, which will provide a vision and direction for forest management in Africa for the coming decades. Work on this draft framework has started in earnest, thanks to our partnership with FAO, the African Forest Forum and other partners.
Forests and woodlands in Africa occupy an estimated 650 million hectares (ha) or 21.8 per cent of the land area of this continent. This accounts for 16.8 per cent of the global forest cover. Many of the forests are severely fragmented due to the encroachment of an expanding human population and human activities such as agriculture and urbanization. We must therefore explore sustainable means for the necessary expansions and human activities.
The exploration of sustainable means ought to pay particular attention to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). Africa, with the second largest contiguous block of forest in the world stands to benefit a lot from this mechanism provided that we put in place the right institutional and policy frameworks.
While per capita forest ratio in Africa is close to the world average of (0.185 ha/ person), the deforestation rate is 4 times the world’s average at nearly 1% per annum. This is a serious challenge for the continent. We, therefore, hope that the holding of the 14th World Forestry Congress in Africa will be a watershed moment in stimulating political support and partnerships on forestry conservation, preservation and development. This Forum provides for us a reflective window of opportunity so that together we can explore pertinent challenges and strategies. In developing these strategies in relation to Africa I would suggest that we utilize Agenda 2063: the Africa We Want as the contextual canvass. Of importance to this forum is that Agenda 2063 and its first ten year implementation plan contain the principal adaptation processes and strategies to maintain healthy ecosystems, preserve the African natural environment.
This forum therefore could have not come at a better time for us and the theme of this conference is pertinent to fine tuning our Agenda 2063 plans in relation to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change. From our perspective, sustainable forest management is a sine-qua-non for addressing climate change and building resilient communities and nations.
For us, and the world, forests are important in determining the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. African forests store about a quarter of this total. However, this great storage capacity also means that when forests are cut down, the impact is disastrous. Deforestation accounts for nearly 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the capacity of the forest to act as a carbon sink is decreased as forests are lost or degraded. The effects of this degradation are also beginning to impact on our coastal forests which are known to help reduce risks from disasters relating to climate extremes and sea-level rise and coastal flooding.
Consequently, our forest management strategies must also complement our strategies that relate to the ocean and watering. This forum must therefore assist us in elaborating on practical mechanisms for sustainable land and coastal forest management in such a manner that it may assist us to deliver a range of livelihood and environmental benefits that help both people and ecosystems adapt to climate change. In the end these strategies must facilitate the lifting those who continue to live in poverty and hunger.
It is also important for this forum to note that the majority of malnourished global citizens reside in Africa. Thus sustainable forest management ought to address the need for nutrition and food security. Much of the expansion witnessed in the agricultural sector over the last decade occurred through encroaching into forestlands, This has been compounded by urban phenomenon such as expenditure which often has people unnecessarily replacing luxuries like furniture, thus leading to the cutting of more trees. These have led to the intensification of the problem of deforestation, soil erosion and general environmental degradation leading to widespread desertification on the continent. Deforestation triggered by escalating demand for food, luxuries and fuel is degrading ecosystems, diminishing water availability especially for the poor. We must therefore find more technologically sound mechanisms to meet these needs and necessities.
To mitigate these effects we must encourage the growing of trees as they protect the soil and regulate water and microclimate. Projects such as Trees for Africa and those that intend to reforest the Sahel region require all of our urgent support, as they have also shown that crops grown in agroforestry systems are more resilient to drought, excess rainfall and extreme temperature fluctuations.
Honourable delegates, By encouraging reforestation and the sustainable utilization of forests we can also increase the food security of rural households. Forests are also the major source of grazing for domestic animals. These animals form an important component for food security and alleviating poverty especially among the rural population. Our ultimate goal should be the eradication of poverty, which will require all of us to embark on a path of inclusive growth.
Currently our forests account for between 6 to 8 per cent of GDP in Africa: the highest proportion in the world. In Central and West Africa, the forest sector contributes more than 60 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) through export of timber products. Africa’s wood production (including round wood and fuel wood) increased from 340 million cubic meters in 1980 to 699 million cubic meters in 2000.
