Events
-
July 15, 2015COMMISIONER TUMUSIIME RECEIVES DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WFPPRESS RELEASE Nº 161/ 2015
COMMISIONER TUMUSIIME RECEIVES DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WFP
Addis Ababa 14 July 2015-Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission received Mr. Amir Mahmoud Abdulla, Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme who called on her at her Offices.
While welcoming Mr. Amir, Commissioner Tumusiime commended the WFP for the cooperation with the AUC and especially with her Department in supporting AU Member States through various programmes. She singled out the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) for ensuring food and nutrition security; the Purchase for Progress (P4P) which, while meeting food emergencies, catalyses agricultural production focusing on smallholder farmers particularly women; and the African Risk Capacity which provides country-owned collective insurance pool in case of drought-related disasters.
In acknowledging the compliments, the Deputy Executive Director also lauded the collaboration of the AUC in furtherance of the objectives shared by WFP. He reaffirmed his organisation’s commitment to consolidating this partnership and up scaling its initiatives. He also promised to support the AU’s programme pertaining to sharing experiences of countries such as Brazil that have success stories including the home-grown school feeding within the zero hunger initiative. They also agreed to engage together the private sector in supporting joint initiatives.
The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and was attended by among others: Mr. Thomas Yanga – WFP Director to AU & UNECA; Mr. John Aylieff- WFP Country Director for Ethiopia; and Dr. Josue Dione, Senior Advisor of the Commissioner.
Molalet Tsedeke
Media Center Coordinador, Directorate of Information and Communications, AUC
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
Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommission
Learn more at:
-
July 15, 2015Partners roundtable towards the operationalization of Africa’s agenda on Accelerated Agriculture Growth and...
-
July 14, 2015Commissioner Tumusiime and CGIAR CEO discuss progress on the MoU between AUC and CGIAR
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Commissioner Tumusiime and CGIAR CEO discuss progress on the MoU between AUC and CGIAR
Addis Ababa, 13, July 2015 - Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture yesterday received the Steering Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation for an improved Agricultural Production and productivity. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Frank Rijsberman Chief Executive Officer of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research Consortium (CGIAR Consortium) to review and agree on priorities in implementing the AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation as well as other areas of agricultural development within the Memorandum of Understanding between AUC and CGIAR that was signed in January 2013.
The discussions were guided by the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding, the Implementation Strategy and Roadmap for the Malabo Declaration, as well as the CGIAR’s Strategy and Results Framework.
On behalf of Commissioner Tumusiime, the Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel Director of Rural economy and Agriculture, welcoming Dr. Rijsberman and other Members of the Steering Committee said it was time to focus on strategic areas that would yield the most practical impact and results in agricultural development particularly in Africa.
Dr. Rijsberman concurred with the Commissioner and expressed CGIAR’s wish to contribute towards rolling out the Malabo Declaration and noted that CGIAR was in the process of refocusing and aligning their CGIAR Research Programmes in Africa to support the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) implementation.
During the discussions, they agreed on how to coordinate efforts better among Agricultural Research and Development (ARD) Stakeholders in Africa towards an expedient implementation of collaborative activities, as laid out in the 2013 MoU by strengthening the working relationship between Africa ARD and CGIAR in the fields of agricultural Science, Technology and Innovations. They will as well focus more on Women, youth employment and Climate Smart Agriculture.The meeting further agreed that both organizations’ technical teams will work together in elaborating priority areas for cooperation and partnership for 2015-2016.
The meeting was also attended by DREA Staff, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the AfricaRice, the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), the International Food Policy Institute (IFPRI) and International Livestock Research institute (ILRI).
