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.
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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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 11th June 2018:
The 11th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security (SCAFS) is taking place from 11th to 16th June 2018 at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The SCAFS will review the progress made in the sector in implementing Council decisions and consider other issues of regional importance in the areas of Agriculture and Food Security.
The Sectoral Council will be held through the session of Senior Officials from 11th to 13th June, 2018; Session of Permanent/Principal /Under Secretaries on 14th June; and concludes with the Ministerial Session on 15th June 2018.
Since the last meeting of the Sectoral Council held in June 2017, several activities have taken place in implementing various projects and programmes under the sector. The 11th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security (SCAFS) will consider the following items, among others:-
Progress Report on EAC Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) process;
EAC Regional Project on Aflatoxin Prevention and Control;
Status of implementation of EAC Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Protocol;
Harmonization of Farm Inputs;
EAC Food and Nutrition Security Strategy and Action Plan;
Challenges and Opportunities in Rice Value Chain;
EAC-FAO Project on Promoting Youth Employment in the Agricultural Sector;
Status of Livestock and Fisheries Development; and
Resource Mobilization and Partnerships.
Meanwhile, a High Level Forum on the Inaugural Biennial Report on the Implementation of the June 2014 AU Heads of State Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared prosperity and Improved Livelihoods is scheduled to take place on 16th June, 2018, at the Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha, Tanzania. At that Forum, the Best Youth Agripreneurs in the EAC will be recognized and awarded.
The Secretariat in collaboration with FAO embarked on a programme to promote youth employment in agriculture through the technical cooperation project dubbed: Promoting Youth Employment in the Agricultural Sector in East Africa. In the month of May 2018, the Secretariat with support from FAO sent 18 youth from six Partner States to Songhai Centre in Benin for a one month’s apprenticeship intended to build their agribusiness knowledge and practical skills in various agro-enterprises. The initiative has demonstrated that when youth are equipped with the right knowledge and skills, they are likely to operate successful agribusinesses.
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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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 30th November 2017:
A three-day EAC Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Regional Agriculture Investment Plan (RAIP) Regional Validation Workshop is taking place from 30th November to 2nd December, 2017 at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala, Uganda
The validation workshop is being attended by Heads of Delegations from the EAC Partner States, Representative of USAID East Africa and USAID Trade and Investment Hub, Executive Secretary- ASARECA, Chief Executive Officer- East African Business Council, Representative of the Executive Director Eastern Africa Grain Council, Coordinator CAADP Non State Actors Coalition, Chief Executive Officer- East African Civil Society Organizations Forum, and Chief Executive Officer- Eastern Africa Farmers Federation
Addressing the official opening session of the workshop, the EAC Deputy Secretary General- Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo acknowledged the commitment and tremendous contribution of EAC Partner States to the CAADP agenda and recognized the invaluable technical and financial support provided by USAID, African Union Commission and the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency to the programme.
The Deputy Secretary General disclosed that the process leading to the regional validation of RAIP had been lengthy, rigorous, inclusive and consultative and that over 10 technical meetings, national and regional workshops were held.
“The process elicited the participation of a wide range of stakeholders including EAC Partner States, Development Partners, Private Sectors, Civil Society, the African Union Commission and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA)” and “all this was aimed at building consensus and securing ownership among stakeholders” noted the EAC official.
Notes to Editors
The East African Community (EAC) long-term vision and commitments towards social and economic development are anchored in the Treaty for the establishment of the Community. The Treaty has the strategic vision to attain a prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa. Agriculture and Food Security is among the key areas of cooperation prioritized in the Treaty, the EAC Common Market Protocol, EAC Vision 2050 and the EAC 5th Development Strategy. These instruments informed and inspired the formulation of EAC RAIP.
The African Union Heads of State and Government were visionary and pragmatic in adopting the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods. This is indeed a hallmark in efforts to reduce hunger and poverty on the continent and in the EAC in particular. The commitments that occupy a central place in the EAC integration process include ‘Commitment to Ending Hunger in Africa by 2025 and the Commitment to Boosting Intra-African Trade in Agricultural commodities and services.
