Arusha Hosts EAC High Level Forum on Inaugural Biennial Review Report of Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Recognition of the Best Youth Agripreneurs
East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 20th June, 2018: The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Republic of Uganda and the current Chair of the EAC Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, has called upon EAC Partner States to strengthen the linkages between Biennial Review (BR) process and the National Agriculture Investment Plans (NAIPs).
In his remarks during the opening session of a High Level Forum on Inaugural Biennial Review Report of the Malabo Declaration and Recognition of the Best Youth Agripreneurs held on 16th June 2018 at the Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha, Tanzania, the Minister emphasized that NAIPs are the main vehicles for implementation of Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared prosperity and Improved Livelihoods adopted by African Union Heads of State in 2014.
Hon. Ssempijja appealed to Partner States to support implementation of NAIPs at a pace that is fast enough to bring about the desired change. The Minister further urged Partner States to fully embrace and institutionalize Joint Sector Review as a key mechanism for ensuring inclusive, efficient and effective delivery of the Malabo mutual accountability commitment. The Minister paid tribute to the Republic of Rwanda for emerging as the best performing country in implementing the seven (7) commitments under Malabo Declaration in the Inaugural Biennial Report presented to the AU General Assembly in January 2018.
The Minister acknowledged that promoting youth employment in agriculture is a top priority under Malabo Declaration Commitment 4 which focuses on halving poverty by the year 2025. The key targets under this include creating job opportunities for at least 30% of the youth in agricultural value chains and supporting and facilitating preferential entry and participation for women and youth in gainful and attractive agri-business opportunities.
Addressing the Forum, EAC Deputy Secretary General in-charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, urged Partner States to take the Biennial Review process as an important mutual accountability yard stick for tracking progress, informing and influencing evidence-based agricultural planning and investment decisions.
Dr Chimimba David Phiri, Sub-regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa (FAO-SFE) and FAO Representative to the African Union and UNECA, mentioned that the agricultural sector provides untapped potential to boost the creativity, energy, innovation and entrepreneurship of the youth, create decent employment opportunities and wealth, and curb youth distress migration. He reiterated that boosting youth employment in agricultural value chains is a low hanging fruit for harvesting sustainable development, food security, and rural poverty reduction.
The main focus of the Forum was to discuss EAC Partner States CAADP Biennial Report 2018 key findings and recommendations; to define priority actions towards operationalizing recommendations in the Biennial Report in order to improve EAC Partner States performance in reporting; and to recognize and award prizes to the Best Youth Agripreneurs in the EAC. A report on EAC-FAO project on promoting Youth Employment in the Agricultural Sector was presented. The climax of the Forum was award of financial grants and certificates to the 6 Best Youth agripreneurs in the EAC with outstanding models in agribusiness that have contributed to food and nutrition security, wealth creation and employment.
The Forum was jointly oraganized by the EAC Secretariat, African Union Commission and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on the margins of the 11thSectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security. In attendance at the Forum were Permanent/Principal Secretaries responsible for agriculture from the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Kenya, Directors from agriculture sector Ministries and institutions, the African Union Commission, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CAADP Focal points, Continental and Regional Stakeholders and Development Partners engaged in the CAADP process.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The East African Community has embraced the CAADP agenda and placed agriculture as the engine of social and economic growth in the integration process. The EAC commitment to domestication of the CAADP process is demonstrated by the adoption of the EAC CAADP compact as well as progress made in the development of the EAC Regional Agriculture Investment Plan. EAC CAADP instruments are aligned to the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation adopted by the African Heads of State in June 2014. Among other commitments, African Heads of State committed to Mutual Accountability to Results and Actionsby conducting a Biennial Agricultural Review process that involves tracking, monitoring and reporting on implementation progress in achieving provisions of Malabo Declaration. The Biennial Report is an innovative mechanism for capturing progress, achievements as well as challenges that need to be addressed to drive agricultural transformation towards realization of Malabo Declaration goals and targets.
Remarkable progress has been made in the implementation of the EAC-FAO project on “Promoting Youth Employment in Agriculture”. The process of documenting and validating Best youth agri-business models has been successfully undertaken in the EAC Partner States. Youth Champions in Agriculture who were identified during the aforementioned documentation exercise were facilitated to participate in a hands-on training at Songhai Center in Porto Novo, Benin from 2ndto 29th May, 2018. The final top 6 youth champions (one per Partner State) were awarded prizes during the High Level Forum.
-ENDS-
For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified