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Opening Address by the Presiding Officer to the 1st Session of the 2nd Permanent General Assembly of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC), Cairo, Egypt, 26 February 2015.

Opening Address by the Presiding Officer to the 1st Session of the 2nd Permanent General Assembly of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC), Cairo, Egypt, 26 February 2015.

Your Excellency, The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt,

Your Excellences, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Your Excellency, Advisor to the Chairperson,

The Director of CIDO and Head of the ECOSOCC Secretariat,

Directors of the AU Commission,

Representatives of Various Departments,

Colleagues and Honorable Members of the General Assembly,

Members of the Press Corps and Fourth Estate,

Distinguished Participants,

Invited Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It gives me great pleasure to address this maiden session of the General Assembly of our Organ, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC). Following the inauguration of this Assembly and the subsequent Summit of the African Union held in Addis Ababa in late January 2015, the time has come now for us to begin work in earnest to realize the vision of the African Union in the establishment of ECOSOCC.

I must begin by thanking all Honorable members of the 2nd General Assembly for taking the time to attend this crucial meeting. I am aware that as civil society activists who have other full time obligations your presence here is a testimony to passion and commitment to the cause of integration and development in Africa. I exhort you all to work earnestly with me to ensure that this commitment is translated into visible concrete measures that would promote the interest and well being of the vast majority of our people in this continent in line with the oath that we took when we were sworn into office in Nairobi, Kenya, on 23 December 2014.

You will all recall that in my inaugural address to the ECOSOCC Assembly at its installation in Nairobi, I set three major priorities for this august Assembly. First is to hold an orientation program for all new Members as a foundation for situating the work of our Organ in the larger framework of the African Union so that we can begin with a proper compass that attunes us to the purpose and functions of ECOSOCC, its demands and responsibility, its relationship with the Commission and the other Organs, the policy frameworks of the Union and relate desire and challenges. The draft agenda and work program for this meeting focuses on this first priority. I also indicated then that we would like to have this meeting in Cairo, Egypt.

Your Excellences, Honorable Members, Distinguished Participants,

Immediately after the installation of the Assembly in December 2014, the ECOSOCC Secretariat in the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate of the Commission (CIDO) in close association with my office initiated consultation with the authorities and Government of Egypt to make this happen. The consultation was strongly supported by our two focal points in Egypt, the Egyptian Red Crescent and the Egyptian Business Women Association. The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt welcomed the initiative enthusiastically and committed itself to the success of the enterprise with moral, political and material support. Our presence here today is possible only because of this strong support and commitment.

I wish on behalf of this Assembly to thank the Government and people of Egypt through the Minister for its commitment and support for ECOSOCC in particular and the African Union in general. We have had the benefit of further discussion with Representatives of the Government of Egypt yesterday and I can assure you that Egyptian authorities are sincere in their commitment to promote a people-centered community in our Union that is anchored in ECOSOCC. This commitment is buttressed by the community support that we have witnessed here since our arrival in Cairo, the camaraderie and African family spirit of the Egyptian people, their love and sincerity that gives us a general sense of belonging. We consider Egypt a home away from home and a veritable champion of Africa’s development and integration. ECOSOCC will continue to interact closely with the Government and people of Egypt to achieve the objectives of the continental organization and make our continent a trailblazer in the world.

Colleagues, Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I also noted in Nairobi that our second focus would be to mobilize and build grassroots support for African Union program and activities and to link them to the wishes and aspirations of the African people. Accordingly, “ ECOSOCC meetings or programs would be preceded by a day for the sensitization and motivation (of the African Civil society community) in support of the African Union’. The program of activities for this meeting has incorporated that objective and the second part of our program later today is a sensitization meeting with the Egyptian Civil society community. I see this venture as establishing the framework for national ECOSOCC Chapters in all Member States of the Union. In ECOSOCC we must talk the talk and walk the walk. Everywhere we go we must account for our presence to both governments and our primary constituency in civil society and domesticate the notion of accountability and social responsibility. In the same way, elected ECOSOCC Members will be expected to buttress their mandate with responsibility and accountability to national ECOSOCC chapters. Our watchword must be a sense of duty and responsibility rather than privileges and entitlements.