For further information and media inquiries:
Maurice Lorka; CAADP Advisor, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, AUC
N’guessanp@africa-union.orgMolalet Tsedeke ; Media Center Coordinador, Directorate of Information and Communications, AUC
MolaletT@africa-union.orgAlain Vidal, Director Partnership CGIAR Consortium; A.Vidal@cgiar.org
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
Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommissionLearn more at:
http://www.au.int -
June 29, 2015 to June 30, 2015Permanent Secretaries/ Heads of Ministries of Agriculture leadership retreat June on operationalizing Malabo June 29-30JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Achieving the aspirations of the 2014 Malabo Commitments on Agriculture through reasserting country ownership and leadership
Description: IMG_0761Nairobi, Kenya, June 29, 2015 – “The importance of operationalising the Malabo Declaration for transformation of African agriculture for shared prosperity cannot be overemphasised. Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy, as well as many other African countries,” says Rebecca Wahome, CAADP Focal Person for Kenya in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Ms. Wahome was speaking today at the Permanent Secretaries Leadership Retreat on operationalising the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated African Agricultural Growth and Transformation (3AGT) convened by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the NEPAD Agency. The Leadership Retreat has brought together over 100 participants - Permanent Secretaries and CAADP Focal persons of Ministries of Agriculture, Rural Development, Livestock and Aquaculture, Regional Economic Communities and Partners.
The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is an African-led agenda designed to guide Africa’s agricultural transformation for sustained food security and socio-economic growth. The 2014 Malabo Declaration is a commitment adopted by AU Heads of State and Government to provide effective leadership for the achievement of specific goals by the year 2025, including ending hunger, tripling intra-African trade in agricultural goods and services, enhancing resilience of livelihoods and production systems, and ensuring that agriculture contributes significantly to poverty reduction.
To meet these goals, African leaders re-affirmed their commitment to the CAADP process and agreed to enhance investment finance and to a biennial tracking of progress and reporting mechanism as part of the mutual accountability commitment.
In his opening remarks at the Leadership Retreat, Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, AUC Director for the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture empahsised the importance of country ownership and leadership in realising the goals of the Malabo committments.
Description: IMG_0744The aspirations in the Malabo Declaration underscore CAADP implementation as a national responsibility. It is therefore critical that Heads of Ministries as custodians of government policies and national development strategies and plans, including the National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans, fully embrace and internalise the responsibilities for driving the CAADP agenda.
Dr Abebe emphasised that making deliberate and informed actions to bring about desired changes and development is actually ‘in our hands’ and urged leaders to steer away from rhetoric on the importance of agriculture by actual demonstration of its importance through increasing investments in the sector that will help realise attainment of the goals in the Malabo committments.
Martin Bwalya, NEPAD Agency’s Head of Programme Development, speaking on behalf of the NEPAD CEO, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, stressed that Malabo Declaration has brought to the core issue of delivering RESULTS. Sustaining the CAADP momentum build up over the last ten years will only be sustained by demostrating results and actual impact of agricultural transformation on peoples’ livelihoods and national economic growth. In emphasing implementation and delivery of results, Malabo Declaration also underscores the critical role the national leadership – technical and political, have to play in driving implementation COUNTRY ACTION. The Permenent/Principal Secretaries – as custodians of Government Policy and drivers for implementation support, are critical lead players in making the COUNTRY ACTION that Malabo demands.
……… END ………
For more details and to arrange interviews
Contact:
Carol Jilombo
Africa Union Commission DREA
Email: Jilomboc@africa-union.org
Mwanja Ng’anjo
NEPAD CAADP Communications
Phone: +27 11 2563582
Email: Mwanjan@nepad.org
-
April 27, 2015 to April 30, 2015International Conference on Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa, Palais des Congrès, Brazzaville, Congo
Congo Republic burnsits entire stockpile of seized ivory
Burning ceremony takes place a day before announcement of African strategy for tackling wildlife crime
Brazzaville, 29 April -- The Government of Congo incinerated nearly five tons of poached ivory, fuelled by seized timber, in a strong demonstration of Africa’s opposition to wildlife crime. The occasion was presided over by His Excellency Denis SassouNguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, and witnessed by, among others His Excellency IdrisDebyItno, President of the Republic of Chad and Chair of the Economic Community of Central African States and His Excellency Daniel OnaOndo the Prime Minister representing H.E The President of the Republic of Gabon. We as African leaders have resolved to deal with this problem decisively to salvage our natural heritage for the benefit of our citizens, said President Sassou. Earlier in the opening session for the International Conference on Illegal Exploitation and Illicit Trade in African wild flora and fauna, President Deby had articulated the gravity of the matter that brought down the elephants in his own country from 50,000 to only 5,000 within a short span. The Gabonese Prime Minister had also conveyed the commitment of President Bongo Ondimba to collaborate with their fellow Heads of State and Government in putting in place policies and institutions as well as engaging other regions and partners in this cause.
