The African Union Commission (AUC) through its Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) recently made its presentation to the Pan-African Parliament. The sessions on COVID-19 Crisis and Recovery Strategies and AU theme of the year 2022: Building resilience in nutrition and food systems were presented on Thursday, 25 August 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Representing ARBE at the event, Mr.Gatkuoth Kai the AUC Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Technical Coordinator, shared the existing frameworks for resilience building to the delegates and participants. These include:

• The Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction
• The Programme of Action (PoA) for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in Africa
• The African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Framework and Action Plan (2022-2032)
• The Integrated Africa Strategy on Meteorology,the Post Conflict Resolution and Development Policy and;
• The Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy 2015-2025

Reiterating the need to build resilience across the Continent, the Coordinator stated thatthe choice of the year 2022 as a year of resilient food systems, provides impetus for the continent to accelerate implementation of the various relevant instruments for building resilience. The presentation also highlighted the roadmap for the implementation of the theme of the year and progress being made in its implementation. Some of the key activities in the roadmap includea high level dialogue on increasing resilience of African girls that took place in February 2022 on the margins of the AU Summit, and the development of a communication and advocacy plan for the theme of the year.

The Department of ARBE proposed increased advocacy for building resilience in nutrition and food security at the PAP, and stated that there are plans to brief the parliament on the progress of the implementation roadmap for resilient food systems. The Department also recommended that PAP deploys its legislative prowess to advance resilience building, including encouraging national parliaments to prioritise resilience building in budgetary allocations, noting that such efforts will contribute to building resilience to increasing risks and crises.

ARBE also presented on the COVID-19 crisis and recovery strategies. The presentation included Covid-19 Recovery Framework for Africa and the Green Recovery Action Plan(GRAP).Sharing theimmediate lessons, the DRR Technical Coordinator noted that decisive leadership was exhibited by the AU in the aftermath of the pandemic. Such leadership if replicated in all disasters couldsignificantly reduce disaster losses and impacts. The pandemic also brought to light the existing vulnerabilities, also reaffirmed the ability of human systems to innovate and adapt.

In response to the pandemic and accelerating the path to inclusive, greener and sustainable recovery, the AUC developed the two frameworks: COVID-19 Recovery Framework and GRAP. Therefore, coordination, partnerships, resource mobilisation, monitoring, reporting and advocacy for the implementation of the frameworks are critical. DARBE also called upon the Pan African Parliament (PAP) to support the implementation of the COVID-19 recovery strategies as well as enactment of legislations on resilience with a key focus on empowering member states on legal and financial capabilities to address risk reduction; and an increment in budgetaryallocations to resilience building and reduction of risks. The department further called on PAP to partner with the AU Commission on development of model laws to strengthen state resilience to shocks and disasters.

The sessions of the Pan African Parliament took placefrom 22-30 August 2022 in Midrand, South Africa.

For Further information:

Mr. Gatkuoth Kai| Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction| Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, Department for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment | E-mail: KaiG@africa-union.org | WhatsApp: +251 909537884

For media enquiry please contact:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communications Directorate | African Union Commission|+251-911-630 631; Molalett@africa-union.org

Ms. Maryanne Muriuki, Communication Specialist, Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, AU Commission. Email: MuriukiM@africa-union.org

More information

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail:DIC@africa-union.org
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