The third promise I made in my acceptance speech was that our third and foremost priority would be to operationalize the Sectorial Cluster Committees as the key operational mechanisms of ECOSOCC so that it can offer concrete advisory opinions as required by the ECOSOCC Statutes. Thereafter, we shall introduce business models to support our performance objectives and develop a strategic plan with clear goals, defined objectives and set targets. The process of this operationalization will begin in this meeting with the completion of internal elections within ECOSOCC to choose cluster chairpersons, elect the Credentials Committee and constitute the Standing Committee as the executive organ to coordinate the work of ECOSOCC in accordance with Articles 10 and 11 of the ECOSOCC Statutes. We will also consider and adopt draft rules of procedure that will govern the operations of the ECOSOCC General Assembly as the highest decision and policy making body of ECOSOCC as stated in Article 9 (1) of the ECOSOCC Statutes. The recognition of the role of the General Assembly as contained in Article 9 of the Statutes will also enable a reflection on ECOSOCC roles and boundaries as well as its duties and responsibility and its precise relationship with the Commission which hosts its Secretariat as well as other Organs of the Union in coordinate and autonomous spheres of activity.

Significantly also, an implementation strategy that places premium on a scientific and business approach must be one that accommodates competence and technical expertise. As such, I intend to appoint a few technical advisers with competence in various areas to support interaction with the various sectorial clusters. Such advisory responsibilities will not carry remunerations but would involve selected presence at specific meetings involving designated areas of advisory responsibility. The participation of these technical advisers in such deliberations would be funded by ECOSOCC.

Honorable Members,

I went through the list of the pledges in Nairobi at our inauguration to make three distinct points that must guide the progress of this Assembly. First is that our success must be anchored in sincerity and devotion. We must mean what we say and do what we promised to do. Secondly that the establishment of a business model of conduct must be based on clear vision defined goals, set objectives and concrete business plans. Third is that as we move along there is need to audit performance in defining next steps and the way forward.

In doing this, we must also take account of significant developments that have a bearing on our objectives. After our meeting in Nairobi, the AU Summit was held in the last week of January 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Commission reported on the ECOSOCC and I made a related presentation to the Excutive Council of the Union that consequently adopted Decision EX.CL /Dec. 869 (XXVI) on the 2nd Permanent General Assembly of ECOSOCC. That Decision recognized and endorsed the outcome of our election in Nairobi and gave us certain Union responsibilities that must be embraced as part of our obligations. The obligations were three-fold. First was to continue with by-elections for subsisting vacant positions in the General Assembly to ensure the widest possible representation of Member States of the Union within ECOSOCC Second to work closely with Member States to facilitate the establishment of ECOSOCC national Chapters as a framework for accountability of elected members and to disseminate information and mobilize support for AU program and activities. Third is that ECOSOCC should play a key role in popularizing Agenda 2063, the post 2015 Development agenda and other important policy frameworks of the AU. The agenda and work program for this orientation exercise that we will consider subsequently have sought to provide a sense of understanding that will enable us to undertake the additional responsibiliities.

Your Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen.

This is the task that we have before us in this orientation program. The successful performance of our Organ will depend on our clear understanding of these tasks, our sense of mission, the ability to develop a clear roadmap for addressing our duties and responsibilities and the support that we receive from Member States, the PRC, the Commission and Coordinate organs of the Union. The Council Decision in Addis Ababa in late July 2015 calls upon all these bodies to give us the support that we require and I believe that they will so do so. Where we see such support as still required, we shall request that support in the spirit of collaboration and common purpose.

In conclusion, I wish, once again, to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Egypt for hosting this meeting. We shall always acknowledge your contribution in this regard to ensuring that our African Union is a people-centered community that develops and grows as a dynamic and prosperous entity driven by its people.

I thank you all.