“This new evil is continuing to gain ground,” said Henri Djombo, Congo’s Minister of Forest Economy and Sustainable Development. Wildlife crime is “eroding and impoverishing the continent’s biological resources from a social, economic and environmental standpoint.”
The ceremony took place a day before the announcement of the first pan-African strategy to combat illicit trade in flora and fauna. A first strategy and action plan will be presentedto the June 2015 African Union Summit to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference was organized by the Government of Congo, with support from the African Union (AU), the United Nations and other partners.
“This conference is Africa-driven. It complements earlier and ongoinginitiatives and processes and shows strong determination to deal withthis issue. With strong political will, regional cooperation and sustainable partnerships, the continent will be in a position to unite and act before it is too late,” said Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner of the African Union.
Wildlife trafficking devastates biodiversity and ecosystems, threatening the supply of food and freshwater and eroding livelihoods for millions of people in Africa. It also creates insecurity, fuelling conflicts and corruption, depriving countries of their assets, compromising the rule of law and dividing societies. Poaching and trafficking pose a direct threat to sustainable development efforts in Africa and elsewhere.
"Today’s destruction of confiscated ivory by the Congo will attract global, regional and national attention and should serve to raise further public awareness about the devastating impacts of illegal ivory trade and wildlife trafficking, and about the Congo's, and the global community’s, collective determination to put an end to it." said John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“Wildlife crime is effectively robbing people’s means of subsistence and countries’ economic wealth on a massive scale. As we pave the way for the Sustainable Development Goals, we need to make sure protecting biodiversity remains high on the agenda. The well-being of present and future generations depends on it,” said Nik Sekhran, the Director of Sustainable Development at UNDP.
“This burn is a symbolic statement from Africa that all ivory markets must be destroyed. Elephants are vital ecologically, a major source of livelihoods for local peoples, particularly in the tourism industry, and symbols for the culture of Africa,” said John Robinson, WCS Executive Vice President for Conservation and Science.
****
For media interviews, photos and videos, please contact Nicolas.douillet@undp.org +1 917 701 1520. For more information: www.africa.undp.org
Mr Barthelemy Moussoki, Communication Sub-Committee, Congo, gmoussoki@yahoo.fr, +242 55707259
Mr Molalet Tsedeke, Media Centre Coordinator, AUC, MolaletT@africa-union.org
Mary A. Dixon, Sr. Vice President, Communications, Wildlife Conservation Society, mdixon@wcs.org +1.347.840.1242Conference website: http://www.conf-labff-brazza.org
Follow the Conference on Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa on Tele-Congo and Canal+ Afrique (channel 145) at www.congo-site.com, @conf_labff_braz, @congositemaster, @UNEP, @UNDPAfrica, and @_AfricanUnion
Hashtags: #EndWildlifeCrime #ProtectWildlife #Espècesmenacées -
April 27, 2015DREA Commissioner meets with Harvest Plus team to discuss bio-fortificationAddis Ababa, April 27, 2015- Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture today received Dr. Howarth Bouis, Director of Harvest Plus and Dr. Anna-Marie Ball the Head of Africa Strategic Alliances, Harvest Plus.
Harvest Plus is a lead research-based, agriculture technology institution that was established to respond to the problem of ‘hidden hunger’ which is caused by the lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the diet, such as vitamin A, zinc, and iron, thus reinforcing agriculture’s pivotal role in improving the quality of diet and increasing micronutrient consumption.
The duo briefed the Commissioner about Harvest Plus’ accomplishments in breeding and producing bio-fortified food crops and distributing bio-fortified seed varieties and improved cultivars, thereby empowering rural communities. The organization also helps add value to locally produced agricultural crops in countries where the organisation is working, in Africa.
Dr.Bouis shared some successes of their programme including inroads in processing, marketing, distribution and advertising of orange maize in Zambia, rapid expansion in production and consumption of yellow cassava in Nigeria, the impact of high yielding iron beans in Rwanda, and the proliferation of farming households (over 250,000) in Uganda who are farming bio-fortified sweet potatoes.
