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TWENTY-FOURTH REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR AFRICA

BAMAKO, MALI, 30 JANUARY – 3 FEBRUARY 2006

REPORT ON FAO ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION 2004-2005

Table of Contents

FAO Activities in the Region, with a focus on the Achievement of the World Food Summit (WFS) target and the Millennium Development Goals

Paras I. INTRODUCTION

1 - 3

II. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS

4 – 14

III. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTED AND ON-GOING PROGRAMME OF WORK 2004-2005

a. Natural Resources (water resources, soil) 15 - 17 b. Crops Production, Crop Protection, Pasture 18 - 24c. Livestock 25 - 24 d. Agricultural Support Systems 25 - 33e. Research and Technology 34 -35 f. Agricultural Extension, Education and Communication 36 -38 g. Gender & Development and Population/HIV/AIDS 39 -40 h. Rural Development 41 - 42i. Food and Agricultural Information, Monitoring and Analysis 43 - 45j. Food and Nutrition 46 k. Food and Agricultural Policy 47 - 50l. Fisheries 51 m. Forestry 52 - 61n. Co-operation with Regional and Sub-regional Economic Organizations 62 - 67o. Co-operation with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society

Organisations (CSOs) and Farmers Organisations (FOs)

68 -69

IV. FAO SPECIAL PROGRAMMES Emergency Interventions (Livestock diseases): EMPRES 70 Emergency Prevention (Desert Locust) Programme Emergency Centre for Locust Operations (ECLO) Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS)

71 72

Technical Cooperation between Developing Countries (TCDC) 72

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Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) 73 Regional Programme for Food Security (RPFS) 74 South-South Cooperation (SSC) 75 Telefood

76

V. ARRANGEMENTS FOR MID-TERM REVIEW IN 2006 OF THE WFS ACTION PLAN

77 - 78

VI. FUTURE PROGRAMME ORIENTATION TO FACE PRIORITY ISSUES IN THE REGION

a. The Problem 79 - 81b. Regional Priorities 82 -84 c. Synthesis and Activities

85 -89

VII. CONCLUSION 90

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I. INTRODUCTION 1. The political will of African Leaders to “fast track” their efforts towards accelerating the reduction of hunger and poverty and move towards the WFS targets and the MDG goals was reiterated in the AU Summit Sirte Declaration (February 2004) on the challenges of implementing integrated and sustainable development of agriculture and water in Africa. This was renewed in 2005 at the AU Summit in Sirte, with a strong commitment to promote a number of activities including: i) rural economy and agriculture to raise the level of productivity, improve food security and enhance living conditions in rural Africa; ii) prudent management of natural resources and the environment; iii) mainstreaming of gender and trade policy into national development strategies. FAO activities in 2004-2005 biennium were also focused on the achievement of the World Food Summit target and the Millennium Development Goals. These efforts recognize and address the need for Africa to utilize its full potential to increase its food and agriculture production so as to guarantee sustainable food security and enhance economic prosperity for its people. II. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS 2. The Twenty-third Regional Conference for Africa held in Johannesburg, South Africa in March 2004 recommended for the attention of FAO the following: • Focus Country statements on key success stories to share with others. • Adopt the sub-regional approach when implementing country programmes of high interest to neighbouring countries because of the cross-border implications. • Assist member countries to develop sustainable approaches to soil fertility improvement based on integrated natural resources management and greater integration of crop-livestock systems. • Assist member countries in better articulating and defining the scope and application of the 10% budget allocation for investment in agriculture and rural development. • Ensure that apart from cassava and rice, other important staple crops such as maize are given due emphasis in CAADP, and undertake research to diversify in the long-term, diets in countries where maize is the main food commodity. • Continue technical assistance to Member Countries towards the work on grain reserves. • NEPAD, FARA, FAO, and other stakeholders to work out details of holding sub-regional conferences on agricultural research and extension and to report on progress made. • Governments, FAO and international partners to give particular attention to the identification of appropriate alternative solutions to the bush meat crisis in Africa and to help implement them in collaboration with local communities.

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• Development partners (UNAIDS, WHO, FAO, World Bank) in close cooperation with NEPAD to increase their budget allocation to strengthen the institutional capacity to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic through increasing collaboration with Governments, NGOs and Civil Society. • Provide support to NGO/CSO/FOs to: enable their effective participation in the NEPAD/CAADP and SPFS; contribute to the strengthening of the International Planning Committee (IPC) networking in the Africa Region; assist them in mobilizing resources required for the implementation of their activities; and designate focal points for FAO-NGO/CSO relations in the FAO country offices. 3. The actions taken by FAO on these recommendations may be summarized thus: 4. Following consultations with its field-based offices, member countries and other stakeholders, FAO has made a number of recommendations to improve the organisation and conduct of Regional Conferences, including the ARC, with a view to making them a more effective forum for discussing issues of common interest among member countries. In this connection, FAO has suggested to replace “Country Statements” with discussion and debate on a pre-selected pressing issue in the Region or alternatively with a round table with member countries grouped along the lines of the Regional Economic Organisations. Consultations with member states continue on the subject. As an interim solution for 2006 an AU Ministerial meeting on food security has been organized. 5. Concerning the adoption of sub-regional approaches, field programmes significantly shifted from individual country projects to regional/sub-regional projects, as is the case with forestry, while strong emphasis has been put on adopting regional/sub-regional approaches to addressing issues. In this context FAO has provided support to Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania in developing transboundary agro-ecosystem management programme for the Lower Kagera basin. A Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) methodology and toolkits are being developed by country parties and regional bodies in relation with TerrAfrica Initiative. 6. Within the framework of resolution ARC/04/RES on fertilizer development, FAO in collaboration with NEPAD secretariat has prepared a Plan of Action for the NEPAD; carried out, in close collaboration with the African Centre for Fertilizer Development, an assessment of the implications of fertilizer supply, in the implemention of CAADP priority projects in SADC. 7. FAO has also organized a meeting where a Technical Expert Group (TEG) representing WB, FAO, IMF, AfDB and NEPAD was created. Assistance was provided to NEPAD/AU in formulating and implementing a project to track national budgetary allocations to agriculture and rural infrastructure. Some countries have allocated HIPIC funds to investments in the agricultural sector. Moreover, within the framework of CAADP, FAO has assisted some 50 African Member Countries to formulate bankable investment projects for agriculture and rural infrastructure. 8. FAO has also formulated the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) pilot and expansion phases and provided technical support to the implementation of the water control components of the ongoing projects in over twelve countries in West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. In collaboration with the International Water Management

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Institute, FAO has carried out Country studies to identify measures to promote irrigation of agricultural production in peri-urban and urban areas devoid of environmental and health risks. 9. In addition, FAO has formulated 3 projects and assisted in implementation of 5 rice production projects in West and Central Africa. FAO has also initiated consultations with FARA and NEPAD Secretariat to develop a common strategy on agricultural research and extension (AR&E) for Africa and participated in a workshop on the subject during the third FARA Plenary in June 2005 in Entebbe. 10. A Regional Bushmeat Conference was organised by FAO in February 2005 in Ghana to address, inter alia sanitary and disease risks associated with bushmeat consumption. As a follow up, a bushmeat Plan of Action is being developed, through which series of studies and decisions at political and legal levels will be commissioned. 11. The Organisation has adopted an innovative strategy for addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS and other poverty related diseases on the agricultural and rural economies of Africa. This strategy focuses on five priority areas of intervention: strengthening national capacity, improving access and adoption of technology, strengthening the capacity of local governance structures, empowering vulnerable communities, and policy dialogue and advocacy. 12. FAO has organized Farmers’ Organizations’ (FOs) consultative workshops in selected African countries, to enable NGO/CSO/FOs to make their contribution to the NEPAD process at the national level. The Organization also facilitated national meetings in selected countries as follow-up to the 4th FAO-NGO/CSO Consultation and assisted in the formulation of TCP proposals for FOs’ capacity building in Angola, Burundi and Ghana. FAO also assisted in the designation of national focal points for the IPC network in most countries and in setting up the “Central Africa Farmers’ Organizations Platform (PROPAC)” in 2005. An NGO/CSO consultation will take place on 27-29 January 2006 in Bamako, immediately before the 24th ARC. III. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTED AND ONGOING PROGRAMME OF WORK 2004-2005

a. Natural Resources (water resources, soil)

13. With reference to MDG1 (Poverty and Hunger Reduction), the SPFS pilot and expansion phases were formulated and technical support was provided to the implementation of the water control components of the on-going projects in over 20 countries in the region. A regional programme to support small-scale irrigation development in the CILSS member countries was prepared. Water and irrigation policy review and reform was undertaken in several countries. The assessment of the socio-economic impact of irrigated peri-urban and urban agriculture is on-going, while training was provided and policy seminars were held within the framework of “Cities farming for Future”. 14. In support to fertilizers development in Africa, FAO prepared an action plan for the NEPAD Secretariat and continued collaboration with The World Bank in Strategy Assessment. Activities carried out covered soil fertility management (Niger, Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania…) and conservation agriculture (Lesotho, Tanzania, Eritrea,

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Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and Mozambique). In the framework of the East and Southern Africa Sub-committee activities, a regional training course on the new world soil classification system and land use planning for agricultural production was organized. The Integrated Plant and Nutrients Information System has been extended to some 12 countries1. The TerrAfrica Initiative, an investment program in sustainable land management through a global partnership (World Bank, GEF, FAO, Donors, countries…) was formulated. 15. Technical support was provided to SADC countries in articulating natural resources management interventions for improved drought resilience and food security (MDG7). FAO is providing support to Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania to develop a transboundary agro-ecosystem management programme; similar assistance is being given for the sustainable management of natural resources within a shared watershed in the transborder Onchocerciasis-Freed Zone (Burkina Faso and Ghana); and the joint FAO/IWMI/IUCN/UNEP project on sustainable management of inland wetlands in Southern Africa.

b. Crop Production, Crop Protection, Pasture

16. In the area of crop production, FAO is supporting through participatory field activities the introduction and development of integrated production systems (PRODS/PAIA) in cotton-cereal-livestock systems in Burkina Faso in a pilot effort to enhance production, transformation and marketing of agricultural products. A primary focus is on the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) aiming at economic, social and environmental sustainability as well as food safety, from the farm level upwards along the food chain. FAO has also assisted in launching urban and peri-urban agriculture strategies with the aim of integrating horticulture, small livestock and aquaculture activities as components of the urban and peri-urban environment management and food supply process. Training and demonstration for micro-garden technologies has been arranged for NGOs and women’s groups in Guinea, Senegal, Gabon, Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Through TCPs, assistance was also provided to countries in West and Central Africa (Senegal, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burundi) in support to the implementation of the Global Cassava Development Strategy. 17. In Crop protection, FAO has provided financial and technical support through sub-regional IPM programmes in West Africa for rice, cotton and vegetable systems and in Eastern Africa for maize, beans, cotton and banana systems. The IPM Farmer Field School (FFS) programme in DR Congo expanded from western provinces affected by transboundary cassava mosaic disease to southern and eastern provinces. Pilot Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM) FFS programmes in Nigeria and Cameroon were started in legume systems managed largely by women farmers. In Uganda, FAO supports a national programme on transboundary banana bacterial wilt, which links to neighbouring countries where that disease is also a severe threat.