Statement
by
H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace
Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture
African Union Commission

on the occasion of the

High Level Planning Meeting on Scaling Agricultural Innovations in Africa
23 February 2015,
Nairobi, Kenya

Thank you Professor Ola Smith, facilitator,
Hon. Felix Koskei, Cabinet Secretary, Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries, Kenya,
Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
Dr Smith, Deputy Director General of BMZ,
Dr Ousmane Badiane, Africa Region Director of IFPRI,
Cecilia Kariuki, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries, Kenya,
Excellences, distinguished participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me first of all thank Hon. Koskei for being available always and moving most of our agenda together.
I wish to putting agriculture first in Kenya and for ably speaking for Africa globally. CAADP is here because many people contributed to the same.
BMZ was at the center to provide catalytic resources which set CAADP moving.

1. I want to welcome you all to this High level Planning Meeting on Scaling Agricultural Innovations in Africa. I also use the same opportunity to wish you a productive year, the outlook for agriculture in 2015 is bright and we all look forward to advancing the course of the sector.

2. I would like to register the appreciation of the Africa Union Commission to the Republic of Kenya for graciously hosting this important event.

3. In the same vein, I highly commend the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) under the leadership of Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo and the Federal Republic of Germany for offering this opportunity to discuss the critical issue on scaling agricultural innovation in Africa through the “One World-No Hunger” program. This program resonates very well with the Africa Union Renewed Partnership to End Hunger in Africa by 2025.

4. I must also commend FARA and its sub regional organizations, namely CORAF/WECARD, ASARECA, and CARDESA who are here present for the dedicated efforts they deploy in fulfilling their mandates to advance agricultural technologies and innovations through science in Africa. The different initiatives are rapidly fostering the upliftment of livelihoods of Africa Citizens. I am aware of, among others; the Sub Saharan Africa Challenge Program (SSA CP) that is promoting the Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) concept, the IAR4D concept is blazing the trail in generating agricultural innovations with immense socio-economic benefits for all stakeholders along the value chain. The development of the Innovation Platform (IP) for the implementation of the innovation systems approach in agriculture is a major institutional accomplishment in its own right. Many thanks to FARA, as the lead institution for CAADP Pillar IV on agricultural research and technology generation ad dissemination, for carrying out this duty on behalf of all agricultural stakeholders in Africa.

5. We cannot over emphasise the role of science and technology in sustainable agricultural development. This has been demonstrated over and over again, even in the history of the ancient civilizations, and in recent times in the development of nations. All known advances in humanity are based on appropriate investment in science and technology. It is, therefore, imperative for Africa to use science to transform its agriculture, in order to deliver the needed development outcomes.

6. In my view, investments in agricultural technology must emphasize two key issues: (i) Investment in targeted scientific endeavour to addresses jointly identified problems that are limiting the productivity of the sector, and (ii) the level of investments should be sufficient to orchestrate agricultural transformation. These two considerations are pertinent if our investment is to deliver the desired results and impacts. We want that when we make investment to generate technologies, these should be demanded by the end user. This will avoid a waste of such technologies as they will not languish on the shelves and suffer lack of adoption, but will be taken up and applied to spur agricultural development. That is why we advocate for channelling adequate investment in the right issues. Every effort will be taken for Africa to ensure that its investments henceforth are not misguided investments but targeted and demand driven.

7. Taking the example of the recent upsurge in the application of mobile technology in agriculture; this is an impressive development which is now used to share market information, technology transfer and other extension and advisory services including the distribution of inputs. Investment is needed to scale-out this technological advancement to benefit more stakeholders.

8. I also begin to observe three important milestones for technology-led change in Africa agriculture, (first) the need for identification of pertinent issues and development of appropriate technologies; I reckon that a problem that is well diagnosed is half solved. (second) is the need to channel resources to improve the delivery of existing technologies and processes and (Third) the streamlining of the processes for technology dissemination and adoption to ensure that agricultural technologies truly result in transformation for development.

