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March 03, 2013 to March 04, 2013African Union Commemorates the Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day, Tunis, Republic of Tunisia, 3-4 March...Statement by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission on the occasion of the Celebration of Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day, March 3, 2013
As envisaged by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the celebration of the Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day provides us with an opportunity to review and critically analyze our activities in the realms of sustainable development. It is the time of the year when we, as individuals, communities and countries, can re-examine our footprints on the environment, to give ourselves a sense of our impact on the global environment at large and more so on the lives of the future generations who would be depending on the environmental resources whose services we are enjoying today.
The celebration affords us the chance to re-dedicate ourselves to the principles of environmental conservation and sustainable development and to emulate the legacy of the late Prof. Wangari Maathai, who devoted all her life promoting ecosystem conservation and the preservation of biological diversity. In addition, she supported sustainable development efforts and women-empowerment in Africa in particular, and the world in general.
The African continent continues to endure serious environmental and sustainable development challenges. The unfolding phenomena of climate change, biodiversity depletion, desertification, land degradation and irrational use of finite natural resources remain serious risks for Africa as they pose real impediments to her sustainable development efforts. In unison, we must renew our collective resolve to overcome these challenges and to ensure a better future for generations of Africans yet unborn. The road would be difficult, wrought with numerous obstacles, but is reachable. On her march towards sustainable development, Africa will need more integrated approaches at both regional and national levels considering the three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental.
Sustainable environmental management is fundamental to the pursuit of food security, peace, security, and stability in Africa. A lot of the crises happening currently on the continent, be they droughts, armed conflicts, or other natural disasters, are exacerbated by environmental deterioration. To address the twin effects of climate change and desertification, Africa is bracing itself to devote undiluted attention to integrate sustainable environmental management into the mainstream development policies at both regional and national levels.
The celebration this year is of particular significance, taking place against a backdrop of key developments both at the level of the African continent and at the global level as well. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of our continental organization, OUA/AU. Africa, its citizens, and her friends around the world will be celebrating the decolonization of the continent and the tremendous achievements realized in the fields of socio-economic, political and environmental development as well the integration efforts of the African continent. The theme for the Golden Jubilee celebration is: Pan Africanism and African Renaissance. This theme underscores the importance of African countries to intensify work in cohesion and solidarity to preserve and promote their common values and heritage, including environment and natural resources. The concept of African Renaissance is built on the conviction that African people and nations can overcome the current challenges confronting the continent and achieve cultural, scientific, economic, environmental, and political renewal.
The recent United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, commonly referred to as Rio+20, marked 20 years of global efforts to strike a balance between human development and environmental sustainability. It emphasized the need to ensure that human development is holistic, encompassing economic, social, and environmental dimensions. One of concepts embraced and endorsed at the Rio+20 Summit was the ‘green economy’. This development model has been designed to put the global economy on a sustainable path, in the process mitigating the impact of climate change, generating jobs and wealth, reducing poverty, and ensuring food security especially in developing countries.
The concept of the green economy has gained currency to a large extent because it promises to provide a response to the multiple crises that the world has been facing in recent years –the climate, food and economic crises – with an alternative paradigm that offers the promise of growth while protecting the earth’s ecosystems and, in turn, contributing to poverty alleviation. In this sense, the transition to a green economy will entail moving away from the production and consumption patterns that tend to exacerbate the difficult conditions of existence in many parts of the developing world.
We in Africa subscribe to basic principles and ideals of the green economy. It is a concept we believe can offer the African continent and other developing regions of the world alternative approaches to development which seeks to integrate economic development with environment, human well-being, and socially-inclusive growth, thereby mitigating the risks which arise from environmental degradation. The African continent is in a unique position and is well-placed to fashion new development pathways that are more sustainable than those taken elsewhere.
The imperative for Africa to pursue the green economy model is clear, considering the fact that many African economies are heavily dependent on natural resources to fuel economic growth. Agriculture, forestry and fishing, mining and quarrying, and oil and natural gas are crucial contributors to the GDP of many African economies.