The two parties discussed the need to implement a strong advocacy programme for promoting buy-in, farming and consumption of the bio-fortified crops, especially among poor farming and urban communities.
Commissioner Tumusiime stressed that the use of farming technology needed to be propagated at higher policy making levels so that farmers could adopt it and sellers could buy the micronutrient-added produce in good quantities to improve market access.
She assured Harvest Plus of her strong appreciation of the role the organization was playing in lifting the rural poor communities in Africa out of poverty and improving healthy and nutrient-dense dietary consumption.
Commissioner Tumusiime further assured Harvest Plus of support of the programme within her portfolio in the AUC as well as her role as a Member of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition.
She also reinforced the need to align activities under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Framework and the commitments of the Malabo Declaration, adding that the current momentum was towards implementation and results.
Mrs. Tumusiime encouraged Harvest Plus to join efforts within the Agriculture Science Agenda in which the AUC andthe Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR) work together within the framework of Forum for Agriculture Research in Africa (FARA).
Harvest Plus has released a number of bio-fortified crops, including: iron beans, iron pearl millet, vitamin A cassava, vitamin A maize, vitamin A sweet potatoes, zinc rice and zinc wheat.
Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
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
Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommission
Learn more at:
Directorate of Information and Communication
Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union CommissionTel: +251-11-5517700 | Fax: | E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int
Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
-
April 25, 2015Commissioner Tuimusiime Receives NEPAD Nutrition Chief
Addis Ababa 24 April 2015- Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy at the African Union Commission has today received Mrs. Isatou Djallow, the Chief of Nutrition at the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency (NPCA).
They discussed areas of enhancing collaboration in taking forward the July 2014 AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation and specifically nutrition which is one of the key commitments under the Malabo Declaration and indeed one of the pillars of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
They considered ways of capitalising on this momentum to increase the place of nutrition in the agriculture agenda. In the same vein, they also discussed ways of maximising the position of Commissioner on the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition.
They further looked at the state of preparations for the 2015 Africa day for Food and Nutrition Security. Mrs Isatou Djallow was accompanied by Mrs Kifilwe Maolosi and another senior official of the NPCA.
Media Contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
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
Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommission
Learn more at:
Directorate of Information and Communication
Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union CommissionTel: +251-11-5517700 | Fax: | E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int
Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
-
April 25, 2015AUC Commissioner Receives Indian AmbassadorAddis Ababa 24 April 2015- Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy at the African Union Commission has today received H.E The Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia who is also the Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
They discussed issues within the context of Africa-India Partnership as part of the South-South Cooperation for Development especially in view of the Africa-India Summit of Heads of State and Government due in October this year in New Delhi.
Of particular interest, the Commissioner and the Ambassador talked the area of African Agricultural Mechanisation within the framework of the July 2014 AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation.
Commissioner informed the Ambassador that the Commission of the African Union had partnered with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa and developed a concept for African Agriculture Mechanisation that covers the entire process from acquisition and distribution to maintenance and sustainability of agricultural equipment through among others, capacity building. She lauded the advances that India had made in manufacturing and applying agricultural technology and called for a sharing of that experience, expertise and technology and innovation.
The Ambassador expressed his country’s willingness and readiness to collaborate with Africa in the area of agricultural modernisation including agricultural mechanisation. This issue will be among those that will be deliberated upon at the forthcoming Africa-India Summit and prior to that, two technical missions from India will visit the African Union Commission to work out details to include in the Joint Declaration and Action Plan for consideration and eventual adoption by the Summit.
They also reviewed the progress in taking forward the agricultural science farms being established in different regions of Africa under the Africa-India Partnership. They also agreed to enhance collaboration between the AUC and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research headquartered in Hyderabad in India.
The Ambassador also invited Commissioner to visit the Annual Exhibition and Fair showcasing India’s agricultural mechanisation currently going on at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, to which Commissioner agreed. The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. R.V Venkatesan, Second Secretary.Media Contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgFor 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
Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommissionLearn more at:
http://www.au.int -
March 25, 2015 to March 27, 201511th CAADP Partnership Platform March 25-27, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Walking the talk: the 11th Meeting of the CAADP Partnership Platform calls for delivery of the AU Malabo commitments on agriculture towards women empowerment and development
Johannesburg, South Africa, March 26, 2015 - the 11th Meeting of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform (PP) officially opened yesterday with a call to CAADP stakeholders to deliver on the commitments made in the AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agricultural Growth and Transformation at the 23rd African Union (AU) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in Equatorial Guinea last year.
The two day CAADP PP, held under the theme, “Walking the Talk: Delivering on the Malabo Commitments on Agriculture for Women Empowerment and Development,” brings together African and global leaders from a number of international organisations, African Governments including parliamentarians from select countries, private agribusiness firms, farmers, NGOs and civil society organizations.
This PP - the first after the Malabo Declaration - is designed to help shape how the renewed commitments will be translated into action, results and impact at country level. This year's PP also comes on the backdrop of the AU Year of Women Empowerment and Development, and the adoption of the AU Agenda 2063.
Speaking during the opening session, African Union Commission (AUC) Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, reiterated the call made by AU Leaders during their Malabo Summit, stating that, “It is now time to deliver! It is now time to walk the talk.”She informed the gathering that the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agricultural Growth and Transformation, in line with Africa's Agenda 2063, reiterates a call for action and delivery of results and impact and an expedient process of translating the commitments into results.
Commissioner Tumusiime further noted that through collaborative efforts the AUC, NEPAD Agency, Regional Economic Communities and Development Partners developed the Implementation Strategy and Roadmap (IS&R) and a programme of work for the implementation of the Malabo Declaration. (The complete speech is available on www.au.int).
South Africa's Director General in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Prof. Edith Vries observed that, “70% of food is produced by small-holder farmers, a majority of them being women. Prioritizing women in agriculture would therefore be a smart and critical political move for governments.”
And giving a keynote presentation during the opening session, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO of the NEPAD Agency said, “The Malabo Declaration is situated at the highest level of ambition by placing agricultural development in the broader context of the structural transformation of our societies. This is expressed, for instance, in the goals of eradicating hunger and halving poverty. It also goes beyond the strict challenges of agricultural production to tackle changes required in African trade and institutions.''Dr. Mayaki said the strategy to implement the Malabo commitments could no longer simply be aimed at committing to more planning and investment but would come from an increased and bold focus on reforms in economic policies and in institutional capabilities.
Other speakers at the opening event included Dr. Theo de Jager; President, Pan African Farmers' Organisation (PAFO) and the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) who called for more focused attention to be given to agriculture and farmers.
Mr. Roberto Ridolfi representing EU, which is the current Chair of the CAADP Development Partners Task team Chair, reiterated the partners commitment to support for delivering on the Malabo Commitments to transform Africa's agriculture and called for enhanced adherence to principles of mutual accountability. Also in attendance was Malawi's Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Hon. Allan Chiyembekeza.
The two day meeting will encompass focused discussions and consensus on specific actions to deliver on the 2014 Malabo commitments for the next decade of CAADP in line with the thrust of the AU Agenda 2063, an important part of which is agricultural transformation and women empowerment.Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgMr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;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
Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommissionLearn more at:
http://www.au.int -
March 20, 2015Celebration of the International Day of Forests (IDF), Addis Ababa, EthiopiaAUC and FAO commemorate International Day of Forests
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 20, 2015 – The African Union Commission (AUC), and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), today jointly commemorated the International Day of Forests, at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the event, H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) noted that the commemoration was not only about recalling the benefits of forests but equally about raising awareness on the dangers facing the global forest cover especially in developing countries.
“The role of forests is increasingly being recognized in efforts to adapt to, and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. Deforestation and forest degradation accounts for about 18 per cent of global emission of carbon oxide. Thus, controlling this source of emission is a crucial step in averting further global warming,” she said.
Mrs. Tumusiime recalled that in June 2014, the AU Assembly called for the development of a Regional Framework on Sustainable Forest Management in Africa and that in implementing that land-mark decision, the AU Commission, in collaboration with FAO Regional Office for Africa, is elaborating a Sustainable Forest Management Framework for the continent, which would contribute to laying a strong foundation for the rational utilization and management of Africa’s forest heritage.
