Thursday, 29 January 2015

African Union Commission (AUC) Launches Implementation Strategy and Roadmap to Transform African Agriculture

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia–January 28, 2015– On the evening of Tuesday 27 January 2015, the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) of the African Union (AU)  in collaboration with the NEPAD Agency, officially unveiled the Iimplementation Strategy and Roadmap (IS&R) meant to facilitate the operationalisation of the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agricultural Growth and Transformation for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods, that was adopted at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in June 2014.

The IS&R is a response to the Assembly’s request to develop an implementation strategy and roadmap that facilitates translation of the provisions of the Declaration into concrete results and impact. The IS&R was officially launched by H.E ValmaVall Mint Soueinea, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and the Chairperson of the AU Executive Council , who commended the efforts of the AUC and NEPAD Agency in producing the document.

Opening the launching ceremony, AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime said, “We took advantage of the 10thAnniversary of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) to take stock of the experiences and use lessons learnt to chart the way forward. We have highlighted the importance of agriculture and mobilized citizens, stakeholders and partners to enhance cooperation, collaboration and partnerships to exploit the full potential that agriculture offers.”

The Commissioner added that, “It is one thing to make commitments and another thing to deliver on them. Weare committed to working towards making concrete changes in our people’s lives through the transformation of Africa’s agriculture and its accelerated growth in the AU Member States.”

Also speaking at the launching ceremony H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the NEPAD Agencyemphasised on the crucial significance of leadership, integration, partnerships and accountability to realise the visions on agricultural transformation in Africa. “Faster and more inclusive growth is essential if African citizens at all levels are to achieve the AU’s aspiration of prosperity”, said Dr.Mayaki.
The Malabo Declaration adopted seven key commitments comprising the 2025 vision and goals of Africa Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation (3AGT);

              i.        Recommitment to the Principles and Values of the CAADP Process
            ii.        Commitment to Enhancing Investment Finance in Agriculture
           iii.        Commitment to Ending Hunger in Africa by the year 2025
           iv.        Commitment to agriculture contributing to poverty reduction at least by half by the year 2025, through Inclusive Agricultural Growth and Transformation
            v.        Commitment to tripling Intra-African Trade in Agricultural commodities and services, by the year 2025
           vi.        Commitment to Enhancing Resilience of Livelihoods and Production Systems to Climate Variability and other related risks
          vii.        Commitment to Mutual Accountability to Actions and Results
Posted by at