While African economies are still heavily dependent on natural resources, they have started to appreciate the incentives of diversification. Domestic industries in most of these economies are biased towards natural resources (e.g. mining), and international trade is also heavily natural resource- based. Irrational use of these resources, in pursuit of economic development, can seriously disrupt economic and social growth in the long term.
Besides the environmental and economic arguments in favour of African countries’ need to adopt a green economy model, there is a strong social argument too. A large portion of the African population, especially the rural population, is directly dependent on the natural environment for their sustenance and livelihoods. Thus, the conservation of the continent’s natural resources is of paramount importance to these populations. Africa’s transition to green economy thus has economic as well as social dimensions and implications.
To make the celebration wholesome, it would be befitting to pay due attention to the environmental development dimension of the continent. As noted earlier Africa depends to a very large extend on the utilization of the environment and its resources to foster economic and social development. The 50th Anniversary is, therefore, expected to help us to underpin the centrality of the environment and natural resources in Africa’s growth trajectory and renaissance efforts based on the principles of sustainable development.
The struggle to decolonize Africa was not influenced only by the desire of Africans to gain political freedom and the right for self-determination but it was also about having the right to control and sustainably utilize Africa’s vast endowment of natural resources and ecosystems. It is therefore imperative that we jealously and steadfastly safeguard our environment to ensure our economic, social and environmental survival into the future. This has to happen to make Africa competitive in the global scheme of things.
It is fundamental not to decouple and downplay the strong linkage between the environment and Africa’s performance since the end of colonialism on the continent. Thus, it is inspirational that the theme chosen for the commemoration of the Africa Environment Day and the Wangari Maathai Day for 2013 is: “Partnership for Africa’s Transition to Green Economy in Support of African Renaissance”.
The commemoration of the Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day offers us with an opportune moment to demonstrate Africa’s appreciation of the importance to opt for green and sustainable paths to development.
I wish to take this opportunity to salute the Government and the people of the Republic of Tunisia for responding to the call made by the 14th Session of the African Ministerial Conference in September 2012 in Arusha, Tanzania, to host the Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day. The offer to host the celebrations is a clear manifestation of Tunisia’s unflinching commitment to the ideals of sustainable environmental management. We are grateful to the AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Greenbelt Movement for their longstanding support and collaboration in organizing the Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai celebration. We are equally thankful to the secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Convention on Biological Diversity for their cooperation.
I wish you all wonderful and memorable celebration of Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day. May God Bless Africa.Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
Chairperson
African Union Commission -
January 30, 2013 to February 01, 2013
STATEMENT BY H.E MRS. RHODA PEACE TUMUSIIME, THE COMMISIONER FOR RURAL ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURE
AFRICAN UNION COMMISSIONAT THE HIGH LEVEL PANEL MEETING ON THE POST 2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA, MONROVIA, LIBERIA
30 JANUARY-1st FEBURARY 2013Your Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of the Republic of Liberia, Goodwill Ambassador for Water and Sanitation in Africa and Co-Chair of the UN Secretary General of the High-Level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda
Hon S. K. Woods, Minister of Public Works of Liberia
Hon Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources of the Federal Republic of Nigeria/Vice President of the African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW) for West Africa Region, representing the AMCOW President)
Mr Girish Menon, Director of International Programmes and Deputy Chief Executive, Water Aid
Mrs Kitty van der Heijden, Director of Environment, Climate, Water and Energy, Netherlands
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and GentlemenLet me first of all, on behalf of the Chairperson of African Union Commission, Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini–Zuma, welcome you all to this important meeting of the High Level Panel (HLP) on the post 2015 development agenda. She has asked me to convey to you her warm greetings and best wishes and also to register her sincere regrets for her inability to come in person owing to other official exigencies. The Chairperson and indeed the African Union as a whole highly values this process.
At the out-set, I wish to thank the Government and the People of Republic of Liberia, our host, and, of course, the Liberia Secretariat for HLP for the hospitality and courtesy extended to the delegation of the African Union Commission since our arrival in this friendly and beautiful city of Monrovia. Your Excellency we recognize and applaud your leadership and commitment to development in Liberia in particular and in Africa as a whole.