1 Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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18. FAO continued its role of coordination of locust control and information exchange. It also continued to support the establishment of locust control services through EMPRES [see para 71]. Within the framework of FAO's efforts to control the locusts in West and North West Africa, FAO has established Quality and Environmental Safety of Treatments (QUEST) teams in locust-affected countries under its Emergency Centre for Locust Operations (ECLO). These teams will monitor the impact of toxic chemicals used for large-scale locust control, with a view to mitigating negative effects on human health and the environment. FAO is also actively investigating alternatives to full-cover chemical pesticides, including biopesticides and barrier sprays, so that locust control will become more environmentally friendly. 19. FAO continued to build capacity of African countries to establish and strengthen phytosanitary systems in line with the International Plant Protection Convention. The Secretariat of the IPPC provided for regional meetings to discuss draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs).It also provided support to UEMOA in the formulation of legal framework for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Legislation. 20. Support was given to the CILSS Comité Sahélien des Pesticides for the registration of pesticides and the implementation of the Rotterdam Convention. 21. Support is also being provided to the Obsolete Pesticides Disposal Programme and the Africa Stockpiles Programme, designed to eliminate all obsolete pesticides in 12-15 years and build capacity for pesticide management.. FAO publishes the Pesticide Newsletter created under this programme. 22. For Pasture, FAO prepared various technical extension documents to promote the production and conservation of forage for livestock feed for the dry season in resources limited environments. It is also pursing the preparation of country pasture profiles initiated in 2003 to attract investments in livestock production.

c. Livestock

23. FAO is closely cooperating with the AU through its technical division of the Interafrican Bureau of Animal Resources (IBAR). Several domains of animal production and health as well as institutional and policy issues are concerned. With regard to animal health FAO is involved in the Pan-African Control of Epizootics (PACE) Programme and particularly the eradication of Rinderpest. An other area of collaboration is with the AU’s Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) . FAO houses the secretariat of the Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT) and through it, continues to support PATTEC and the Member Countries in organising meetings and giving technical and scientific advice. FAO cooperates in many other animal health areas such as on other vectorial diseases than trypanosomiases, zoonotic diseases or Avian Influenza (see below). 24. In the field animal production, most African countries have prepared national reports on their animal genetic resources in the context of the on-going preparation of the First Report on the World’s Animal Genetic Resources and the negotiation of corresponding priority actions. Dairy development projects were carried out in a number of countries. In the context of the international Livestock, Environment and Development Initiative (LEAD), FAO operates various regional projects, partially GEF - funded, on

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livestock – wildlife - environment interactions, including on livestock impact on the water resource. With regard to livestock policy work, an EC-funded project on pro-poor livestock policy development and negotiation is executed by the Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Initiative (PPLPI) in the Horn of Africa through IGAD. The organisation of animal production and health services and the promotion of livestock and livestock product market access are also areas of continuous collaboration between FAO and the AU.

d. Agricultural Support Systems

25. Several activities have been undertaken in support of MDG 1 achievement and are briefly described below. 26. As part of FAO’s efforts to promote conservation agriculture technologies in the region, awareness creation TCP projects have been completed in 6 countries. Conservation agriculture activities are also being supported under the Emergency Programmes in 4 countries. The 3rd World Congress on Conservation Agriculture was hosted in Kenya in October 2005. 27. An agricultural mechanisation strategy and action plan is being formulated in Benin and a mechanization support project has been completed in Zimbabwe. FAO has signed a Letter of Agreement with the SADC to conduct a study on mechanisation of agriculture. 28. Technical support was provided to countries in the region in post-harvest activities, marketing, rural finance, farmer organisation record-keeping and business planning and agribusiness training, farm management and business planning and livestock marketing. A number of studies were carried out in the region on innovative financial linkages in rural areas between formal and informal financial institutions. 29. FAO has also organised several studies and meetings in Eastern and Southern Africa, to promote marketing and enterprise development including: a study on Capacity Building in Horticultural Produce Chains focusing on Good Agricultural Practices on pre-post harvest practices; a Sub-regional workshop for NGOs and Farmer Organizations on Agricultural Marketing and Enterprise Development; and a workshop for horticultural produce associations of 11 countries involved in exports which culminated in the establishment of a Sub-Regional Network of Horticultural Produce Exporters. 30. Special attention was given to strengthening farmer organizations especially Farmer Field Schools (FFS). A study on Strengthening Agribusiness Linkages was conducted in Kenya and subsequent support was provided for training in agribusiness linkages and actual establishment of agri-business linkages with the private sector. Similar studies on marketing and production of training materials were given to Tanzania through support to SPFS. FAO is collaborating with SADC FANR in a study of Contract farming in 4 countries. 31. Field programmes were supported through improved farm management and planning of participating farm communities in Botswana and Kenya. A workshop to appraise rural local information networks for farm planning was held in Ghana. A farm management training course specifically targeted to African circumstances was prepared to support in-service extension agent training.