9. In pursuit of investment in technological change, partnerships with the private sector is vital, it is the key that will ensure that the public investment and interventions will translate to true impact and development. Partnerships with the private sector will create the conditions for higher investments in agriculture in general and more specifically in agricultural research and development. To accomplish this, the AU Member States are always encouraged to invest more in the creation of public goods and make innovative interventions on property rights which will allow the agro-industries to benefit from technologies generated from their own research endeavours. Incentives should also be created to support private sector entities that develop technologies and innovations for the benefit of the most vulnerable groups. Smallholder farmers particularly women and youth should not be left behind in the technological drive towards the Africa green revolution. I am particularly pleased with ongoing programmes led by FARA such as the incubator UniBrain that should also be upscaled to nurture and boost the domestic private sector to advance value chain development.

Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, Honorable Minister
10. The African Union truly embraces the subject of this high-level meeting as it addresses issues that are pertinent to the delivery of the Malabo declaration. Let me reflect on them. I know you know this but I don’t tire to remind people about them. As any of you may be aware, the core commitments of the Malabo declaration include: (i) Recommitment to the Principles and Values of the CAADP Process, (ii) Commitment to Enhancing Investment and Finance in Agriculture, (iii) Commitment to Ending Hunger in Africa by 2025, (iv) Commitment to Halving Poverty by the year 2025, through Inclusive Agricultural Growth and Transformation, (v) Commitment to Boosting Intra-African Trade in Agricultural commodities and services, (vi) Commitment to Enhancing Resilience of Livelihoods and Production Systems to Climate Variability and other related risks, (vii) Commitment to Mutual Accountability to Actions and Results.

11. Through the multi-stakeholder consultations which were coordinated by the African Union Commission and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, an Implementation Strategy and Roadmap was developed and the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government adopted it in January this year to translate the 2025 vision in the context of the Agenda 2063. Indeed, Agenda 2063 is the long term vision for the Africa we want, including industrialisation based on agriculture and ensuring a food and nutrition secure, and poverty free Africa.

12. The IS&R has packaged the Malabo Goals into 4 thematic strategic action areas, which include (1). Increasing production and productivity, (2). Enhancing market, trade and value chains, (3). Increasing resilience and livelihood, and (4). Strengthen governance of natural resources. Science, technology and innovation are at the center

13. These will be supported by 7 Strategic Action Areas focusing on strengthening the systemic capacity of the Member States to achieve the Malabo Goals.

14. Partnership and collaboration between government and all the other actors in the agricultural science, technology and innovation in Africa will continue to be vital in advancing the IS&R as requested by our Leaders in June 2014. In Malabo, Africa leaders called on the agricultural Research and Knowledge Institutions to support the implementation of the declaration based on national structures and capacities and on the Development Partners to harmonize the technical and financial support for achieving the outlined Goals.

15. We all look forward to a higher level collaboration with FARA and its sub regional organizations; the Agricultural Universities and Colleges, the Extension system and the development partners to the established agricultural research and development organization in the AU Member States to achieve the set out goals in the Malabo declaration. At the same time, to ensure sustainability, we continue to encourage AU Member States’ governments to institutionalise and enhance the research, technology and innovation mechanisms within their countries.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen
16. I want to welcome the officials of the Federal Republic of Germany that are leading the “One World – No Hunger” initiative, to Africa. The goals and the ideals of this initiative are laudable especially, the platforms it offers for partnerships to foster the scaling of agricultural innovation in Africa. I wish to thank the Government and the people of Germany for the sound investment they are making in supporting the development of Africa agriculture. I am convinced that Africa will realise its looming green revolution earlier than predicted.

17. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration between FARA and the Federal Republic of Germany to significantly improve the life of our millions of rural poor, particularly women, youth and smallholder farmers on the continent through the alignment of the “One World - No Hunger “ program to the Malabo Goals that reflect AU Member States priorities to achieve Agricultural transformation in Africa in the next decade within the broader context of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Agenda (CAADP).

18. As I speak, the AUC, NPCA and RECs are presently meeting in South Africa to finalise the Program of Work required to operationalize the IS&R that will enable each actor to identify their own roles and responsibilities in order to effectively contribute in the achievement of the Malabo Goals. AUC, NPCA and RECS will very soon give to FARA, other Africa Knowledge and Research institutions and Development Partners further guidance on the different areas where they can make efficient and appropriate contributions in the implementation.