The AU salutes the initiatives taken by the UN Secretary General in taking forward the charting of the global development agenda beyond 2015, by: establishing the UN System Task Team, launching the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons and appointing a Special Advisor.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
As you are aware, with only three years remaining until the 2015 target date for reaching the Millennium Development Goals, Africa’s progress towards the various targets of the MDGs continues to be mixed. It is gratifying to note that significant advances have been made in some indicators such as net primary enrollment, gender parity in primary education, representation of women in decision making, immunization coverage, stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS and water supply. We are, however, concerned with the quality of education as well as the pace of progress towards health-related MDG targets such as child and maternal mortality and access to sanitation. Reducing inequity in access to basic social services also remains a critical challenge for Africa. These inequities explain, in large measure, the continent’s slow progress in attaining the health MDGs.
The time span left until 2015 for the African continent to achieve the MDGs is fast approaching and there is still no clarity within the development community about the fate of the MDGs post 2015. Africa would like to see the goals and indicators substantially revised to reflect changing development priorities and performance on the MDGs by a number of developed and developing countries.
The AU wishes to emphasize that in order for Africa to reap the rewards of its increasing population and impressive economic growth, its post MDGs agenda must prioritize:- building skills for tomorrow's job market
- fostering efficiency and accountability in services
- building social and financial systems for inclusive growth
- mobilization of domestic resources
- rural development
- bringing together the social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable developmentAs you are all aware, the MDG 1 focused on poverty and hunger. Although many countries are not on track to meet these targets, discussions and evidence has shown that even if these targets were met, they were less ambitious. The challenge was contained in the fact that they were lumped and lacked disaggregation to ascertain concreteness. The African Union is now advancing discussions on detailed and concrete commitments to advancing agricultural productivity and growth as an instrument and catalyst elimination of hunger and poverty. The ongoing process of developing and agricultural transformation index will be used an input to this dialogue. This work will build from the progress in advancing the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Development Program (CAADP) and the focus of raising household incomes as well as food and nutrition security.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
As the international development community evaluates the contribution of MDGs and begins to define a post- 2015 global development framework, Africa has already embarked on the process to articulate its common position. Accordingly, with the mandate given by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the African Union Commission and its specialised technical body, the African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW), in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the United Nations Development Programme-Regional Bureau for Africa (UNDP-RBA), is in advanced stages of consulting with AU Member States on the post-2015 development agenda.
Some of the issues that were identified as critical enablers of development during our consultation were institutional capacity development, domestic resource mobilization, participation and ownership at the community, national and global level, social inclusiveness and equality, governance and leadership, peace and security, regional integration and trade, infrastructure development and global cooperation and development.
In addition to the enablers, we reached a consensus that the post-2015 development agenda be led by economic growth, and assessed by indicators of performance in the area of economic transformation, education, technology and human development.
The four collaborating organizations jointly published the 2012 Report on Assessing Progress in Africa toward the Millennium Development Goals which brings out the outcomes of our consultations as a Thematic Focus. The report was presented at the joint AU/UNECA Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in March 2012 and consequently to the 19th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in July 2012.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government mandated the African Union Commission, in close consultation with Member States and Regional Economic Communities to identify Africa’s priorities for the post 2015 development agenda in order to consider making 2015-2024 a decade of transformation for Africa with the support of the AfDB, the UNDP, the ECA and all other stakeholders.The Africa process, that provides for regional and continental engagement, has ensured broad participation and contribution of all stakeholders in identifying Africa’s priorities for the post-2015 development agenda.
The Africa process is also taking full advantage of the opportunity of other forums such as the 5thAfrican Private Sector Forum, the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) and the Committee of Directors General of Statistics meeting that were held in November 2012. to consult the private sector and statisticians on the post 2015 development agenda.
The outcome of the consultations will culminate in an African common position to be presented at the 6th Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in March 2013 and subsequently to be considered and adopted at the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in May 2013. The African Union will be presenting the common position to inform the discussion during the 68th United Nations General Assembly in September 2013.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
As I conclude, let me reaffirm Africa’s commitment to our collective efforts to identify the key priority areas that need focus in this regard. The African Union considers this as one of its key undertakings in the context of marking the 50th Anniversary of the Organization of African Unity/African Union scheduled to be commemorated in May 2013. The celebrations will provide the opportunity to look at Africa’s achievements registered and challenges faced in the last 50 years, where the continent is currently, where it should be in 50 years’ time, and what it will take to get there. This will certainly be a good opportunity for all stake holders to reflect on Africa’s priorities on the post 2015 development agenda.
Finally, I look forward to fruitful deliberations. I thank you.
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January 29, 2013The Post 2015 Thematic Consultations on Water, Monrovia, Liberia, 29 January 2013
Talking points for a Goodwill Message for H. E. Mrs Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission
on the occasion of the Post 2015 Thematic Consultations on Water
29 January 2013, Monrovia Liberia
Protocols
• Your Excellency Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, President of the Republic of Liberia, Goodwill Ambassador for Water and Sanitation in Africa and Co-Chairof the High Level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda
• Honourable Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Minister for Water Resources, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
• Honourable Samuel K Woods, Minister of Public Works of Liberia
• Mr Girish Menon, Director of International Programmes and Deputy Chief Executive, Water Aid
• Mrs Kitty van der Heijden, Director of Environmnt, Climate, Water and Energy, The Netherlands
• African Constituency
• Partners
• Members of the Diplomatic Corps
• Distinguished Participants, Ladies and GentlemenCourtesies
• I wish to commend the host country, Liberia, for the hospitality and excellent arrangements.
• I would like to salute Yourr Excellency President Sirleaf Johnson in both your roles as a co-Chair of the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the post-2015 The World We Want; and also as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Water Sector in Africa
• My appreciation to the African constituency for the collaboration to take forward water and sanitation
• Many thanks to the technical staff for the facilitation
• I am also grateful to the partners for support and cooperation1. The African Union accords high priority to issues of development and transformation. In this respect, the AU Member States and its institutions have made advances towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Although some countries are not on track to achieve MDG targets by 2015, considerable progress has been registered as evidenced by:
• considerable reduction in hunger and poverty amongst many countries in Africa
• increasing primary school enrolment
• visible gender parity in primary school enrolment
• the rising proportion of seats held by women in national parliament
• the falling prevalence rates of HIV and AIDS2. This development-oriented prioritisation and progress as well as the remaining development challenges formed the premise for the July 2012 Decision of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
3. The AU also espouses, among its principles, the collective development and championing of common positions at international fora. Accordingly, the above-mentioned AU Assembly Decision mandated the AUC and its Specialised Technical body, AMCOW, with the support of UNDP, UNECA, AFDB and other Partners to lead Africa's multi-stakeholder preparations for the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
4. It is expected that the outcomes will be considered and endorsed by African Ministers of Finance, Economy and Planning in March and subsequently by the AU Summit in May so that Africa speaks with one voice at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September
5. For the consultations of the Africa Water Community, the AUC and AMCOW will be convening a special session of all key stakeholders on 4 March in Tunis to finalise Africa’s common position for timely input into the global process for the post-2015 development framework.
6. In this connection, the AU salutes the initiatives taken by the United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) to advance the process to formulate global development agenda beyond 2015, by establishing, among others, the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons.
7. Through the continent-wide consultations, the African Union stresses that the process to formulate the post 2015 development agenda should complement rather than substitute the MDGs and other related existing frameworks.
8. The AU further emphasises that in order for Africa to reap the rewards of its increasing population and impressive economic growth, its post MDGs agenda must prioritize:
- building skills for tomorrow's job market
- fostering efficiency and accountability in services
- building social and financial systems for inclusive growth
- mobilising of domestic resources
- prioritising rural development; and,
- bringing together the social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable and equitable development9. As you are all aware, the seventh goals of the MDGs focused on sustainability of development; environment and access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Many countries are not on track to meet these targets, in part because some were formulated as moving targets. The other challenge was contained in the fact that they were lumped and lacked disaggregation to ascertain concreteness.
10. The African Union is now leading discussions on detailed and concrete commitments to advance equitable economic growth and development as an instrument and catalyst to eliminate hunger and poverty. For these aspirations, the vitality of effective management of Africa’s water, environment and natural resources systems cannot be overemphasised.
11. This work will build upon the commitments, goals and targets enshrined in the Africa Water Vision 2025. The same goals should form the basis for Africa’s common position in the process to formulate water related goals and targets for the post 2015 development framework.