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32. Multidisciplinary missions were fielded to two post-conflict countries (Sierra Leone, Liberia) to assist develop projects to jumpstart agricultural development in these countries, including crop rehabilitation and youth employment. 33. Agro-processing projects have commenced in Ghana for oil palm and tomatoes, and Nigeria for cassava, rice, oil palm, sorghum and millet. Proposals incorporating the strategy to establish commodity-based Agro-Processing Promotion Centres have been formulated for adoption by on-going and new projects -often the SPFS- in several countries.

e. Research and Technology

34. In support of FAO’s commitment to assist member countries to attain MDG 1, Research and Technology support was provided to 24 countries in Western, Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, in the field of: • capacity-building in the development of national policy in biotechnology and in the strengthening of national biosafety systems including development and implementation of regulations, training of personnel of regulatory bodies in risk analysis of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and upgrading of laboratory capacities; • capacity-building in research organization and management through strengthening of institutional capacities of National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS); • identification of research gaps, needs and opportunities of relevance to member countries and developing strategies to improve the application of biotechnology. • development or updating of relevant databases, including: (i) The database of Proven Transferable Technologies (TECA), (ii) The Database of Biotechnologies in use in Developing Countries (FAO-BioDec), (iii) The Glossary of Biotechnology for Food & Agriculture, and (iv) The Agricultural Funding Guide. 35. FAO organized a Special Event on “Green Revolution in Africa” as a side event of the “31st Session of the Committee on World Food Security” (MDG4).

f. Agricultural Extension, Education and Communication

36. In support to MDG 1 and WFS Commitment 6, FAO continues to provide technical assistance to agricultural extension programmes. At national level, the Organisation developed, for example, training packages in support of HIV/AIDS mitigation (MDG 6) actions by agricultural extension agents (Ghana) and supported many countries in the elaboration of a national rural youth policy (MDG 2). In support of MDG 8, it prepared a proposal (SADC region) for consideration by the 2005 Donor Conference on the NEPAD/CAADP Multi-Country Agricultural Productivity Programme focussing on institutional reform for extension service systems and it organised a regional meeting parallel to the 3rd General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), discussing innovative research – extension partnerships for more effective support to food security and poverty alleviation programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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37. Technical assistance was provided to selected tertiary agricultural education institutes in building their staff capacity and in curriculum development. Examples include support to: the Faculty of Science and Agriculture of the newly established University of the Gambia; the establishment of the Lesotho Institute of Agricultural Development (LIAD); and reform of the National Institute for Farming Promotion of Equatorial Guinea. 38. Capacity building of FAO staff was enhanced through informal in-house working groups on best extension practices and two training programmes for Assistant FAO Representatives in the SAFR sub-region to strengthen staff capabilities in Participation-Centred Development-Livelihoods (PCD-L) for enhanced support to programme and project development (WFS, Commitment 3).

g. Gender & Development and Population / HIV/AIDS

39. FAO continued to support Member Countries2 to enhance the collection of gender disaggregated data, in the framework of National agricultural surveys and censuses, as such data are required for the planning, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable agricultural development programmes as well as a fact based monitoring and reporting on achievements made in poverty reduction and attaining MDGs 1 and 3. As such the organisation provided technical assistance, human resources capacity building training courses and guidance on retabulation of existing data. Progress achieved in this regard by the African continent is reflected in a new publication on the Lessons Learned. 40. Selected Member Countries have completed a policy document entitled “Gender and Agricultural Development Strategy” with FAO’s technical and financial assistance (WFS Commitment 2). Implementation of these policies is being promoted through the preparation of training programmes aiming at strengthening planners’ capacity in the use of socio-economic and gender analysis tools. More and more of such programmes also address the need to integrate HIV/AIDS mitigation action in agricultural development interventions.

h. Rural Development 41. In areas of institutional strengthening and land tenure in support of sustainable agriculture and rural development (contributing to MDG 1, 7, 8 and WFS Commitments 1, 2, and 3), capacity building has been promoted along with policy engagement of rural producer organisations and networks, rural support services, local governance structures, and relevant Ministries in decentralisation contexts. Initiatives include: legal, policy and institutional advice to improve knowledge sharing and capacities of smallholder producers in Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau, and Maghreb; strengthening producer organisations, including “Support to Farmer Organisations in Burkina Faso” and “Projets Intrants” in Niger; supporting disabled persons and rural youth in Sierra Leone; supporting the computerization of the cooperative sector in Kenya; enhancing public institutions through decentralised restructuring and capacity building in Rwanda, Djibouti, and DRC, and initiatives to develop field programs to strengthen decentralised

2 Botswana, Guinea, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Tanzania, Uganda, Swaziland and Zambia.

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approaches to disaster and risk management in Niger, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Mozambique, Madagascar and Somalia . 42. FAO has provided considerable technical advice and support toward improving access and security of land rights, and promoting decentralised participatory and natural resource management processes and institutions including: land issues in Madagascar and in Namibia; and in Niger and Mali on Pastoral Charters ; decentralised land administration with the World Bank in Ghana ; property rights targeted at women and persons infected with HIV/AIDS in Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe, and advice on adaptive sustainable community based natural resource management approaches including conflict mediation and socio-territorial planning in Angola and Mozambique and in Ghana.

i. Food and Agricultural Information, Monitoring and Analysis

43. FAO continues to support member countries’ efforts to develop and strengthen capacities in agricultural and rural statistics; standardize agricultural statistics and manage agricultural information resources, through field projects, direct assistance and training. FAO organized several meetings and training workshops, among them two regional workshops on “Electronic Production of Agricultural Documents and Bibliographic Database Management” in Accra (March 2004) and Nairobi (May 2004), a Regional Seminar on the Development of Integrated Agricultural Statistics Systems in Support of Food Security Policies and Programmes, Accra (September 2005), and the Nineteenth Session of the African Commission on Agricultural Statistics, on the "The State of Food and Agricultural Statistical Systems in Africa" in Maputo (October 2005). 44. FAO has published the first issue of “Africa: Statistical Yearbook and Selected Indicators of Food and Agriculture” covering the period 1993-2003. Work on the second issue of the publication is underway. FAO has also undertaken a comprehensive review and modernisation of its World Database on Agriculture, FAOSTAT. Within this process, it has developed CountrySTAT as a country specific version of the new FAOSTAT. Furthermore, the Organisation has developed the new World Programme for the Census of Agriculture 2010 with a new integrated and modular approach. 45. The Organization also continued to support initiatives aimed at strengthening early warning and food security information systems in the context of building national food insecurity and vulnerability information and mapping systems (FIVIMS). Several national level projects focusing on developing improved methodologies have been initiated to assess and monitor food security as well as enhancing institutional and coordination structures to support a more holistic analysis of food security issues.

j. Food and Nutrition 46. During the period, the main activities undertaken are as follows:

• Support for the development and implementation of Plans of Action for Nutrition (NPANs) finalized in over 23 countries with draft plans available in almost 19.

