What:
The Sixth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE).

When: The 6th ARDWE meeting will be held in two formats:

• 21- 22 October: Experts and Senior Official Session of the ARDWE.
• 24th October: High Level Ministerial Session of the 6th ARDWE.

Time: 9H00 -17H00 (EAT)

Where: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (African Union Commission).

Media opportunities:

The STC Experts and high-level ministerial events will be open for media. The official progamme includes:
• Statements by: Ministers, AU Commissioner and Experts
• Statement by Development Partners
• Group photo
• Press conference/Media interviews

Who:

Organized by the African Union Commission through its Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), which is responsible for the Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment thematic areas.

Objective:

The main objective of the meeting is to review and recommend key policy and operational documents related to agriculture, rural development, water, and environment to the Executive Council. Specifically, the 6th STC ARDWE will:
● Consider and validate the report on the implementation of the recommendations and decisions of the 5th STC-ARDWE.
● Review and endorse report on progress of on-going programs and projects being implemented to actualize previous Decisions and Declarations.
● Consider and approve new programs and projects to be implemented in reference to specific Decisions as it relates to Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment.
● Provide guidance on program harmonization and rationalization in the light of emerging resource challenges affecting implementation for impact.
● Approve relevant Policy and/or Common AU positions submission as recommendations to the February 2026 AU Summit.

Context:

The 6th Ordinary Session of the STC-ARDWE is being organized at a pivotal moment, marking the end of the Malabo CAADP Agenda (2014–2025) and the transition to the Kampala CAADP Agenda (2026–2035). The Session is auspicious as it is the first under the new AUC leadership and so will provide the platform to familiarize and update on implementation progress of the department’s activities. It is in this context that the 6th STC-ARDWE Session is being held. Outcomes from the Session will be submitted as recommendations for endorsement by the AU Executive Council and Summit of Heads of State and Government at the February 2026 Summit.

Participants:

The 6th STC ARDWE will be attended by Member State Ministers and Experts in-Charge of agriculture, livestock, fisheries, rural development, water and sanitation, environment, natural resources management, meteorology, climate change, disaster risk management, and blue economy. The official opening sessions will be open for Partners, collaborators, Observers and the media.

Background:

The Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment STC - ARDWE is one of the fourteen (14) STCs established by the Decision of the Twelfth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (Assembly/AU/Dec.227 (XII)), which was held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on 01-03 February 2009.

The STC is composed of Ministers or senior officials responsible for sectors falling within its areas of competence. The Ministers approve projects and programmes submitted by the STC-ARDWE experts.

They also have the duty to ensure effective supervision, follow-up and evaluation of the implementation of decisions taken by the organs of the Union and the coordination and harmonization of projects and programmers of the Union.

Journalists are invited to cover the opening ceremonies of the experts and ministerial session on 21st and 24th October 2025 at 10:00am.

For media enquiry please contact:
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission
Tel: +251 115 18 20 14 | E-mail: molalett@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia