Events

Second Communiqué on Integrated Seed Sector Development

African Union Commission African Seed and Biotechnology Programme (ASBP)

Integrated Seed Sector Development in Africa: The Role of Entrepreneurship and Priority Themes for Joint Action

The concept of integrated seed sector development (ISSD) was endorsed by the African Union Commission in the Communiqué on Integrated Seed Sector Development of May 2011 as part of efforts towards the implementation of the African Seed and Biotechnology Programme (ASBP) which was endorsed by the AU Heads of State and Government in 2007 during their 8th Ordinary Session and acknowledging that different seed systems co-exist, each with its own unique characteristics and contributions. Therefore, the Communiqué recommends that a pluralistic approach to seed sector development is required to optimally serve objectives of food security, economic development and biodiversity through entrepreneurship.

The delegates from the following AU Member States: Burundi; Ethiopia; Ghana; Malawi; Mali; Mozambique; Uganda; and Zambia, and regional organisations in Africa: ASARECA; and RUFORUM, discussed seed sector development in a meeting organised by the African Union Commission and Wageningen University and Research centre, financially supported by the Government of the Netherlands in partnership with Agri-ProFocus, CTA, Future Agricultures Consortium, IFAD, IFDC, Royal Tropical Institute and Self Help Africa. The meeting took place from the 8th to the 10th of April 2013 at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana.

This pan-African synthesis meeting was guided by a regional workshop held in Adama, Ethiopia in September 2012, and national seed entrepreneurship assessments, consultative multi-stakeholder workshops and national seminars in Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia.

Recognising that a number of principles guide the operationalization of the integrated seed sector development concept, including the appreciation of the relevance of informal seed systems, the need for integrating informal and formal systems and inclusive participation. Accordingly, programmes can be built upon a range of seed systems to foster pluralism and integration. An evidence based approach contributes to guiding interventions in different seed systems. Enabling policies can foster the development of a vibrant seed sector.

AU Commissioner and AGRA President discuss strategic partnership

Addis Ababa 15 March 2013- Commissioner Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture; and Ms. Jane Karuku, the President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) held a meeting at the African Union Commission on Friday 15 March 2013.

The objective of the meeting held between AUC-DREA and AGRA was to share the vision, objectives, and modes of operation of the two parties, aiming to identify areas of strategic congruence and concrete scope for enhanced partnership and cooperation.

In her opening statement, Commissioner Tumusiime commended AGRA for the continued partnership with AUC and for its work in advancing agricultural development at country-level across the continent especially in extension services, input delivery, output market development and functioning, and farmer organization and capacity building.

She called for closer collaboration between AGRA and AUC-DREA in furtherance of the shared goal of increased agricultural production, productivity, food and nutrition security on the continent. She said these efforts need to stepped up especially this year which marks the 50th Anniversary of the African Union’s predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), 10 years of the existence of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), and in preparation for the 2014 AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security.

Specifically, the AU Commissioner outlined areas for coordinated collaboration such as sustaining the CAADP momentum that Member States are calling for and heightening support to country Investment Plans; the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism in addition to follow up and implementation of African Union declarations and decisions on strategic commodities, value chain development, fertilizer use, irrigation, agricultural research and technology, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, post-harvest loss reduction and climate-resilience.

Taking the floor, the President of AGRA registered her own and her organization’s gratitude to the Commissioner for her leadership on the continent and also expressed appreciation for the collaboration that AGRA enjoyed with the AUC-DREA. She highlighted AGRA’s key areas of engagement in AU Member States and Regions from small holder farmer support to input-output markets and micro-finance, from fertilizer and soil management to post-harvest interventions, from research and development to value chain development, and demonstrating success models. She pledged her readiness and willingness to ensure that AGRA heightens its alignment and cooperation with AUC-DREA on policies, programmes and projects in advancing agricultural development on the continent particularly leveraging on the AU’s convening power and policy advocacy.

Ms. Karuku further highlighted the strong conceptual, programmatic, and operational alignment of AGRA’s investment portfolio with the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), opening considerable scope for a strong and rewarding partnership. The AU Commissioner and AGRA President highlighted the importance of women in agriculture at both production and agribusiness levels which they agreed to collaborate in supporting in more concrete terms.

The two principals expressed satisfaction with the proceeding and outcomes of the meeting. They agreed to work more closely for enhanced productivity of this strategic partnership. The meeting was attended by senior officials of the AUC and AGRA.

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

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 Gentlemen

Courtesies
• 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 cooperation

1. 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 AIDS

2. 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 development

9. 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

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