mainstreaming ecological organic agriculture initiative in africa’s policies, plans and programmes

A natural future for all collectively

MAINSTREAMING ECOLOGICAL ORGANIC AGRICULTURE (EOA) INITIATIVE IN AFRICA’s POLICIES, PLANS AND PROGRAMMES

David Amudavi Biovision Africa Trust

Nairobi, Kenya

Regional Meeting on Agroecology in sub-Saharan Africa

5-6 November 2015, Hotel King Fahd Palace – Dakar, Senegal


Small scale farmers accounting for 70% of the agricultural labour

and 25% to GDP of their countries dominate agriculture

production in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

Small scale farmers are core to ecological organic agriculture

(EOA) and Agroecology - practise diversified crop and animal

production systems.

EOA is seen as genuine to climate smart agriculture, agricultural biodiversity, food safety, increased land productivity, etc.

Getting structures and institutions in place to drive the agenda

and practice of EOA (and Agroecology) is fundamental.

Ongoing efforts with the EOA initiative are worth sharing.

2

JOURNEY OF THE EOA INITIATIVE


Overall Goal: To mainstream EOA into national agricultural

production systems, policies, and practices by 2025 in order to

improve agricultural productivity, food security, access to markets and sustainable development in Africa.

Vision: Vibrant Ecological Organic Systems for Enhanced Food

Security and Sustainable Development in Africa.

Mission: To promote ecologically sound strategies and practices

among diverse stakeholders in production, processing, and

marketing through strategic actions and policy making to

alleviate poverty, guarantee adequate and healthy food

security, improve livelihoods and safeguard the environment.

ECOLOGICAL ORGANIC AGRICULTURE (EOA)

INITIATIVE


AU DECISION IN SUPPORT OF EOA-I

Following the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture (CMA) held in Lilongwe, Malawi on 28-29 October, 2010, and a resolution made in line with the African Sustainable Ecological Agriculture Production Systems the African Union policy organs, the Executive Council at its meeting on 24-28 January, 2011 passed a decision on supporting organic farming which was endorsed by the African Union Heads of States and Government - EX.CL/Dec.621 (XVIII):-

The Executive Council

1. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture held in Lilongwe, Malawi on October, 28 and 29, 2010 on Organic Farming, and ENDORSES the Resolution contained therein;

2. EXPRESSES concern over the current practice of exploitation of organic farmers in Africa;

3. REQUESTS the Commission and its New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) to:

Initiate and provide guidance for an African Union (AU)-led coalition of international partners on the establishment of an African organic farming platform based on best practices; and

Provide guidance in support of the development of sustainable organic farming systems and improve seed quality;

4. CALLS UPON development partners to provide the necessary technical and financial support for the implementation of this Decision;

5. REQUESTS the Commission to report regularly on the implementation of this Decision.

Source: African Union Commission (www.africa-union.org/Decisions)

http://www.africa-union.org/Decisions




AU DECISION IN SUPPORT OF EOA-I

• It should be pointed out that this decision by the Executive Council of the African Union is the first high-profile political endorsement of organic farming in Africa.

• The prominence that organic farming is enjoying in recent years in Africa can be firmly traced to this decision.

• The decision has also emboldened actors and practitioners of organic farming in Africa to seek their rights and increase their active participation in various levels of research, development and markets.


AU DECISION IN IMPLEMENTATION

A serious deliberation and planning workshop organized by PELUM-Kenya, BvAT, NOAMs) and AUC with support from the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) was held in Thika, 2-3 May 2011. The special session resulted in: • Adoption of Ecological Organic

Agriculture (EOA) concept. • A concept note and later proposal

(Project Document) on EOA. • An Action Plan adapted by the African

Union Commission for implementing the AU Decision on organic agriculture.


BASIS OF ECOLOGICAL ORGANIC

AGRICULTURE (EOA) INITIATIVE

• Focus on production systems that sustain the health of

soils, ecosystems and people – Consistent with unified 4-

H paradigm (human, animal, plant and environmental health).

• Relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles

adapted to local conditions, rather than the excessive

use of external inputs with adverse effects to the 4-H.

• Draw on science, innovation, tradition and movements

to benefit the shared environment and promote fair

relationships and quality of life for all involved.

• Considers the agro-ecosystem in all its diversity.


OBJECTIVES OF THE EOA INITIATIVE

1. To increase documentation of information and knowledge on

organic agricultural products along the complete value chain

and support relevant actors to translate it into practices and

wide application.

2. To systematically inform producers about the EOA approaches

and good practices and motivate their uptake through

strengthening access to advisory and support services.

3. To substantially increase the share of quality organic products at

the local, national and regional markets.

4. Strengthen inclusive stakeholder engagement in organic

commodities value chain development by establishing national,

regional and continental multi-stakeholder platforms to advocate for changes in public policy, plans, programs, and

practices.


KEY STRATEGIC FOCUS OF THE EOA

INITIATIVE (PILLARS)

1.Research, Training and Extension: Aims to build up the body of scientific knowledge supporting EOA.

2. Information and communication: Communicate information/knowledge on EOA to a vast majority of stakeholders.

3. Value Chain and Market Development (VCMD): Stimulate development of sustainable markets and increase trade in traditional and high value agricultural produce both at domestic and export levels within EOA.

4. Networking and Partnerships: Promote engagement by relevant stakeholders including governments, farmers, civil society, private sector, and the international community.

5. Policy and Programme Development: Support the development and implementation of enabling policies and programmes.

6. Institutional Capacity Development: Support and equip professionals with skills and competences to promote EOA in Africa.