The EAC RAIP is anchored on the EAC CAADP Compact, the EAC CAADP Results Framework and other key regional Agriculture Sector Instruments. The RAIP is aligned to Malabo Declaration goals and commitments. It is designed to facilitate coordination of regional and crosscutting programmes that are best handled regionally and those that compliment interventions in the National Agriculture investment Plans. The EAC RAIP seeks to catalyze the realization of the CAADP goals in the following five investment thematic areas:
Increasing regional agricultural production and food supply
Enhancing food utilization
Promoting agribusiness, value addition and agro-industry
Promoting sustainable natural resource use and management
Strengthening capacities of EAC regional agricultural institutions
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 02 October 2017:
‘Today I learned that you can be bitten by a dog when you bother it and when it is sick with Rabies. I also learned that if you care for dogs they will be very friendly’, says 11 year old Clara Yuda Opasi, who is in Standard 5 C of the Imani Primary School in Arusha’s Sombeteni ward during the celebrations of the World Rabies Day at Imani Primary School on 28th September ,2017. The Imani Primary School is one out of 70 primary schools that participated in the celebrations of the World Rabies Day and Clara is one out of nearly 600 pupils who attended the awareness raising campaign around the risks connected with rabies at Imani Primary School alone.
Rabies is an infectious disease of public health concern, globally and in particular in the East African region. Rabies is the most fatal viral-zoonotic disease transmitted between animals and humans. Once an infected person shows signs, there is no cure.
Many humans and most of them children get infected by rabies through dog bites. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the vaccination of dogs as the most effective intervention against rabies. Decreasing rabies in dogs directly impacts on public health by reducing the transmission to humans. It is worth noting that care given to dogs can also make a huge difference in the fight against rabies.
This is one of the messages of Bernadette Mathias of Mbwa wa Africa, who thrilled the Imani teachers and pupils with her advice on how to care for dogs, how to prevent being bitten and what to do in case this still happens.
The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH joined the awareness campaign on World Rabies Day for the first time this year to set a sign that rabies is not only a Tanzanian, but a regional concern. ‘I would like to see this campaign rolled out in all our Partner States next year’, said Fahari Marwa, Head of the EAC’s Agriculture and Food Security Department.
The coming Saturday and Sunday the World Rabies Day celebrations will culminate in free of fee vaccinations of dogs all over Arusha City. Jens Fissenebert of Mbwa wa Africa urged the pupils to bring their dogs to the stations nearest to their homes. Geoffrey Muchai, Head of the Imani Primary School agreed with Dr. Onesma Mandike from the Arusha City Council and Joel Changalucha from the Ministry of Agriculture in the meaningfulness of the awareness day: ‘This campaign is very good and I have learned many new things, for example that dogs should not be killed to prevent rabies or about the high number of people who die each year from rabies – 1500, that is a lot’.
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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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 27 September 2017:
Some 1,500 people die annually from rabies in the United Republic of Tanzania alone, according to scientific estimates. Official numbers are lower, because many cases are not reported and not all reported cases appear in the official statistics. Most rabies victims are children and dog bites are the main path of transmission.
Rabies is an infectious disease of public health concern for the entire East African region and beyond. Against this backdrop, the EAC Secretariat supports the World Rabies Day, which takes place on 28 September, 2017, through the ‘Support to Pandemic Preparedness in the EAC Region’ project that is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Rabies is the most fatal virus zoonosis (disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans) known to mankind. Once an infected person shows signs, there is no cure to rabies. In Africa and Asia, many humans get infected by rabies through dog bites. The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the importance of dog vaccination as the most effective intervention against rabies, decreasing rabies in dogs and having a direct impact on public health by reducing transmission to humans.
“The planned Rabies Vaccination Initiative around the World Rabies Day is a striking example for the importance of close cooperation between human and animal medical professions and for the necessity of the One Health approach when preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases,” emphasise both, Dr Stanley Sonoiya, Head of the EAC’s Health Department, and Fahari G. Marwa, Head of the EAC’s Agriculture and Food Security Department. The EAC Secretariat strives to implement the One Health approach in the EAC Region.
The 28th of September every year is observed to commemorate World Rabies Day, a day that marks the anniversary of the demise of Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first rabies vaccine. While observing this day, we raise awareness on rabies prevention and highlight progress in the fight against rabies that puts human and animal health at risk.
Supported by the EAC Secretariat, WHO and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) among others, Mbwa Wa Africa Animal Rescue will vaccinate an estimated 5,000 dogs across 20 vaccination stations in Arusha City on World Rabies Day. In addition, Mbwa Wa Africa raises awareness in about 70 schools in Arusha on how to safely approach dogs and on how to read possible signs of rabies infection and to distinguish infected from healthy dogs. Weekly rabies awareness articles will be published in both English and Swahili newspapers.