However the forest, like all our natural resources, is not an infinite resource and so we must, as advocated for by Agenda 2063, encourage the diversification of our economies as we pursue the sustainable inclusive growth path.
Our growth path will also place added pressures on our energy sources. Fast-growing species of tree or woody shrubs can provide biomass or biofuel for heating or power generation. It is, therefore, an urgent imperative that we pursue sustainable ways of using biomass fuel, for example, through the use of energy efficient cooking stoves or alternative sources of energy such as solar and biogas.
We also know that the forests and woodlands of Africa are home to large varieties of flora and fauna species, many of which are endemic to the continent and are under increasing threat from population explosion. A key area of global concern for biodiversity conservation in Africa is the seemingly insatiable demand for ivory and rhino horns in the global market which is fuelling an unprecedented decimation of our major and iconic wildlife species, the elephant and the black rhino.
The illegal trade in wildlife prompted the African Union to call for serious measures at all levels to curb the trade in wildlife products.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, the sustainable management of forests and forest ecosystems has a direct bearing on the peace, security and stability of the continent. Insurgence/militant groups often use illegally exploited forest products such as timber and fuel wood, to finance their activities. The trade in timber and wildlife is a classic example, which is supporting the proliferation of arms on the continent, thereby directly undermining our peace and development efforts. We, therefore, need to strengthen forest governance structures at all levels and enhance regional collaboration on forest resources management to enhance our surveillance capabilities to track and halt the activities of destructive groups. The fact that forests often traverse national boundaries means that they have the potential to nurture regional cooperation and promote peaceful co-existence among countries.
With forests and forestry being an important part of the agriculture sector where women are active players, Africa must continue to mainstream gender equality and strengthen the role of women in forest-related projects and programmes. 75% of farm workers are women. Modernising Agriculture by providing new technology and irrigation and making the agricultural land more productive will decrease the demand of more land and destruction of forests in order to increase Agricultural production. Processing the agricultural products means also more revenues.
Empowering women and youth in the forestry sector can create significant development opportunities and generate important spill over benefits for their households and communities, particularly in rural areas. Given their knowledge and roles in the forests and forestry sector, women need to be sufficiently represented in relevant institutions, accepted as stakeholders with specific opinions and interests, and empowered to have a say in transformative decisions. Efforts to empower women in the forestry sector include advocating for and enacting good governance systems for Biodiversity Conservation.
Provision of ecosystem services and the mitigation of climate change are now recognized as some of the important roles of forests and have become integral components of sustainable forest management.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, In conclusion, I would like to say that Africa suffers from a wide range of challenges. These challenges are attributed to factors such as the rapid population pressure, low investment especially in alternative sources of energy, and weak public sector institutions and policies on forest resource management. Government actions, therefore, need to be intensified to change the trajectory to address these concerns. These actions include actively engaging the private sector and civil society and enhancing the role of women and youth in forestry. In doing so, we must also explore sustainable woodland resource management whilst also up scaling the capacities of public sector institutions that are responsible for forestry resource management.
I therefore call upon the international community to step up support to ensure sustainable forest management in Africa. This is more so because our forests are important global resources especially in the area of climate change mitigation in addition to their vitality for our livelihoods.
I would like to also take this opportunity to reiterate our appreciation for the strong partnership that we have with FAO in supporting forestry development in Africa. At the same time, I would like to use this platform to encourage FAO to do more in enhancing capacities to ensure the sustainable management of forests in Africa.
I wish to also reaffirm the commitment of the African Union to advance the cause of promoting and protecting our treasurable forests.
I thank you for your kind attention.