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• Joint FAO/Consumer International Regional Workshop on balancing safety and livelihood in the area of Street vended foods in Eastern and Southern Africa, Malawi, June 2005.

• FAO/WHO established Trust Fund to support participation of selected African

countries to the work of the Codex.

• A course on production and utilisation of food composition data and the 6th International food data conference in Durban, South Africa in September 2005; assistance to selected countries in developing national food composition table for use in the promotion of local/indigenous food (Lesotho, Benin,…….)

• Joint FAO/WHO regional conference on practical actions to promote Food Safety

for Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe, October 2005, which recommended a five-year strategic plan for food safety for Africa.

• Sub-regional workshop on improving the quality and Safety of fresh fruits and

vegetables, Arusha, Tanzania, October 2005.

• Joint WFP/FAO Dietary and Micronutrient and Diversification Project in Malawi.

• Promotion of food security, nutrition and agriculture sectors interventions to help mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Lesotho and Malawi, and livelihood in Zambia, Ethiopia and Mozambique.

• Formulating and implementing food control development projects in selected

countries (Gambia, Tanzania, Guinea, etc.).

• Regional programme for ECOWAS Countries in Food quality and safety emphasizing good manufacturing practices.

• Organization and participation in the Codex Alimentarius Statutory sessions held

in Rome, and the workshop in Madagascar.

• Preparation and review of food safety profiles of various countries to assess food safety management systems in Africa.

• Organization in 2005 of two regional clarification workshops on WTO negotiating issues bringing together trade negotiators and policy makers from 43 countries.

• Contribution to WTO and other partners’ workshops/seminars to promote

collaboration among member countries and facilitate intra and inter-regional networking.

k. Food and Agricultural Policy

47. Policy support was provided to priority areas including: macro and sector policy reform; increased competitiveness and agricultural trade, regional integration; sustainable natural resources management; financing agriculture; rural development; and technology-policy interface. A major study was conducted on Agriculture Development and Food

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Security in SSA: Building a Case for More Support, the outcome of which was reviewed during a high level workshop in Nairobi (September 2005). 48. Support was provided for specific policy issues including: Agricultural Sector reviews, constraints analysis; updates of policies and strategies, and preparation of policy frameworks for the agriculture sector. Technical assistance was provided to selected countries in the preparation and finalization of specific policy frameworks including, Agricultural Development Strategy-Horizon 2015; PRSPs, UNDAF; CAADP Medium Term Investment Plans; and Food Security Strategies. 49. Regional Economic Communities were also assisted in the NEPAD/CAADP implementation planning process, especially in reaching agreement on rules and procedures for project preparation and resource mobilisation as well as coherence between CAADP pillars, RPFS, regional policies and action plans and the preparation of priority investment programmes. 50. FAO facilitated the holding of regional training workshops on policy review, monitoring, identification of priorities and policy measures for rural development at country level; and identification of options for UTF projects/programme for rural development. Further support was provided for the preparation of a regional framework in support of youth reintegration in the agricultural sector and the promotion of rural entrepreneurship.

l. Fisheries

51. During the period, the main fisheries-related activities undertaken in the region are as follows:

• providing assistance to 27 countries in Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa and implementing 9 projects including implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme in 25 West and Central African countries;

• organising statutory meetings including: the 3rd and 4th sessions of the Scientific

Sub-Committee of the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), 17th session of CECAF, and the 13th session of the Committee for the Inland Fisheries of Africa;

• organising technical meetings including the reviews of small-scale aquaculture

and cage culture as well as an overall review of aquaculture in Africa; • responding to requests from member nations on elaboration of aquaculture

development strategies as well as assisting countries with the adoption of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and collaborating with ECOWAS on formulating a regional fisheries policy;

• promoting collaboration among member countries by supporting regional and sub-

regional organisations and facilitating intra and inter-regional networking and information exchange.

m. Forestry

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52. The 14th Session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC) and the 15th Session of the Working Party on the Management of Wildlife and Protected Areas were held in Accra, in 2004, together with a regional workshop and several side events. 53. The national forest programme (NFPS) processes of 24 different African countries received support through the National Forest Programme Facility hosted by FAO. 54. Under the FAO-Netherlands Partnership Programme (FNPP) for 2004-2007, activities have started in 6 countries and with COMIFAC (Commission in charge of forests in Central Africa), strengthening national policy frameworks and institutional arrangements. 55. Support to Forestry Research has continued through the Forestry Research Network for Sub-Saharan Africa (FORNESSA), assisted by FAO, which in turn has contributed to the development of the Global Forest Information Service (GFIS) in Africa. 56. Two regional meetings were organized in 2004 to review of the FRA 2005 survey. 57. FAO assisted in the preparation of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Companion Document for Forestry, Fisheries and Livestock, which is part of NEPAD. 58. Delegates from the region benefited from strong technical assistance provided by FAO in the preparation of a Position paper for COFO 17, held in 2005. 59. A regional action plan was drafted to harmonize strategies for addressing the bushmeat crisis; a website was developed to facilitate the dissemination of information on the subject; and FAO provided support to ICRAF for production of bulletin on agroforestry in the Sahel. 60. In collaboration with Conservation International, FAO conducted a pilot project to investigate solutions to human-wildlife conflicts, notably the consumption of agricultural crops by elephants. 61. Collaboration with REIOs was undertaken in various areas of sustainable forest management. Ten project proposals were formulated during the biennium, including nine to be financed by FAO’s TCP.

n. Co-operation with Regional and Sub-regional Economic Organizations 62. At the continental level, FAO provided support to the African Union Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture in the preparation of its Strategic Plan.

