Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)

The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) leads the efforts to promote sustainable environmental management and agricultural development by boosting member states’ rural economy development and agricultural transformation by supporting the adoption of measures, strategies, policies and programmes on agriculture.

The mandate of the department includes:

Promoting implementing of Agenda 2063 Continental Frameworks such as Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)
Promoting agricultural and rural development
Promoting policies and developing strategies and programmes to ensure food security and nutrition
Helping members states to achieve sustainable growth and improved livelihoods through sound environmental and natural resources management.
Promoting rural community initiatives and transfer of technologies
Coordinating efforts to eradicate poverty
Promoting efforts to combat desertification and drought including implementation of key projects such as the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI),
Promoting Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs), Land Policy Initiative (LPI), Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR
Promoting the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA), African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM), and the African Seed and Biotechnology Program (ASBP).
Promoting policies and strategies to mitigate disasters;
Supporting harmonisation of policies and strategies among the RECs
Initiating research on climate change, water and sanitation, and land management.

The department has five regional technical offices: the AU Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC); AU–Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU–IBAR); Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (PANVAC); Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC); and Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and Development (SAFGRAD).

Structure

Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)
Josefa Leonel Correa Sacko, Angola (elected January 2017)

Director: Godfrey Bahiigwa (Uganda)

Divisions

Agriculture and Food Security Division;
Rural Development Division;
Sustainable Environment Division; and
Blue Economy Division.

Activities

Situation Room welcomed a Head of State of an African Union Member State

March 01, 2023

The Africa Multi-hazard Early Warning and Action System (AMHEWAS) Situation Room welcomed a Head of State of an African Union Member State for the first time.

High level Food Security and Nutrition Conference

October 10, 2022

MEDIA ADVISORY

Calls for Meaningful Data to Address the Increasing Number of Disasters in Afric

June 22, 2022

Data collection for the 2^ndAfrica Biennial Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) exercise officially kicked off, with the East African Community (EAC) and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional workshop. The event took place 18-20 June 2022 in Naivasha, Kenya.

Africa Mobilizes Common Position for the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS)

July 15, 2021

An extraordinary meeting of the AU Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE), comprising ministers in charge of the relevant offices in the member states was held on Thursdays, July 15, 2021

Continental Consultative Meeting held to develop an Africa Food Safety Strategy

June 08, 2021 to June 11, 2021

A four day continental consultative meeting of major stakeholders from all the 55 African Union Members States to develop an Africa Food Safety Strategy (AFSS) was held from June 8-11, 2021

Heads of State and Government Session of the AFSH 2024

May 09, 2024

Ministers of the Foreign Affairs and Agriculture Session of the AFSH 2024

May 08, 2024

Ministers of the Foreign Affairs and Agriculture Session of the AFSH 2024

May 08, 2024

Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit

May 07, 2024 to May 09, 2024

In response to the recommendation of AU policy organs, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Environment (DARBE) of the African Union is organising the AFSH summit in collaboration with AUDA-NEPAD, RECs and Partners.