OPENING STATEMENT
BY
H.E. MRS. RHODA PEACE TUMUSIIME,
COMMISSIONER FOR RURAL ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURE
AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION
AT THE
FIRST FORUM OF THE MONITORING FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY (MESA) PROGRAMME
HELD AT
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL
IN NAIROBI,
KENYA
31 AUGUST – 04 SEPTEMBER 2015
• Hon. Professor Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Water and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kenya
• H.E. Ambassador (Eng) Mahboub Maalim, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
• H.E. Jean Claude de l'Estrac, Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission and Current Chair of the MESA Programme Steering Committee
• Mrs. Anna Burylo, Counsellor, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to the African Union;
• Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities, MESA Programme Steering Committee, AfDB, and UN Agencies
• Distinguished Partners and Participants
• The MESA Forum Organizing Committee
• Members of the Press
• Ladies and Gentlemen
It is an honour and pleasure for me to address the opening ceremony of the First Forum of the Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa (MESA) project. I wish to convey to you the warm greetings and best wishes of H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission and to welcome you all to this historic event. I wish to thank the Government and the People of Kenya for the gracious welcome and generous hospitality accorded to me and my delegation. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, we are grateful for all this and the excellent arrangements put in place for the success of this Forum. I further wish to extend our gratitude to the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for hosting the historic Forum in their region.
This Forum is a great opportunity for all of us: African Decision-makers, Experts, Service Providers and the User Community to exchange views on various aspects of the project in order for the MESA project to remain relevant and useful to the community that it is intended to serve in its multiple sectoral areas of focus including agriculture, coastal and marine resources, climate variability and Climate change including assessment, natural resources conservation, disaster risks reduction, flood and drought monitoring, fisheries, forestry monitoring, land degradation mitigation, livestock management, monitoring of wildfires, and water resources management.
As the First forum, it will help to refine the alignment of our work with the expectations and needs of our clients including the African Policy and Decision- makers, Development Planners, as well as users of products and services, the MESA project generates. Distinguished Guests might also have noted that the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), one of the MESA service providers and the MESA Continental Implementation Centre, is also marking its official kick-off of the MESA Thematic Action on Climate Services for Disaster Risks Reduction at this forum. This is a good development as it now means that all implementation centres are in the implementation phase.
1. AFRICA’S STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND MESA
Africa is the world’s second-largest and second most-populous continent after Asia. People are the most precious resource and so our efforts must be directed to serving the interest of the people and that is why the vision of the African Union is people-centred. In serving the African citizens’ interests, we are cognizant of the fact that the African continent faces diverse socio-economic challenges which manifest through decreasing food production and food supply, increasing vulnerability to drought and famine, natural disasters, land degradation, water pollution, and reduced income especially for poor small-scale farmers, herders and fish mongers.
African leaders recognize that firm strategic direction is critical for the realization of improved socio-economic conditions of African citizens. As such, the leaders have, in recent times, adopted important Decisions and Declarations to whose implementation the MESA project is contributing. Allow me to highlight the key which are of relevance to MESA:
I) Issues of climate change and disasters feature highly on Africa’s Development Agenda. African leaders, in January 2015, adopted Decisions on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction that reaffirmed the adoption of the High Level Work Programme on Climate Change Action in Africa (WPCCAA) as a blue print for climate action on the African Continent. In an effort to align the implementation of the African Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the African Union Commission, in collaboration with other Pan African Institutions and Partners, has put in place plans to review the Extended Programme of Action for the Strategy. In the same vein, it is pleasing to note that MESA has a dedicated Thematic Action on Climate Services for Disaster Risks Reduction and, through its various thematic actions, the MESA project contributes to the implementation of the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services) as well as the African Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction.
II) At the June 2014 AU Summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, African leaders adopted the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, outlining a set of specific strategic goals which, among others, summed up in the commitment to ending hunger in Africa by 2025. The Declaration highlights such critical areas to MESA as:
(a) efficient and effective water management systems;
(b) strengthened early warning systems for advanced and proactive responses to disasters and emergencies;
(c) enhanced resilience of livelihoods and production systems to climate variability and other related risks for the African farmer, pastoralist, and fish monger;
(d) mainstreaming resilience and risk management in our policies, strategies and investment plans; and many others.
I wish to urge the RECs and Member States to continue with their efforts towards the implementation of this Declaration and, our development partners, to sustain support to this cause for a food and nutrition secure and poverty free Africa, through programmes like MESA and others.
III) At the same Summit, in Malabo, the African Union expressed concern over the “unsustainable utilization and conservation of Africa wild flora and fauna and the dramatic escalation of illegal trade in wild flora and fauna in recent years”. MESA is already positively contributing to a solution through the Land Degradation Mitigation, Natural Habitat Conservation, and Forest monitoring thematic action being implemented by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC). The African Union Commission in collaboration with Partners have now developed the African Strategy on Combating Illegal Exploitation and Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa. This is our strategy to whose implementation we should all commit.
IV) Considering the importance of having a coordinated approach on earth observation and other space-related programmes and projects like MESA, as well as the importance of meeting the space needs of African users, the Commission is in the process of finalising the African Space Policy and Strategy. With these instruments, I believe, we will effectively and efficiently exploit benefits derived from space.
Distinguished participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, guided by the MESA overall objective of “supporting African Decision-makers and Planners in designing and implementing national, regional and continental policies and development plans towards sustainable development,...”, we should keep the project relevant by ensuring that it addresses the needs of its intended clients. By so doing, the project shall contribute to Africa’s regional integration and development which are the key tenets of the AU’s Vision of an Africa that is integrated, peaceful, prosperous, people-centred and a dynamic force in the global arena.
2. DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EU
We remain grateful to the European Union for the European Development Fund (EDF) that has been the source of funding for MESA and its predecessor projects i.e. the Preparation for Use of MSG in Africa (PUMA) and African Monitoring of Environment for Sustainable Development (AMESD). The funding to MESA amounts to 37 Million Euros excluding 3 Million Euros of administrative arrangement from the EU Joint Research Centre.
As you may be aware, the Africa-EU Partnership is one of the most productive, and has produced concrete outcomes in various areas of socio-economic development including environment, climate change, as well as regional integration. Through this partnership, the EU has been supporting Africa in various programmes such as the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) programme, the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI), Meteorology, the Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), the Disaster Risks Reduction and many others coordinated by the African Union Commission in collaboration with other Pan African Institutions and Partners. We value this support highly.
You may also be aware that the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) has been one of Africa’s trusted partners for over a decade now. Africa accesses satellite data free of charge via the EUMETSAT’s EUMETCast System, receives technical support from EUMETSAT in various areas including in the implementation of the MESA project as well as other meteorological and climate related initiatives, among others. The cooperation between the African Union Commission and EUMETSAT, especially in respect of the MESA project, is supported by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Implementation Arrangement which the two institutions signed in 2013. We are grateful to EUMETSAT for this strong partnership.
3. THOUGHTS ON THE WAY FORWARD
Two years have passed since the start of the MESA project implementation. I wish to highlight a few things for consideration at this Forum:
1. MESA is a project and, like any other project, it has a life span. Although the GMES and Africa programme is in the formulation phase, it is important that concrete sustainability measures are put in place at all levels in order to maintain the gains from MESA. Sustainability is one of the principles in Africa Agenda 2063.
2. Timely, sustainable and reliable access to quality data by Africa is vital if the continent is to deliver and provide reliable information to inform Decision and policy making as well as development planning. This forum should seriously consider debating improvements in data access.
3. Cooperation and forging working partnerships with other institutions, and building synergies with other programmes and projects should be promoted as this will ensure efficiency and synergy in the use of resources.
4. Defining user requirements and proper information packaging are critical in an effort to meet the needs of intended people.
5. Enhanced capacity is key to sustainability. Thus the AU’s establishment and operationalization of the Pan-African University and its Regional Campuses across the continent including here in Nairobi, is testimony to the importance of capacity development in Africa.
6. The continent, RECs, and Member States have policies and strategic directions in various socio-economic development areas. It would benefit the African cause if we design and implement our programmes in line with established frameworks as we strive to roll out Africa Agenda 2063 on inclusive growth, sustainable development and shared prosperity.
To conclude, I wish to thank the Organizing Committee, under the leadership of the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) for all the efforts put in making this forum happen. The guidance of the MESA Programme Steering Committee is also highly appreciated. Once again, I thank the Government and People of the Republic of Kenya for hosting the forum and according us such a generous hospitality and excellent arrangements.
I thank you for your attention.
1st CONGRESS OF AFRICAN ECONOMISTS 2009 THEME: “Towards a Single African Currency”
2nd CONGRESS OF AFRICAN ECONOMISTS 2011 THEME: “How to realise strong and sustainable Economic Growth in Africa so as to absorb unemployment and sustain the dynamics of Regional and Continental Integration”