Ms. Susan Minae, on behalf of the FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Africa, reiterated that Africa could meet its obligation to the international community on climate change mitigation if it could successfully and sustainably manage and develop its forest resources. She emphasized that: “As sources of energy, food and feed, Africa’s various forest types contribute significantly to food and nutrition security and to social protection, thereby enhancing adaptation to climate change at national and local levels”.
Officially launching the commemoration, which falls on 21 March, H.E Diallo Amina Djibo, Niger’s Ambassador to the AU and Vice Chair of the Permanent Representatives Committee said, the preservation of forests is cardinal as they are an important source of resources and livelihood.
She encouraged all African countries to do more for the social and economic development of their populations and for environmental sustainability.Media contacts:
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC; jilomboc@africa-union.org;
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC; molalett@africa-union.org; Mobile 0911630-631
Eddy Patrick Donkeng, Sub-Regional Communication Specialist FAO, Ethiopia; Eddy.DonkengDongmo@fao.org; Mobile: +251924132360
-
March 16, 2015AU Commissioner Tumusiime Calls on UN SRSG Margareta WahlstromAU COMMISSIONER TUMUSIIME CALLS ON UN SRSG MARGARETA WAHLSTROM
16 March 2015 Sendai, Japan- Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission, who is in Sendai, Japan leading the official delegation of the African Union Commission to the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) called on Mrs. Margareta Wahlstrm, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
The two exchanged views on issues pertaining to the ongoing Conference in particular and especially those relating to DRR in Africa.
The AU Commissioner hailed the support that UNISDR has been providing to the AU and its Member States to take forward issues of DRR. The SRSG, on her part, commended the Commission of the African Union for the effective coordination of the process that culminated in the adoption by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Strategy on DRR; the creation and operationalization of Africa’s political Regional Platform and its technical Working Group; and, indeed the development of Africa’s Plan of Action.
While acknowledging these compliments, the AU Commissioner observed that it was now time for AU Member States to capitalize of these mechanisms to mainstream in their development planning issues of DRR and make the necessary interventions to advance them and that rather than wait to react to emergencies they should enhance their readiness as well as preventive measures through building resilience. She also called for heightened advocacy and public awareness as well as empowerment of communities to deal with DRR issues from the grassroots level where they are felt most.
The Commissioner expressed the hope that as part of international cooperation, friends and partners of Africa would extend the necessary support towards its DRR programs and projects. The SRSG expressed the confidence that the global momentum built over the years of implementing the overarching Hyogo Framework of Action 205-2015 would be sustained in the post-2015 era that combines strategically interrelated processes of DRR, Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Change and Financing for Sustainable Development.
They both voiced optimism that the Sendai Conference would be successful and reaffirmed their personal and respective institutions’ commitment to continued collaboration at the service of their shared constituency.Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgMr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;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
Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommissionLearn more at:
http://www.au.int -
March 15, 2015DREA Commissioner meets World Bank Director for Global Practice – Social, Urban, Rural, and ResilienceDREA Commissioner meets World Bank Director for Global Practice – Social, Urban, Rural, and Resilience
Sendai, Japan 15 March 2015- H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission yesterday held a meeting with Mr. Ede Jorge Ijjasz-Vasquez, the new Senior Director, Global Practice – Social, Urban, Rural, and Resilience, of the World Bank. They discussed ways and means of ensuring a more structured and stepped up collaboration between the World Bank and the African Union Commission and specifically with the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture. In this connection, they also discussed the possibility of joint convening by the World Bank and the AUC of a Conference on Africa Understanding Risk and Finance, in close collaboration with UNISDR, AfDB and EU.
While expressing appreciation for the opportunity of the meeting with the World Bank Director, Commissioner Tumusiime, hailed the World Bank’s ongoing cooperation and support in the areas of climate change, agriculture, land policy and disaster risk reduction, among other areas under her portfolio. The two agreed to get their respective technical teams to get together and review areas of cooperation and propose a way forward for enhanced collaboration and delivery.
The Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the increasing awareness, appreciation and commitment on the part of AU Member States vis-à-vis these inter-related areas. She called for called for increased harmonisation of interventions in these areas, the strengthening of capacities and effective mainstreaming.
The meeting was attended by among others, Mr Christopher Pusch, Coordinator of Disaster Risk Management in Africa.Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgMr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;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
Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommissionLearn more at:
http://www.au.int