The activities are planned in collaboration with the Arusha City Council in liaison with the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health. The EAC Secretariat intends to support the World Rabies Day 2018 celebrations in all Partner States to further emphasise the regional significance.
This is especially true for high risk cross-border areas among local communities surrounding National Parks and Game Reserves. The latter initiative will target transmission of rabies in wild dogs and foxes.
Below are the vaccination stations and respective dates.
DATE
WARD
LOCATION
30th September
Baraa
Baraa Primary School
Elerai
Elerai Primary School
Kati
Uhuru Primary School
Kimandolu
Kimandolu Primary School
Kimandolu
Suye Primary School
Levolosi
Levolosi Primary School
Sekei
Kijenge Primary School
Themi
Themi Primary School
Unga Ltd.
Unga Ltd. Primary School
Sekei
Arusha City Livestock Department
1st October
Engutoto
Njiro Hill Primary School
Lemara
Lemara Primary School
Moshono
Wema Primary School
Olasiti
Olasiti Primary School
Olorien
Olorien Primary School
Sinon
Sinon Primary School
Sokon
Sokon Primary School
Sokon
Muriet Primary School
Sokon
Ghati Memorial Primary School
Sombetini
Sombetini Primary School
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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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 23 June 2017:
The EAC Partner States have marked a major milestone in their aspiration of placing agriculture as the engine of social and economic growth in the integration process with the signing of the EAC Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Compact.
The EAC CAADP Compact details regional development priorities and defines actions, commitments and partnerships required to achieve agricultural transformation in line with the CAADP goals and targets.
Addressing officials during the singing ceremony of the EAC CAADP Compact, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo noted that the process of developing the EAC CAADP Compact has been a lengthy, inclusive and consultative one, aimed at building census and securing ownership among various stakeholders.
“The Compact is designed to facilitate coordination of regional and cross-cutting programmes that are best handled regionally and those that compliment agricultural programmes and projects at the national level in the Partner States,” added Hon. Bazivamo.
On his part, Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and Chairperson of the EAC Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Ssempijja V. Bamulangaki reaffirmed the EAC Partner States’ commitment to transforming agriculture for inclusive economic growth in the region.
“Over the years, efforts have been put in different sectors of integration such as infrastructure, it is now time that we assert ourselves, move with greater speed and ensure we take agriculture to the lead”, said the Minister.
CAADP’s overall goal is to use agriculture to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in Africa. Through the CAADP agenda, African governments have agreed to increase public investment in agriculture to 10% of national budgets per year and to raise and maintain agricultural productivity and annual growth by at least 6%.
With the vision of “A Competitive and prosperous agriculture sector in East Africa”, the EAC CAADP Compact priorities focus on considerations for accelerating agricultural growth and transformation, that targets: increased agriculture production and productivity; increased intra African regional trade and better functioning of national and regional markets; expanded local agro-industry and value chain development inclusive of women and youth; increased resilience of livelihoods and improved management of risks in agricultural sector; and improved management of natural resources for sustainable agriculture.
The priority and focus areas in the EAC Compact include sustainable natural resource use and management; rural infrastructure, ICT and trade-related capacities for improved market access; food supply and reducing hunger; agricultural research, technology dissemination and adoption; enhancing resilience of livelihoods and production systems and Management of Risks; institutional and financial Strengthening; and cross cutting issues.
The Compact was signed by the EAC Partner States, the EAC Secretariat, the Inter- University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the East Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), the East African Business Council (EABC), the East Africa Civil Society Organizations’ Forum (EACSOF), the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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Notes to Editor:
The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is an African Union (AU), Africa-owned and Africa-led initiative designed to boost agricultural productivity in Africa. It was endorsed at the African Union Heads of State Summit as a New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) programme in July 2003.
The adoption of Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation in June 2014 by the AU Summit gave renewed legitimacy and mandate to the CAADP agenda. The Malabo Declaration focuses on delivering measureable results and impact, deepening the earlier CAADP Maputo commitments, and bringing focus on the need for institutional and policy change to create an enabling environment for concerted country and regional efforts directed towards delivering agricultural transformation.