12. I would also like to reaffirm the African Union’s commitment not to limit Africa’s common position to the development of the broad framework of the post MDG development agenda. We intended to extend the process to eliciting commensurate financial and technical support towards the implementation of the agreed goals.
I thank you
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January 15, 2013The AUC and CGIAR Consortium agree to enhance collaboration in advancing a Science and Technology Agenda for African...Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 15 January 2013 – In an event that highlights continued progress towards African agricultural sustainability, African Union Commission (AUC) Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime and Chief Executive Officer of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR Consortium), Dr. Frank Rijsberman today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the two organizations.
The MoU describes a strategic partnership under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the AUC and CGIAR Consortium to facilitate, “enhanced coordination, collaboration, and alignment between CGIAR Consortium members and initiatives and those of African agricultural research and development organizations at the country, sub-regional, and continental levels with regard to their respective priorities, objectives, and programs for increased agricultural productivity in Africa.”
In her welcome remarks during the signing ceremony, held at the AUC Headquarters, H.E. Tumusiime stated that, “The signing of this MoU with CGIAR Consortium has a special significance, for it comes at a time when global attention has focused on Africa’s resolve to shoulder its responsibilities of making hunger and destitution history.” She further stated that, “The AUC recognizes that feeding Africa’s population and enabling agriculture play a critical economic transformation role in much of Africa needs to be supported by tried and tested technologies and home-grown policy initiatives.”
Mrs. Tumusiime also expressed her confidence that the CGIAR Consortium would prove to be a significant partner in the AU Commission’s quest for science-based agricultural transformation in Africa.
Dr. Rijsberman stated that “through better alignment with CAADP, CGIAR can help ensure that we are providing the right science for real impact on the ground.” He also noted that more than 50% of CGIAR funding goes towards projects on the African continent, and that “more effective research-to-practice alignment is a fundamental pillar of CGIAR’s work.”
The MoU signed today calls for joint actions to guide implementation of alignment of programs and support activities for CAADP, including: a research alignment plan that coordinates research programs with CAADP National Investment Plans; a Science and Technology Agenda for African Agriculture; a joint plan to support regional and sub-regional research activities; the development of joint African and CGIAR technology platforms; technical support; and joint sharing of information and knowledge.
The AUC, through the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA), has been implementing CAADP, which addresses policy and capacity issues across the entire agricultural sector and African continent. CAADP is entirely African-led and African-owned and represents African leaders' collective vision for agriculture in Africa. This ambitious and comprehensive vision for agricultural reform in Africa aims for an average annual growth rate of 6 percent in agriculture by 2015.
CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for development that includes 15 of the world’s leading agriculture research centers and leads 16 comprehensive global agricultural research programs. Its goals are to conduct research that contributes to reduced poverty, improved food security, improved nutrition and health, and sustainable management of natural resources.For further information, please contact:
Dr. Abebe Haile- Gabriel
Director, DREA
AUCAbebeHG@africa-union.org
Piers Bocock
Director, Knowledge Management and Communication
CGIAR Consortium
p.bocock@cgiar.org -
November 26, 2012 to November 30, 2012Joint Ministerial Conference of Agriculture and Trade (JMCAT)
Joint Ministerial Conference of Agriculture and Trade (JMCAT)
Theme “Boosting intra-African Trade: A key to agricultural transformation and ensuring food and nutrition security”
· 26 and 27 November 2012 – Meeting of senior officials and experts of trade and agriculture
· 29 and 30 November 2012 – Conference of Ministers of Agriculture and Ministers of Trade
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November 22, 2012
Food and Nutrition Security 2012
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November 21, 2012 to November 22, 2012Retreat of The AUC Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture and The Chairs of The AU Member States’parliamentary... -
November 12, 2012
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November 09, 2012
Addis Ababa, November 9, 2012 - The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen agricultural policies in Africa.
The MoU was signed by the AUC’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) Commissioner, Mrs. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, on behalf of the AUC and Dr. Michael Hailu, CTA Director.
