Events

JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Information for Meeting Africa’s Agricultural Transformation and Food Security Goals (IMAAFS) Conference
Addis Ababa, UN Conference Centre, 1-3 October
Addis Ababa- 30 September 2014- The African Union Commission and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission are organizing a scientific conference at the UN Conference Centre in Addis Ababa from 1 to 3 October which aims to widen the availability and use of evidence-based information for agricultural growth and improved food and nutrition security. With over 150 international participants, the event will bring together scientists and policy makers from a wide range of institutions and research organizations from Africa, Europe and the United States, as well as major UN agencies.
The agricultural sector in many African countries has been evolving rapidly in response to dynamic population growth and movements, and as a result of regional or national policies and more pronounced interventions by private and external actors. Accurate, objective and timely information is needed by all parties involved in agriculture and development to address issues such as the early identification of risks and the assessment of the severity of emergencies, in order to better plan and monitor national/regional agriculture and trade policies and, ultimately, to reach the objectives of improved food security and sustainable agriculture.
2014 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), and in 2012 was declared by the African Heads of State and Government as the “Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa”. The IMAAFS Conference has set itself the goal of supporting and motivating continent-wide production, by gathering evidence that can inform Africa’s agricultural transformation towards improved food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. It offers three days of presentations, workshops, and side events, including various poster and media presentations.
The main technical topics will include, inter alia:
• Assessment of current information systems (agricultural statistics, household surveys, market and price information systems);
• How to use new Earth observation techniques and promote coordination among systems;
• Managing climate-related risk
• Linking information to decision-making and action.

The Conference will be opened by H.E. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, the African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, the Executive Secretary of UNECA Dr Carlos Lopes, and representatives of the European Commission, including the Head of the European Union Delegation to the African Union, Gary Quince.
Conference proceedings, to be prepared following the conference, will include concept notes, all presented papers, and a synthesis of findings and recommendations for specific actions.
Media inquiries may be directed to: Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC; molalett@africa-union.org; +251-911-630-631

For additional information please consult:
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
http://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars/News-Events/IMAAFS

PATTEC CONSULTATION WORKSHOP ON STRATEGIES, TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND PARTNERSHIPS IN T&T MANAGEMENT

LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA 12 September 2014 – about 60 National Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) Coordinators and focal points from 17 African countries, representatives of international organizations, research institutions, private and public partners attended a consultation workshop on Strategies, Recent Technical Advances and Mechanisms for Creating Effective Partnerships in Tsetse and Trypanosomosis (T&T) Management held in Livingstone, Zambia, 8-11 September, 2014.

It was officially opened by Honorable Luxon Kazabu, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Livestock of Zambia, who in his speech informed the participants that Zambia has budgeted around USD 4 million for Sequential Aerosol Technique (SAT) operations in Western Zambia, which was ended on 2 September 2014.

The AU-PATTEC Coordinator informed the participants that are the first workshop to discuss issues related to strategies, technical advances and partnership in T&T management with all stakeholders. He said AU-PATTEC would like the participants to be more committed in order to reduce in the burden of the scourge of T&T from the continent in the shortest time. He urged the participants to come up with relevant recommendations to fast track the Implementation of the PATTEC Initiative.

The workshop was organized against the background that in spite of the numerous efforts over the past ten decades to address the T&T challenge on the African continent, the problem is still very much visible in many T&T affected countries.
This is in contrast to the fact that there have recent technical advances in the field of Tsetse control and Trypanosomosis management which should be translated into more effective programmes in future with commitment of policy makers and technical personnel. The aerial spraying operations in Botswana which benefited greatly from the advent of Global Positioning System (GPS) and its associated Geographical Information System (GIS) technology; and recent developments in remote sensing, population genetics, aerial release techniques, bait technology, T&T surveillance, diagnostics and management serve as good examples of such advances.
The workshop was designed to bring together various partners/stakeholders and field implementers and aims at sharing practical knowledge, information and experience regarding new technologies and strategies in the T&T domain and to make recommendations that will help us achieve our main objectives of reducing the burden of T&T and create T&T free areas that can be sustainably utilized for agricultural productivity.