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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 19 June 2017:
The 10th meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council of Minister on Agriculture and Food Security is ongoing with the Session of Senior Officials at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Session of Senior Officials will be followed by the Coordination Committee Session which comprises Permanent/Principal Secretaries of Agriculture from the EAC Partner States on Wednesday 22nd June, 2017, and Ministers/Cabinet Secretaries Session on 23rd June, 2017.
Among the items on the agenda are consideration of the reports on Implementation of previous Council and Sectoral Council Decisions, Formulation of EAC Food Security Action Plan Phase 2 ( 2017-2021) and Development of EAC Food and Nutrition Security Strategy ( 2017-2021).
In addition on the agenda for discussion will be reports on Promoting Youth Employment in Agriculture Project as well as Livestock and Fisheries Development.
Addressing the Sectoral Council at the official opening session, Director of Productive Sector at the EAC Secretariat, Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana informed the meeting that the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) was adopted by the 9th Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security (SCAFs) in January, 2016 and subsequently approved by the 34th Council of Ministers during the same year.
Mr. Havugimana who represented Hon Christopher Bazivamo, EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sector, said the adoption EAC CAADP Compact defines regional high level commitment and agricultural transformation priorities. It focuses on facilitating coordination of regional programs that complement agricultural programs at the national level contained in national agriculture investment plans.
"I am grateful to inform you that, the approved final EAC CAADP Compact will be signed during this Sectoral Council by the designated stakeholders."
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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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 10 June 2017:
A regional inception workshop to launch the joint East African Community (EAC) and Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) Project on Youth Employment in the Agricultural Sector in the EAC kicked off in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Presiding over the opening session, Hon Christophe Bazivamo, the EAC Deputy Secretary General (DSG) in-charge of Productive and Social Sectors noted that the youth constitute the largest segment of the population across the EAC.
Hon. Bazivamo, however, said that economic growth within the Partner States was not generating enough jobs especially for the region’s ballooning number of young men and women.
“Rural poverty and food security remain persistent and are linked with this problem of jobless growth,” said Hon. Bazivamo.
The DSG informed the meeting that EAC with financial and technical support from the FAO had prioritized the promotion of youth employment in the agricultural sector as one of the Community’s flagship initiatives.
“This will be pursued under a Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) on Promoting Youth Employment in the Agricultural Sector in the EAC. The overall objective of the TCP is to contribute to reducing rural poverty and boosting economic growth by supporting the creation of better opportunities for youth in the agricultural sector,” said the DSG.
The DSG said it was unfortunate that Africa spends over $35 billion on food imports, which is a huge economic burden.
“Unless the current trend is reversed, Africa will spend $110 billion on food imports by 2025. The amount of money channeled to imports could make a big impact if invested to promote agricultural production and productivity,” he said.
He identified post-harvest food loss as one of the largest contributing factors to food and nutritional insecurity in Africa with more than 30 per cent of food produced for human consumption being lost or wasted through post-harvest losses, adding that the youth if supported could transform post-harvest losses into investment opportunities through value addition and agro-processing ventures.
The DSG urged EAC Partner States to look at agriculture in a multi-sectoral perspective, noting that Inclusive agricultural growth and transformation calls for an integrated approach.
He said that infrastructure development is critical for catalyzing transformation of the agriculture sector.
“The lack of infrastructure drives up the cost of doing business and also discourages the private sector from investing in agricultural value chains. Linkages with agro- industrialization fundamental. For instance agroprocesing would help stimulate production by expanding and enhancing access to markets.”
The DSG emphasized the need to identify youth involved in transformational agricultural initiatives so that they are recognized and rewarded, noting that this would motivate more young people to recognize that investing in agriculture was a highly profitable initiative.
Speaking at the event, Dr Patrick Kormawa, the FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and FAO Representative to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, highlighted the worrying demographic trends in the EAC.
Dr. Kormawa noted that the EAC was becoming home to an increasingly young population.
“In 2010, East Africa’s youth accounted for 45% of the total population. This number continues to grow and it is estimated that 75% of East Africa’s total population will be under the age of 34 in 2030,” said Dr. Kormawa, adding that true rural transformation cannot be accomplished in the EAC without empowering the youth as actors of change.
“FAO believes that boosting youth employment in agricultural value chains is a low hanging fruit for harvesting sustainable development, food security, and rural poverty reduction,” said the FAO official.
He cited the strong comparative advantage of FAO in supporting rural institutions and agrifood value chains, especially small-scale, self-employed and informal agricultural occupations.