19. Once again, I want to express my joy and great excitement about these two days meeting and wish every one of us a fruitful deliberation.

20. Thank you and I wish you productive deliberations in these two

Statement by Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace
Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture
African Union Commission

on the occasion of the official opening of the
Second Sahel and West Africa Programme in Support of the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative Conference (Second SAWAP/BRICKS Conference)

Addis Ababa 18th February 2015

• The Honourable State Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Ato Sileshi Getahun,
• Executive Secretary of the Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel Region (CILSS), H.E. Dr. Djime Adoum.
• World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia, Mr. Guang Ze Chen,
• The Executive Secretary of West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL),
• Task Team Leader, Ethiopia SLMP and Regional BRICKS Project Mr. Stephen Danyo
• Representatives of Various Partners, Countries and Participants of the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel initiative
• Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

I welcome you all to the African Union Commission, I know you have been here for the past three days, and I hope the meetings went on very well and you attained your objectives. On behalf of the Chairperson of the Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,let me take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy and productive New Year. .
Let me extend a special welcome and salute the high-level personalities and senior officials for being here despite your busy schedules at the beginning of the year 2015. We also welcome the technical and financial support that our partners contribute towards the success of the SAWAP programme. I also commend the Country Focal Points in the Member States who are here today, for working directly and tirelessly to make sure the project achieves its aims and objectives.
Distinguished guests Ladies and Gentlemen and Staff of the Commission,
The objectives of this second conference of SAWAP , one year into the implementation of the project as you all know is to bring all the principal actors involved in its implementation to share experience, ensure consistency, build synergies, to together seek solutions to identified challenges in order to plan adequately for the coming year and advocate for adequate support from partners and member states in favour of the Great green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel initiative.
Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished Guests, the Sahel and West Africa Programme and the BRICKS constitute the biggest initiative in support of the GGWSSI since its inception in 2005. I am convinced that the SAWAP and BRICKS programmes will go a long way in the realization of the vision of ourHeads of State and Government. On behalf of the Commission, I thank the GEF, World Bank, TERRA AFRICA for mobilizing the resources to ensure the realization of the project and also CILSS, IUCN, OSS for supporting field implementation, and the Focal points in the 12 Member States for making sure that the activities actually take place and benefit the intended stakeholders. I am aware that apart from the SAWAP and BRICKS initiatives, we have other important projects currently being implemented in support of the Great Green Wall, such asthe Action Against Desertification of the FAO, the FLEUVE initiative of the Global Mechanism and other initiatives and projects at country level.
I wouldlike to pay special tribute to the European Union Commission, especially the EU Delegation to the African Union, The FAO, the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, TERRA AFRICA - NEPAD, others including SOS SAHEL, APEFE, KEW GARDEN, and the various Ministries of Member States of the, who have been advocating, undertaking sensitization towards the mobilization of resources and support to keep the initiative alive and progressing despite all odds.
Ladies and Gentlemen , as experts and practitioners in the field, you are all aware of the numerous challenges facing the dry lands, of Africa today, apart from the challenges linked to general weather conditions, i.e. challenges of climatic extremities, including the degradation of ecosystems with dire consequences on the livelihoods of the over 200 million inhabitants living the area. The area also faces greater challenges that are related to human a activities ranging from unsustainable exploitation of the ‘over-stretched’ natural resources exerting enormous pressure on natural resources. This mode eventually leads to challenges in access of important natural resources thus leading to natural resources related conflicts that degenerate to into socio-cultural and ethnic related conflicts. In addition to all these challenges, the Sahel zone of Africa has become a centre of terrorism, human and drug trafficking, that do not only compromise the efforts made by the initiatives such as the Great Green Wall, but the very existence and the future of both human and natural systems. A combination of all these may make the Sahel and Dry land areas, the ‘weakest links’ in Africa’s Development. We cannot allow this to happen. The Sahel and Dry lands of Africa are areas with huge potential includingthe dynamic young population, the natural resources, current and future potential for animal husbandry, agriculture, not to mention the underground resources, (diamonds, patrol, natural gas, etc.)
Ladies and Gentlemen, invited Guests, Honourable Ministers
The Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative, remains a unique programme by its vision, size, approach, multiplicity of actors and intervention, and above all, by its very conception and creation. It is the first and I dare to say, the only programme, conceived, engineered and created by the Heads of State of the African Union, I mean entirely, and receives the highest support from its creators. Many people ‘jokingly’ demand to see the ‘wall’, I always tell them, the wall is under construction and the Builders ( like yourselves) are making progress faster than they can imagine, they just have to look. Multimillion Initiatives like SAWAP and BRICKS, with all the Action plans, the harmonized regional action plans, communication and capacity building and reporting framework is the WALL, the National Plans of Action and Agencies, the jobs already created directly and indirectly is the WALL, the Special coordinating hub here at the AUC, the numerous Presidential resolutions and the Global support garnered, that is the WALL. The Mere fact that we are gathered here today, all these important people from all over the world, in this magnificent architecture, is the WALL. Tell the world that the ‘African Green Wall’ is under construction and making very good progress in the ‘RIGHT DRIECTION’ especially. I thank you all who are making every effort to contribute to the construction of the Wall.
Ladies and Gentlemen, invited Guests, this Conference, taking place just after the 26thSession of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African union. During the saidSummit, Women Empowerment and Development towards the realization ofthe AU Agenda 2063 was adopted as the 2015 theme, the Strategy and Road map for the implementation of the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation was also launched. This is to mention but a few of the highlights. The GGWSSI of which you are architects and champions will be called to play a ‘pivotal’ role in the achievement of all these ideals.
The African Union Commission, in its role as the overall coordinator of the GGWSSI initiative in collaboration with its partners apart from providing the political support has also been engaged in improving the implementation with the creation of the CoordinatingHub in collaboration with Partners (FAO and UNCCD) for now, the organisation of the second African Dry land Week and the forth coming of a Forum.I call on our Partners, technical and financial to also support the Coordination hub of the African Union, we need resources to undertake the mandate of coordination, advocacy, resource mobilization and supporting the Member states and you the Partners, etc. There is the need for the presence of African Union in all the communications relating to the Great Green Wall alongside the Logo of the Initiative. I will also call for support of the initiative by IUCN, aimed at closing the ‘gaps’ and building synergies amongst all programme stakeholders.