Certif ication bodies

Civil Society

Research NetworksPrivate Sector

Farmers’ Organisations

RECs

Development Partners

AfroNet

EOA Implementation: Mainstreaming EOA in … … Policies, Strategies, Investment Plans … Standards, Certification … Research (agenda, methods)

… Training (curricula & programs) … Extension (practices, information/communication) … Markets, Value Chains

Mainstreaming Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative in Africa

CLO in other countries

Country Lead Organisations

National EOA Platform

Public SectorGovernment

Civil Society Private Enterprises

Research & TrainingAdvisory Services

Farmer Organizations

Consumers

Project Implementing Organizations

Centres of Excellence

(Research, Training, Extension, Information

& Communication,

Value Chains & M arket D evelopment

Regional EOA SC

Continental EOA Steering Committee –Chaired by the Africa Union

Commission

EOA Secretariat


BUILDING BRIDGES AMONG STAKEHOLDERS

National Platforms – Country based

Multistakeholder representations

National Steering Committees

Country Lead Organizations & Partners

Regional Platforms – Regional Clusters


Regional Steering Committees

Currently Eastern and Western Africa clusters

Southern Africa cluster is on course Potential platforms- Central Africa and North Africa

Continental Platforms – Linking with African Union (AU)


Continental Steering Committee chaired by AUC

Global Platforms – World wide – linking with IFOAM & others


Participating Countries:

• East Africa – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania & Ethiopia (supported

by both SDC and SSNC)

• West Africa – Nigeria, Senegal, Benin and Mali (SDC supported)

Portfolio of Financial Support & Coordination:

SDC’s Global Programme for Food Security (2014-2018) –

Coordinated by Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT)

SSNC-SIDA support (2013- 2015) – Coordinated by PELUM

Kenya

EU – support to trainings in Organic Standards, Certification Systems and Marketing and Continental Steering Committee -

AUC

THE ON-GOING EOA INITIATIVE PROGRAMME IN AFRICA (2013-2018)


EOA SDC Supported Countries


Country Country Lead Organizations (CLO’s)

Mali Mouvement Biologique Malien (MOBIOM)

Nigeria Association of Organic Agriculture

Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN)

Benin Béninoise pour la Promotion de

l'Agriculture Biologique (OBEPAB)

Senegal National Federation for Organic

Agriculture (FENAB)

PARTICIPATING CORDINATING COUNTRY PARTNERS


Country Country Lead Organizations (CLOs)

Kenya Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN)

Ethiopia Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD)

Uganda National Organic Movement of Uganda

(NOGAMU)

Tanzania Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement

(TOAM)

Kenya PELUM Kenya (SSNC Contribution in Eastern

Africa)

PARTICIPATING CORDINATING COUNTRY PARTNERS-

Cont’d


• Rolling out of EOA Initiative in 8 African countries following a

successful pilot in 2012-2013 coordinated by PELUM Kenya and BvAT.

• Structures and institutions for coordination, networking,

experiencing sharing, institutional capacity strengthening,

advocacy, etc. -

• Continental Steering Committee (CSC)

• Regional Steering Committees (RSC)

• CLOs and Pillar Implementing Partners (PIPs)

• National Steering Committees (NSC)

• EOA Continental Strategic Plan (2015-2025) and Action Plan

(2015-2020) developed & going through AU approval structures.

• Ongoing country efforts of integrating EOA in agricultural policy.

SUMMARY OF KEY ACHIEVEMENTS


The Continental EOA Steering Committee (CSC)


OVERSIGHT BY THE CONTINENTAL EOA STEERING COMMITTEE

Meeting Country Hosting the Meeting

City Date

First (Planning)

Senegal Dakar 8-9 August 2012

Second (Launched)

Ethiopia Addis Ababa 23-24 October 2013

Third Benin Cotonou 26 August 2014

Fourth Tanzania Arusha 20-22 May 2015

Fifth South Africa Johannesburg 7-10 December 2016


• Greater focus on smallholder agriculture and environment

• Widen support for institutionalization of EOA (and agroecology) in

national policies, plans, and programmes:

• Informed by sufficient empirical evidence and successful cases • Informed by consequences for various options (need tools for this)

• Leverage on complimentarities and synergies (NO competition!)

• Support capacity building of farmers, organizations and networks

• Strengthen coordination among implementing partners

• Engage with national champions and societal affiliations • Planning, monitoring and measuring impact of initiatives aided by

authentic tools such as the T21 model for policy making

• Encouraging standard documentation and sharing for experiences,

best practices, lessons, etc. Consider a society for AE/EOA?

• Increase resource support to the initiative(s) on long-term basis. • Increase spatial coverage to other regions (now only Eastern Africa

and West Africa).

MAINSTREAMING OF EOA (AND AGROECOLOGY) IN

AFRICA IN PUBLIC POLICIES


THE BvAT BOARD OF TRUSTEES SUPPORTING THE

EOA INITIATIVE IN AFRICA

Andreas Schriber –

Trustee & Chair

Prof. Judi Wakhungu

Trustee

Prof. Christian Borgemeister

Trustee

Prof. Onesmo ole-MoiYoi

Truxstee Dr. David Amudavi

Director, Ex-Officio


• African Union Commission (AUC)

• Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC)

• Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)

and Swedish Society for Nature Conservation

(SSNC)

• FAO for enhancing global focus agroecology

• Biovision Foundation for ecological development

• icipe-African Insect Science for Food and Health

• CLOs and Partners

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT


www.eoa-africa.org

[email protected]

http://biovisionafricatrust.org

THANK YOU

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.eoa-africa.org/





http://biovisionafricatrust.org/

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