“The niche of FAO lies in capacity development and institutional strengthening,” said Dr. Kormawa.
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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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 10 April 2017:
African countries have been called upon to develop the necessary tools to ensure the implementation of the June 2014 African Union Heads of State Malabo Declaration on Agriculture Growth and Transformation in Africa.
Mr. Mbosonge Mwenechanya, the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development (CAADP) Focal Point at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), said that African governments need to know where their countries were on the implementation of the Malabo Declaration and why.
Mr. Mwenechanya said that agriculture was the engine of economic growth, development and transformation for most African countries, adding that without visionary leadership, African agriculture would suffer.
Mr. Mwenechanya said that agriculture provides the most diverse base for industrialization and the biggest potential for poverty reduction and employment creation in Africa.
He said that within the COMESA region, for instance, agriculture is the source of 50% of the raw materials for industry and employs 70% of the workforce.
Mr. Mwenechanya was addressing delegates during the opening session of a five-day regional training workshop on the preparation of the Biennial Report on the Malabo Declaration in Arusha, Tanzania.
The workshop which is being attended by delegates from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda has drawn participants from CAADP Member States, African Union and three Regional Economic Communities, namely COMESA, East African Community and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.
In his remarks, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, said that the EAC had made steady progress in embracing the CAADP agenda.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Productive Sectors, Mr. Jean-Baptiste Havugimana, Hon. Bazivamo disclosed that the EAC had realized steady progress with the support of the African Union Commission, NEPAD and USAID.
“The EAC Secretariat is working closely with Partner States and has developed key CAADP instruments including the EAC CAADP Compact and Results Framework. A draft Regional Agriculture Investment Plan (RAIP) has been developed and is currently undergoing validation at the national level in the EAC Partner States,” said Hon. Bazivamo.
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Notes to Editor:
The Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is Africa’s policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity for all. In Maputo, Mozambique, in 2003, the African Union (AU) Heads of Summit made the first declaration on CAADP as an integral part of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).
The AU Summit of June 2014 gave renewed legitimacy and mandate to CAADP as Africa’s policy framework for agriculture growth and transformation for shared prosperity – the Heads of State adopted the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods.
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 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the East Africa Community (EAC) have signed a Grant Agreement intended to promote urban and rural agriculture and agribusiness to improve youth employment in the region. The total budget of the Grant is US$ 440,000 for one year.
The agreement, which took place on the margins of the 28th African Union Summit themed “Harnessing Africa’s Demographic Dividend by Investing in Youth”, was signed by Amb Libérat Mfumukeko, the Secretary General for EAC and Dr. Patrick Kormawa, the Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and FAO Representative to the AU and UN Economic Commission for Africa. The EAC Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs, Mr. Charles Njoroge accompanied Amb. Mfumukeko during the brief ceremony held at the AU Headquarters.
The agreement allows FAO and EAC to find a path for young people to secure decent work opportunities, as well as explore innovative e-business models in the agricultural sector.
Amb. Mfumukeko in his remarks highlighted the positive impact of the agreement by saying “the cooperation with FAO was long overdue, and the current support will go a long way in addressing pertinent issues in East Africa where agriculture is the way of life.”
Despite relatively high economic growth in the Partner States of the East African Community (EAC), youth unemployment remains a great concern for the region, as it slows down economies and causes social problems.
The two institutions have the tools to respond to unemployment in the EAC region. FAO has developed the expertise on youth, agriculture, livelihoods and migration. EAC, on its part, has prepared its Youth Policy, a corner stone for many emerging public and private initiatives.
Dr. Kormawa, in his address, emphasized the role of the partnership on youth “This Technical cooperation project (TCP) addresses one of the most pressing issues of job creation for youth in the sub region, we at FAO believe that youth employment in agriculture and agribusiness is a way of lifting a significant number of youth out of unemployment and poverty”, he stated.
The agreement aims to enhance the capacity of the target countries and the EAC Secretariat to develop and implement youth-in-agriculture initiatives and to improve the East African youth’s access to information, resources and employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.
Key activities of the new intervention would include the development of a sub-regional strategy and country action plans for promoting decent employment for youth in the agricultural sector; the elaboration of a framework for sustainable youth employment initiatives, the dissemination of best practices, business models and opportunities for youth, and the support to scaling e-business models in agriculture.
