CAADP Shows Great Promise In War Against Malnutrition In Africa

> Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

"The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is having a positive impact on food and nutrition security in countries that are implementing it," according to the just released 2015 Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR).

The ATOR, was released on Tuesday, this week, by the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS).

ReSAKSS, is a program facilitated by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), during the opening of the 2016 ReSAKSS Annual Conference in Accra, organized by IFPRI in partnership with the African Union Commission.

Notably, the 2015 ATOR examines the current status of nutrition in Africa, including progress in meeting the 2014 AU Malabo nutrition targets, and highlights the importance of dietary quality and diversity. 

It further stresses the importance of strengthening capacities for nutrition mainstreaming, monitoring and evaluation.

It has stated that, “Undernourishment is lowest among countries that have adopted the CAADP process,” and that, “The rates of reduction in undernourishment are faster in CAADP countries especially those that have been in the process the longest and those that have gone through most of the stages of the process.”

Officially opening the 2016 ReSAKSS annual conference, AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, represented by Dr. Janet Edeme, Acting Director for the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA), said achieving a nutrition revolution would require informed plans and investments coupled with leadership for effective implementation.

“The complexity and multi-sectorality of nutrition demand for better coordination of interventions in order to make real and effective impact. By investing in a nutrition revolution, we are reducing malnutrition at all levels of the population including children and women, as spelt out in Africa’s Agenda 2063,” she said.

“Improving food security is not only about making sure people are consuming adequate calories, but ensuring that diets provide adequate nutrients for the healthy growth and development of Africa’s children and the health and wellbeing of all people,” said Ousmane Badiane, IFPRI Director for Africa.

“This report shows that policymakers must not only monitor nutrition outcomes but set ambitious targets and design appropriate strategies to achieve these. The first step to reducing poverty and promoting economic growth in Africa is to reduce hunger and malnutrition which rob the continent of its human resource potential.”

According to IFPRI, more key findings of the report include, 

Statistics and trends indicate a need for more concerted effort in tackling a triple burden of malnutrition in Africa that includes reducing under-nutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity.

And, "the potential nutritional impact of existing food policies (including agricultural subsidies) should be reviewed, and reforms should be initiated for those policies that are likely to have adverse effects on people’s dietary quality and body weight."

Essentially, comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems, complete with key nutrition indicators and contextualized evidence, are needed to evaluate the impact of comprehensive investment plans on nutrition and attainment of the international, continental, and national commitments for growth, development, and nutrition.

Overall, "the analysis of CAADP indicators shows that countries that have been in the CAADP process the longest and those that have gone through most of the levels of the CAADP process have tended to register better outcomes in most of the indicators reviewed, thus highlighting the positive impact of CAADP.'

"It is essential to harness the potential for science, technology, and innovation to reduce postharvest losses and food waste; promote product diversification with nutritious foods; improve processing to extend shelf life and make healthy foods easier to prepare; and improve storage and preservation to retain nutritional value, ensure food safety, and extend seasonal availability," the study adds.

Agenda 2063 A Living Programme

> Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

Agenda 2063 is not just another document that will gather dust in offices of the African Union and it's member states.

That much is clear as the recent seminar aimed at enhancing understanding of the African Union and strengthening the skills relevant to its statutory operations was successfully delivered. 

The seminar which was held in  Midrand, South Africa was organised by the African Union Leadership Academy as part of a wider executive training programme for members of the diplomatic corps. 

34 members of the AU’s Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) who participated in the seminar have strongly cemented their commitment of developing the continent.

Facilitated by renowned African scholars and experts from the African Union Commission, the aim has been repeatedly articulated that the way forward would be the strengthening the African Union’s capacity for driving and achieving the goals of Agenda 2063 by providing members of the PRC with a unique opportunity to reflect on their experience and interaction with the AU. 

In particular the seminar resolved to create more awareness and importance of various instruments that are relevant to Agenda 2063; re-examining the role and responsibilities of AU and member states in supporting the AU drive towards achieving Agenda 2063 goals; sharing of, and learning from, challenges and success stories.

Other issues under discussion included,  impact of the organisation’s history on its functioning; Africa Peace and Security Architecture, preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention; enhancing the effectiveness of the African Union; reflections on the continental Agenda 2063 and the African Union as a norm entrepreneur and African Union democracy instruments.

At the opening event session held on Tuesday 27^th September Ambassador Jean Mfasoni, Adviser to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, remarked that “In order for the AU, its Member States and its organs to contribute effectively to this vision (Agenda 2063) and to fulfill the set mandates, there is a need to have a common understanding on how to get there and the respective responsibilities of each party. This experience sharing seminar will help us towards this direction.”

This gathering was important as the PRC is a crucial decision making and oversight body of the African Union, which acts on behalf of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government and the Executive Council. 

The PRC also has responsibilities inter alia, of facilitating communication between the AU Commission and member states, considering the AU’s budget and monitoring the implementation of the AU’s budget. 

In this regard, it is critical to the implementation of the programmes and projects under the continental Agenda 2063 development framework. 

These aim to achieve the AU vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa by 2063.