The themes of the workshop included Policies, strategies and standards, T&T Management structures, New Technical Advances and Lessons learned from field operations.
After three days’ deliberations, the workshop has come up with the following recommendations for action by all stakeholders as per their respective responsibilities.
Considering the continued socio-economic impact of the tsetse and trypanosomosis challenge on the African continent;
Recognizing the diversity and high number of competent partners and stakeholders in the T&T domain;
Realising the need for a coherent multi-stakeholder partnership framework for effective and efficient management of the T&T challenge;
Considering the weak link between research and policy makers in the T&T domain;
Cognisant of the availability of new technical advances and strategies which can be translated into more effective programmes for the management of the T&T challenge;
The workshop recommends that:
1. T&T research results should be availed by partners and national offices in order to allow AU-PATTEC Coordination Office create a data repository at continental level to facilitate accessibility by all partners
2. The PATTEC Coordination Office should facilitate the formulation of guidelines for sustainable land use management of tsetse freed areas
3. PATTEC Coordination Office and countries must work together to strength regional level intervention mechanisms through collaboration with Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
4. T&T countries should use M&E tools to evaluate the socio-economic benefits/success before and after an intervention
5. Lessons learnt from the implementation of the PATTEC programme supported by African Development Bank (ADB) should be disseminated to other countries to inform better programme formulation and implementation
6. The AU-PATTEC Coordination Office’s initiative of accelerating the formation of effective partnerships in the management of T&T is a welcome development. As a starting point, the AU-PATTEC Coordination Office and Member States affected by T&T should establish an open source database of potential partners including their profiles.
7. The PATTEC Coordination Office should work on the definitions of terminology related to T&T and disseminate to all stakeholders in an effort to communicate consistent messages on T&T management T&T countries should build a more complete picture of drug resistance using research to encourage rational drug use
8. Studies be undertaken to better understand role of Non Tsetse Transmitted Trypanosomosis (NTTAT) in disease spread and maintenance

For further information contact
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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THE 11TH EUMETSAT USER FORUM IN AFRICA KICKS OFF

Johannesburg 08 September 2014 - Organized by the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the South African Weather Services (SAWS), the 11th EUMETSAT User Forum in Africa is underway from 08-12 September 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Approximately, 150 participants from more than 60 countries are participating at this conference, representing National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) from Africa, Europe, African Regional Economic Communities (RECs), government agencies as well as regional scientific and technical institutions.

The objectives of the forum include: to enable EUMETSAT to showcase programmes and achievements in support of AU Member States’ national meteorological services through RECs and Regional Implementation Centres (RICs) in terms of weather and climate related satellite data, images and products; to enable RECs and RICs to review progress in the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) on the basis of the 2012 Addis Ababa Declaration; and to strategise on reinforcing national, regional and continental policies and institutions for effective delivery on pertinent programmes and projects.

Addressing participants at the opening ceremony, H.E. Mrs. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission, noted that satellite technology is critical towards dealing with some of the challenges in near-real time. “The contribution of satellite technology and space science, is vital for the implementation of national, regional and continental strategies such as the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services), the African Regional Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction, and the implementation of the draft African Climate Change Strategy”, she added.

Mrs. Tumusiime highlighted the importance of this forum as timely, especially for Africa as the AU is putting together the ‘Africa Agenda 2063 on the Africa we want’ in the next 50 years that has been soliciting views and ideas from stakeholders. “This year is also the AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security and so what we are doing here is very relevant given how agriculture is affected by weather and climate change. (The complete speech of the Commissioner is available on www.au.int).

“Our continent is extremely vulnerable to climate change and variability. The changing rainfall patterns are already having an effect on agriculture, food and water security”, said H.E. Mrs. Edina Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, Republic of South Africa.