63. FAO supported the SADC Secretariat in preparing for the Extraordinary Summit on Food Security held in Tanzania in May 2004 and in coordinating the preparation of 14 project proposals covering various thematic categories as well as a consolidated background paper/presentation for the April 2006 SADC-Donor Consultative Conference.

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64. In East Africa, negotiations were concluded in 2005 with AU/IBAR (Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources) and IGAD, to install the regional hub of FAO’s Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Initiative (PPLPI) in Nairobi.

65. FAO interaction with COMESA (2005) led to the identification of priority areas for FAO assistance to the Secretariat consistent with COMESA’s Agricultural Strategy covering: irrigation and fisheries development; agricultural marketing and regional integration; livestock promotion and disease control and; improvement of early warning systems, food quality and safety standards and food reserves.

66. In West Africa, support was provided to UEMOA in the implementation of its RPFS largely funded by the organization itself through a trust fund project. Cooperation with CILSS resulted in the preparation of a small-scale regional irrigation programme. Cooperation with ECOWAS covered support to the formulation of their Common Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) and its action plans, including its forestry and fisheries policy components, in line with their RPFS and the NEPAD/CAADP framework. FAO support included also the preparation of a regional priority investment programme for agriculture and food security.

67. FAO assistance to ECCAS in Central Africa concentrated on the identification of RPFS investment priority areas in the framework of the NEPAD/CAADP implementation and a proposed African Development Bank RPFS project for the sub-region. Support to CEMAC concerned the finalization of the document on Common Agriculture Strategy for the member countries.

o. Co-operation with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Farmers Organisations (FOs)

68. During the biennium, FAO activities were aimed at pursuing effective tripartite dialogue with NGOs/CSOs/FOs and the Governments at national, sub-regional and regional level. Various workshops involving stakeholders were organized at national and sub-regional levels to discuss, among others, the participation of NGOs/CSO/FOs in the NEPAD/CAADP implementation process. 69. FAO also assisted Farmers Organisations in developing capacity building project proposals to be funded under the TCP. Other activities in the region included the reinforcement of NGOs/CSOs/FOs networking capacities through the IPC (International Planning Committee) network at national, sub-regional and regional levels. A Platform for Central African Farmers Organisations (PROPAC), including those from the ECCAS countries was established in 2005 and is currently operational. IV. FAO SPECIAL PROGRAMMES 70. Emergency Intervention (Livestock diseases): The EMPRES programme continues to be very active and successful in the area of national emergency preparedness; the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) control project in eight West African member countries, is reflective of the programme’s dynamism. The project assisted in the identification and characterization of the FMD viruses circulating in the sub-region with a

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view to developing a virus type specific vaccine to help control the disease. FAO has also established the Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) which is dealing with AU/IBAR in preventing the introduction of Avian Influenza in Africa. FAO has started to implement surveillance activities through three Regional TCPs (Western/Central Africa, East/Southern Africa and North Africa) on HPAI prevention and control. 71. Emergency Prevention (Desert Locust): The EMPRES (Desert Locust) programme has continued to operate in 9 countries around the Red Sea, 6 of which are in Africa. A fully-developed donor-supported field programme in this Central Region has been under way since 1997 and is now in its third phase. In 2004, the improved preparedness brought about by the programme allowed the locust upsurge in the region to be dealt with efficiently. In 2006, in the interests of sustainability, the programme will be taken over by the participating countries under the coordination of the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region. An equivalent programme in 9 countries in West and Northwest Africa (the Western Region) has been carrying out pilot activities since 1997, but a full field programme is being launched with donor support from the beginning of 2006. EMPRES (Desert Locust) seeks to strengthen national, regional and international capacities for early warning and early reaction, so that events such as the 2004 upsurge can be suppressed also in the Western Region more quickly , at less cost and with greater environmental friendliness. 72. ECLO (Emergency Center for Locust Operations) was re-established in August 2004 to manage a Desert Locust upsurge which came to affect 17 countries in North, West and East Africa. Over US$80 million were received by FAO from donors to reinforce national response capabilities with appropriate pesticides, aerial application services, equipment for locust surveys and control, operational support and consultancies. FAO coordinated the efforts of all partners, including, where possible, that of bilateral donors. The overall result was that 13 million hectares of Desert Locust infestations were controlled between October 2003 and October 2005. This effort, combined with unfavourably dry and cold conditions during the winter of 2004/2005, succeeded in breaking the cycle of locust plague development.

73.. GIEWS (Global Information and Early Warning System- on food and agriculture) continues to warn Governments of the Region and the international community of imminent food crises, so that timely interventions can be planned and suffering avoided. Joint FAO/WFP/CILSS missions were carried in the Sahel in October-November 2004 to assess the impact of the Desert Locust invasion on agricultural production and food security in the 9 CILSS member countries. Joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment missions have also been conducted in several countries of southern Africa and of the Horn of Africa. 74. TCDC activities continued to extend and strengthen with 95 assignments undertaken during the biennium. Some 30 African countries actively took part in the programme and provided TCDC Experts to assist other countries of the region, while 40 countries received TCDC experts under the Programme.