During the signing ceremony, Mrs. Tumusiime welcomed the partnership with CTA as a timely move; as global attention was now focused on Africa’s resolve to shoulder its responsibilities of eradicating hunger and poverty.“This is a partnership that is being formally recognised on the heels of the commemoration of the African Day for Food and Nutrition Security Day, in which the issue of access to safe and nutritious food to all is a significant consideration. It is, therefore, essential that this partnership aims at supporting in concrete terms, the drive towards a hunger-free Africa,’’ she said.
Mrs. Tumusiime commended CTA’s role in championing the causes of agricultural development, food and nutrition security and environmental sustainability in Africa.
She stressed that DREA and CTA had already forged strong partnerships through collaborative efforts in popularising the AU’s Policy Framework on Pastoralism as well as engagements DREA has had with CTA organised Development Policy Briefings.
Mrs. Tumusiime was further pleased to note that CTA’s current strategic plan had identified the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and related Africa-led Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) policy processes as its focus of engagement with Africa.
Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. Hailu said CTA was committed to supporting agriculture and rural development particularly in Africa because of the various challenges the continent faces.
Consequently, to effectively address Africa’s agricultural challenges, he said CTA had realigned its activities with prioritised activities identified by governments through CAADP programmes.
Among other collaborative efforts, the MOU focuses on strengthening the cooperation between the two institutions to enhance agricultural policies in Africa for increased productivity, intra-regional trade in agricultural products, promote sustainable natural resource management and to accelerate the implementation of CAADP at national, regional and continental levels.For further information contact:
Dr. Janet Edeme
Head of Division, Rural Economy
Directorate of Rural Economy and Agriculture
African Union CommissionEmail: Edemej@africa-union.org
www.africa-union .org
Follow AUC CAADP on twitter
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November 09, 2012
Addis Ababa, November 9, 2012- The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance efforts to control and eradicate African animal Trypanosomiasis.
The AUC’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) through its Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) Office, has been working in close collaboration with GALVmed in the fight against the scourge of tsetse and trypanosomiasis.
Consequently, in an effort to enhance collaboration between AU-PATTEC and GALVmed, the MOU was signed today by DREA Commissioner, Mrs. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime and Professor Andrew Peters, Interim Chief Executive Officer on behalf of the Chairman Board of Directors of GALVmed.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mrs. Tumusiime commended GALVmed’s commitment in tackling animal diseases in Africa. She said the MOU was of cardinal importance as it enhanced efforts by the two organisations to control trypanosomiasis.
Mrs. Tumusiime stressed that AU-PATTEC was a critical unit in DREA as it was fighting trypanosomiasis, that not only affected animals but human beings as well.
“With the support of AU-PATTEC, the GALVmed Trypanosomiasis project has become more visible and is serving its purpose.” She said. “Trypanosomosis is one of Africa’s greatest constraints to rural development and I am very pleased that you have been working to contain this problem in the last 2 years.’’Also speaking during the signing ceremony, Prof. Peters said the MOU was of critical importance to GALVmed as it would enable intensive collaboration with AU-PATTEC, in the two institution’s efforts to detect trypanosomiasis in animals and develop new products for its treatment and control.
The MoU signed today will facilitate collaboration between the Parties in matters of common interest, namely the promotion and improvement of animal health, protection of livestock and saving human life and in particular exploring means for achieving control and eradication of African animal Trypanosomiasis throughout Africa.
AU-PATTEC and GALVmed will work together to conceptualise, plan and implement research, develop, validate and deploy animal health products and services related to African animal Trypanosomosis within the Framework of the PATTEC Initiative which, will be of benefit to resource-poor livestock keepers in Africa.
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November 08, 2012
Addis Ababa- November 8, 2012- The African Union’s Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Mrs. Rhoda Tumusiime yesterday met with the president of the African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW), Dr. Mohammed Bahaa ei-Din Saad to chart the way forward as regards AMCOW’s objectives within the thematic approach of “Water for Growth in Africa.”
The meeting also focused on issues affecting the Africa Water Vision (AWV) 2025 and the African Union’s July 2008 Sharm el Sheikh Declaration on Water and Sanitation.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Tumusiime commended the progress achieved in implementing the AWV but noted the challenges Africa was still facing in accessing adequate water and sanitation.