We need to reinforce these efforts, advocacy, common vision, and one GGWSSI, through harnessing synergies, and rationalising activities, resources and combining efforts in support of the initiative. The GGWSSI needs to be supported through greater collaboration and communication between projects at the level of the region and even in- country. It is also important to acknowledge and recognize the fact that the GGWSS is an African Union initiative. At the level of the Member States, the GGWSS should be advanced in a multisectoral approach.
Ladies and Gentlemen, invited guests,
For our vision of a ‘ Great Green Wall’ to be realized, we have no choice but to work together, in synergies, strategize together, implement together, organize a common activities like the steering committee , this will even lead to better ‘value for money’ and make our ‘story’ in the ‘eye’ of the world and our stakeholders, the citizens of Africa. I understand that these are all recommendationsfrom the last regional Steering Committee that took place in December 2014 in Dakar, Senegal.
They are inline with the Malabo Declaration and the Strategic Plan 2014- 2017 of the African Union and DREA on collaboration and partnerships. There is a need for our work to be guided by Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the AUC and Partners especially in Regional projects like the case with SOS Sahel and the one coming up under FAO and GM- UNCCD.
Ladies and Gentlemen, working in synergies for a common vision is a basic recommendation in the Sustainable Land Management tools, the main approach adopted in the initiatives. Let me conclude by reaffirming the readiness of the Africa Union Commission to work with all Partners at All levels without exception for our common goal.
I thank you for your attention and wish you productive deliberations.