While addressing the development of climate services as critical for fighting against poverty and efforts to combat the adverse effect of natural disasters, the Minister emphasised three major issues towards the effective implementation of this initiative: international collaboration as critical both amongst the states and the with EUMETSAT; Capacity building as essential for infrastructure development and expertise in satellite meteorology; and technology transfer and knowledge sharing as vital to deal with the enormous challenge of climate change. (The full speech is available on www.au.int).

Speaking at the opening ceremony Dr. Alain Ratier, Director General of EUMETSAT emphasized the need for Member States from Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries to develop institutional structures for science and technology on climate services that would enable decision makers to make adaptation policies from climatic and socio economic data based on sound science as the said regions are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

The forum has been marked by the signing of the Benoni Statement on the Global Framework for Climate Services in Africa by the African Union Commission and the Republic of South Africa.

EUMETSAT has been providing satellite data for Africa for more than 30 years. It will launch the EUMETSAT Third Generation programme in 2019 that will provide satellite data for Africa for another two decades until 2040.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Jolly Wasambo, Coordinator for the Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa (MESA) Project, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, AUC
Email: wasamboj@africa-union.org

Media contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Directorate of Information and Communication, AU Commission; Tel: +27-076-9457928; E-mail: molalett@africa-union.org

For further information contact
Directorate of information and communication /African union commission/ E- mail:dinfo@africa-union.org/Web site: www.au.int/ Addis Ababa / Ethiopia

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High Level meeting on the Global Framework for Climate Services, Kopanong Conference Centre, Benoni, South Africa

Press Release Nº200/2014

African Union Hosts African Green Revolution Forum

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – September 3, 2014 –AU Chairperson H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma welcomed public and private sector participants to the African Union Commission Headquarters for the fourth African Green Revolution Forum. This year’s forum is organized around the AU designated ‘Year of Agriculture and Food Security’ and a new political will to achieve sustainable food and nutritional security across the continent.
“At the recent African Union summit in Malabo, African leaders pledged to put agriculture at the top of national development agendas through the commitment to specific and ambitious targets,” said Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. “The challenge now is to lay out the roadmap so collectively we work to meet these targets. This forum is timely and critical as public and private sector leaders gather to discuss how we work together to accelerate agricultural transformation in Africa.”
With the Malabo Declaration, African leaders have strengthened their commitment to actively support agriculture as a means to achieve food and nutrition security and bring shared prosperity to all Africans. They have now agreed to very specific targets which identify the priorities for investment. The new targets will push governments to move faster in creating a policy and infrastructure environment in which agriculture can thrive and generate income opportunities at all levels.
“We must be accountable for commitments we make. We must all believe and embrace the fact now it’s in our hands,” said Dr. Dlamini Zuma.
The Malabo Declaration commits African Union member states to:
• Recommit to the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) process
• Increase both public and private investment finance in agriculture
• End hunger in Africa by 2025
• Halve poverty by 2025 through inclusive agricultural growth and transformation
• Boost intra-Africa trade in agricultural commodities and services
• Enhance resilience of livelihoods and production systems to climate change variability and other related risks
• Commit to mutual accountability to actions and results

Through CAADP, the African Union will drive and measure progress so that countries, and their leaders, are held accountable for results. The declaration committed African leaders to a systematic regular review process, using the CAADP Results Framework. The leaders further called for an immediate design of a strategy and roadmap for implementation of these comments.
CAADP has been instrumental in galvanizing African countries to reform, modernize and achieve economic growth through agriculture-led development. Ten years after its introduction, 50 out of 54 countries are using the CAADP framework in their agricultural transformation planning. Over the next ten years, CAADP will be critical to measure and report on progress to hold governments accountable for their commitments.

For more information, please contact:
Boaz Blackie Keizire, Head Agriculture and Food Security, African Union Commission
KeizireB@africa-Union.org

Ms Carol Jilombo
Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, AUC; E-mail: Jilomboc@africa-union.orgg

Media contact:
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC; molalett@africa-union.org; +251-911-630631

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.orgg I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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