Mrs. Tumusiime alluded to the critical importance of enhanced efforts to implement the water agenda in Africa based on the principles of the AWV 2025 and the Sharm el Sheikh Declaration on Water and Sanitation.
“Let us better organise ourselves and see how we can enhance water for growth on the continent,” she said.
Dr. Saad, who is also the Arab Republic of Eygpt’s Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation, noted that a large percentage of the African population does not have adequate sanitation; a situation he said exacerbated challenges in the livelihood of people in Africa.
He expressed his commitment to integrate AMCOW’s initiatives with those of the African Union to effectively address the challenges in the water and sanitation sector.
Some of the resolutions of the meeting included: Consolidating the working methodology between the AUC and AMCOW; developing a Pan African water agenda and compacts to implement the Sharm el Sheikh Commitments; and devising strategic ways to raise the profile of water and sanitation.
The one-day meeting was also attended by AMCOW’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Bai-Mass Taal and AMCOW TAC Chairperson, Dr. Nehal Adel.
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October 31, 2012Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS)AUC Chairperson calls for enhanced efforts to fight hunger and malnutrition
Addis Ababa 31 October 2012 - African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, H.E Dr. Nkhosazana Dlamini-Zuma has called for enhanced efforts in Africa to fight hunger and malnutrition.
Dr. Dlamini-Zuma, represented by AUC Deputy Chairperson, H.E Erastus Mwencha, said the realisation that Africa was unlikely to meet the first of the Millennium Development Goals (to halve hunger and poverty) by 2015, was alarming.
Dr. Dlamini-Zuma was speaking during the 3rd commemoration of the Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security, attended by high-level leaders from global, regional and national agriculture associations, African and other governments, civil society and farmers’ organizations, the private sector, scientific and research institutions, farmer organizations and development partners.
“This should be a crude awakening to all policy makers and implementers,’’ she said. Food and Nutrition Security underlie all our developmental efforts in Africa. It defines the depth and breadth of our strategies as continental organisations, as regional bodies, as countries and as civil society. It determines the seriousness of any government and system of governance. It simply draws the line between responsible and irresponsible leadership. It is a challenge we have to face head on.”
Dr. Dlamini-Zuma however noted that under the guidance of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Programme (CAADP), some Member States had started to score marked progress in terms of economic development indicators due to investment in and resourcing of the broader agricultural sector.
Officially opening the commemoration ceremony, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Hon. Mitiku Kassa said, agriculture should play a greater role in improving food nutrition and security by promoting the growing of nutritious crops and food.
“Now is the time to look for solutions that will not only make agriculture profitable but also for the maximum benefit of human beings. Let us concentrate our energies to reduce and eradicate hunger and malnutrition,” he said.
H.E Mrs. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, AUC’s Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture said that the main expected outcome of the event was to get political commitment and adoption of food and nutrition security priorities based on continent, regional and national frameworks.
NEPAD Agency CEO, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki said, “We all appreciate that nutrition remains a key that unlocks the door for achieving and optimizing human potential, and national economic development.’’
Meanwhile, in a live address beamed to the audience, David Nabarro, Coordinator of UNHTFL on Global Food Crisis highlighted the importance of Agriculture in Food and Nutrition Security and creating stability in the continent. “There is a clear need to expand agriculture to involve smallholders in the food system and create earning opportunities particularly within Sub-Saharan Africa. Within this region, 330 million young people will enter the job market over the next 15 years. 200 million will live in rural areas; they will depend on Agriculture for their employment” he said.
He however commended the progress of CAADP implementation in Africa and the efforts of governments to further its agenda.
The objectives of the commemoration include the creation of a platform in which food and nutrition security stakeholders discuss solutions and make recommendations on Food and Nutrition Security issues in Africa. The commemoration also aims to strengthen momentum towards achieving the MDGs, and what could follow the MDGs after 2015. This year’s event is commemorated under the theme “Ensuring access to safe and nutritious foods.”
With the current statistics showing that 216 million Africans are chronically malnourished (30% of population); 5 million die of hunger annually; 126 million children are underweight and that about 50% children are stunted – more needs to be done and platforms such as the Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security provide an opportunity to come up with solutions.