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75. SPFS towards NFSP (National Food Security Programmes): In line with MDG focus and objectives, the SPFS continued to grow in the biennium; 44 African countries were participating in 2005 – which is an indication of the growing commitment to fight hunger and poverty through action oriented food security initiatives. As a follow-up to the recommendation of the Oversight Panel and the External Evaluation, food security activities are being up scaled to the national level; such a process has already started in 23 countries in the region and 13 other countries are planned for 2006. While assisting governments in designing NFSP, FAO seeks full integration with the national PRSP and consistency with targets of the WFS and the MDGs, in particular Goal One concerning poverty and hunger. With regard to the programme scope, renewed emphasis is placed both on production and access aspects of food security – the twin track approach; while in terms of programme scale and nation wide coverage, millions of farm families are targeted to directly participate in food security initiatives as compared to the few thousands of the initial phase. 76. Regional Programmes for Food Security (RPFS): FAO’s support to the design and implementation of comprehensive food security programmes at country level is complemented by support at regional level through Regional Economic Organizations – REOs, geared to the removal of economic constraints at regional level and to the development of trade opportunities at international level. FAO has assisted some 9 REOs in Africa in the formulation of RPFS; one programme is under implementation in West Africa (UEMOA). 77. South-South Cooperation (SSC): Currently 25 SSC agreements have been signed in the region and, in any one time within the biennium, close to 500 SSC specialists were working along side farmers and fishermen in the recipient African countries. This has provided opportunity to harness historical and cultural synergies among developing countries; through combining FAO, bilateral and multilateral support to participating developing countries, SSC broadens and supplements the intrinsically shorter-term technical cooperation. 78. TeleFood: TeleFood programme has been implemented in 39 African countries where over 900 Poor Community and TeleFood projects, with an average budget of US $ 7000 each, have targeted small community groups such as agricultural cooperatives, women’s associations, fisherfolk and pastoralists groups as well as schools and hospitals by providing inputs in support of small, entrepreneurial activities. V. ARRANGEMENTS FOR MID TERM REVIEW IN 2006 OF THE WFS ACTION PLAN. 79. The WFS Plan of Action calls on “governments, in partnership with all actors of civil society, in coordination with relevant international institutions and, in conformity with ECOSOC Resolution 1996/36 on the follow-up to the major international UN conferences and summits, as appropriate,” to, inter alia, “(h) By 2006, undertake, in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and within available resources, a major broad-based progress assessment of the implementation of the WFS Plan of Action and a mid-term review of achieving the target of reducing the number of undernourished people to half their present level no later than 2015. This progress assessment and review should be in the context of a special forum of a regular session of the CFS and involve active participation from governments, relevant international organizations and actors of civil society.”

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80. In line with FAO’s commitment to adopt the multi-stakeholder dialogue process in preparing for the Special Forum during the CFS, the Arrangements for the Mid-term Review will be an agenda item in the NGO/CSO consultation of 27-29 February 2006. The summary outcome of the NGO/CSO consultation will be communicated as a specific input to the Special Forum. Attached in the annex to this report is the documentation framework for the Special Forum on the follow-up to the WFS Plan of Action, to be held during the 32nd regular session of the CFS in 2006. VI. FUTURE PROGRAMME ORIENTATION TO FACE PRIORITY ISSUES IN THE REGION

a. The Problem 81. Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa faces the challenge of being competitive enough to meet the demands on food and trade requirements, or take advantage of the opportunities that are available in high value markets for agricultural commodities and services. Africa does not seem to have the know-how to let this happen, and agricultural sectors are still inadequately supported. 82. The over-arching issue in the Africa region is the insufficient progress in combating hunger and malnutrition and approaching the WFS target and the MDG of reducing the number of hungry people by half by 2015. 83. The relatively modest results of African agriculture are symptomatic of inadequate investments in human resources, agricultural infrastructure, research and popularization networks as well as an inadequate long term management of crises.

h. Regional Priorities

84. Within the framework of a more decentralized and user-focused framework, FAO’s main thematic cross-cutting priorities for the region include development of sustainable approaches to natural resource management (land and water, forest, etc.), especially through participatory approaches; support to policy development in capacity building, gender differentiation, mitigation of HIV-AIDS impacts, and database and network development for sustainable development of agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries. Increased productivity and competitiveness will be the focus of attention in the priority issues to address in the short to medium term in the region. Agriculture Mechanization, Integrated production systems for diversification and income generation are also of priority. 85. Requirements to achieve the above will include the enhancement of technical cooperation among member countries, promotion of regional cooperation and integration, intra and inter-regional networking and trade in agriculture products, improvement of capacities of sub-regional and regional organizations, and the development of networking with knowledge institutions in the region. 86. FAO has collaborated with the NEPAD Secretariat since 2002 in the preparation of the CAADP and its companion document on fisheries, livestock and forestry sub sectors. Although the organization remains committed to assist in its implementation at national and regional levels, the process needs to be speeded up considerably. In this

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connection, National Medium-Term Investment Programmes (NMTIPs) and Bankable Investment Project Profiles (BIPPs) have been prepared, with FAO’s assistance, for use by countries for increased national investment in agriculture and in their dialogue with bilateral and multilateral development partners. Support to the preparation and implementation of regional investment programmes should be reinforced, through the REC, the NEPAD Secretariat and the AU, to emphasize in particular synergies between SPFS, RPFS, and the CAAPD priorities.

i. Synthesis and Activities

87. To address the deficiencies, FAO activities will focus on a systematic approach to the identification, formulation, implementation and technical backstopping of projects and programmes to strengthen institutions and improve techniques for a technology policy interface. Implementation of national and regional policies, strategies, goals and initiatives, including PRSP, National Programmes, Millennium Development Goals, UNDAF, and NEPAD/CAADP, will be promoted. This will be done through targeting countries for Unilateral Trust Funds; good governance; funding support; SPFS expansion; and rehabilitation/transition from crisis. Reviewing and deciding on specific actions for country support, including multidisciplinary interventions at country level, will continue through Country Task Force Sessions. The establishment of a Regional Field Programme Development Strategy with a viable project pipeline will also be a major focus. 88. Provision of comprehensive, objective and timely information would facilitate and stimulate effective policy and sectoral planning for decision-making. This will be sustained and improved in the region to ultimately contribute to satisfactory levels of sustainable food security and economic growth. 89. FAO will also take into account partnership for improving the application of biotechnology in agriculture; integrated development and dissemination of agricultural knowledge and technologies for food Security and sustainable development; support to documenting lessons learned and implementing best practices to ensure that rural institutions have the capacity to effectively confront natural disasters, risks and emergencies. Field operations will be conducted in participatory monitoring and evaluation processes to strengthen the sustainability of FAO assistance in programmes and projects. 90. In addition, within the context of FAO’s reform, a major challenge, in responding to country and regional priorities in Africa during the biennium, will be to find creative solutions to the growing demands from the membership at a time of budgetary stringency. 91. The renewed efforts by the region’s leaders as echoed in the NEPAD’s overall vision for agriculture, and steps being taken towards the implementation of the CAADP add impetus to on-going initiatives and actions to arrest and reverse this agricultural malaise, and place African economies on a sustainable competitive growth path. VII. CONCLUSION

92. Food security, poverty reduction and sustainable use and management of natural resources will continue to be the priority objectives of the Africa region, and constitute the major thrust of FAO’s work in the region, in the foreseeable future. More specifically,

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FAO will aim at assisting countries in the region to increase productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) provides African Governments, in collaboration with their development partners, an opportunity for renewed efforts to address the priorities and achieve meaningful results. In the next biennium, attention will be focused at the policy level, on assisting member countries to address productivity and competitiveness mainly through: (i) review, update, reform and harmonization of policies, strategies, programmes in order to create an enabling environment for the implementation of the NEPAD/CAADP Action Plans; (ii) strengthen capacities, institutions, mechanisms and policy instruments; (iii) identify, prepare bankable projects, as well as mobilize internal and external resources for their implementation.

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Annex

FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE

DOCUMENTATION FRAMEWORK FOR THE SPECIAL FORUM ON THE FOLLOW-UP TO WFS PLAN OF ACTION, TO BE HELD DURING THE THIRTY-SECOND SESSION OF CFS IN

2006 A. BACKGROUND

Objective 7.3 of the World Food Summit Plan of Action (WFS PoA) specifies the actions that need to be taken to monitor actively the implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action. It calls on “governments, in partnership with all actors of civil society, in coordination with relevant international institutions and, in conformity with ECOSOC Resolution 1996/36 on the follow-up to the major international UN conferences and summits, as appropriate,” to, inter alia, “(h) By 2006, undertake, in the CFS and within available resources, a major broad-based progress assessment of the implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action and a mid-term review of achieving the target of reducing the number of undernourished people to half their present level no later than 2015. This progress assessment and review should be in the context of a special forum of a regular session of the CFS and involve active participation from governments, relevant international organizations and actors of civil society.” B. CONTEXT

At the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Sessions of CFS, held respectively in September 2004 and May 2005, Member States discussed the modalities for the holding of the Special Forum foreseen in the WFS PoA. During the Thirtieth Session, the CFS reaffirmed the decision to convene a Special Forum in 2006 in order to undertake a major broad-based progress assessment and to undertake during the Thirty-first Session a multi-stakeholder dialogue on the Agenda item dealing with the preparatory process of the Special Forum. Subsequently, the CFS, at its Thirty-first Session (May 2005) organized a multi-stakeholder dialogue, the outcome of which was summarised by the Chairperson3. At this special segment, representatives of 25 Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organizations had the opportunity to speak on equal footing with Governments during the discussions. The Committee recommended the broadest possible participation of stakeholders in the preparations for and conduct of the Special Forum. It emphasized the importance of the participation of all relevant groups, including NGOs, CSOs and private sector associations.

3 See Appendix E (Outcome of the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue at the 31st Session of CFS Regarding the Modalities for the Special Forum in 2006) attached to the Report of the 31th Session of the Committee on World Food Security (Rome, 23-26 May 2005) downloadable at: http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/MEETING/009/J5568e.HTM.

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C. DOCUMENTATION FOR THE SPECIAL FORUM The participants in the multi-stakeholder dialogue noted that the FAO Secretariat will prepare an analytical document for consideration by the Special Forum in 2006. The document will review the global and regional situations regarding under-nourishment and identify the underlying causes. Case studies and successful examples of addressing hunger will be highlighted. In the second part of the document the FAO Secretariat will identify considerations affecting and proposals regarding possible ways forward to 2015. The participants in the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue suggested that the FAO Secretariat, in preparing background documentation for the mid term review of progress and issues for consideration by the Special Forum in September 2006, should take into consideration inter alia the following important events and themes: Events • the outcome of the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC in July 2005 • the outcome of the High-Level Plenary of the UN General Assembly on the

Millennium Declaration including an examination of the MDGs in September 2005 • developments in the Convention on Biological Diversity • the WTO Ministerial Conference as part of the Doha Round in December 2005 • the outcome of the meeting of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on

Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Spain during 2006 • reports of the Member States on follow up to the World Food Summit • the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines to the Right to Adequate Food in the

Context of National Food Security • the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development in 2006. Themes • access to productive natural resources and genetic resources • national budgets devoted to support agricultural production and the development of

local markets • Official Development Assistance • FAO’s adaptation of its programmes to the MDGs, as presented in the paper and

Special Event at this session of CFS • issues regarding nutrition, such as home economics, education and HIV/AIDS Other Stakeholders The CFS Secretariat will invite relevant international agencies and organizations to participate in the Special Forum with a view to highlighting the impact and relevance of the work of their agencies on the World Food Summit goal and objectives.