Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 22, 2017 – The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia yesterday launched the process of domesticating the commitments of the AU 2014 Malabo Declaration on Africa Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation (3AGT), into their National Agriculture Investment Framework (NAIF).

The two day workshop organized in partnership with the Africa Union Commission and NEPAD Agency will review the country’s NAIF; align it to the commitments agreed to in the Malabo Declaration and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and identify more opportunities for agricultural investments. This will result in the establishment of a roadmap for a comprehensive second phase of the NAIF dubbed the NAIF II.

Mutual accountability for results and impact is a key determining factor for Africa’s development as pointed out in the AU 2014 Malabo Declaration which contains seven key commitments on agricultural transformation, which the AU Heads of State and Government committed to, and in turn tasked the AUC and NEPAD Agency to lead the establishment of the Biennial Review Mechanism for regular country progress reports to the AU Assembly.

Increased performance by AU Member States to deliver on targets set by the Malabo Declaration, that will in turn trigger evidence based planning and implementation for the expected agricultural growth and transformation in Africa; and ultimately lead to the Africa We Want , as embodied in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and in particular, to Aspiration 1 of Africa’s Agenda 2063; a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Officially opening the workshop, Mr. Zena Habtewold, Director, in the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ethiopia, reiterated the country’s commitment to translating and domesticating the Malabo commitments while adhering to the principles of CAADP in ensuring a NAIF II that would take stock of all the pertinent drivers of agriculture meant to significantly enhance food security and grow the economy.

Mr. Habtewold assured the participants at the workshop that the NAIF II would be finalised in a few months.

Mr. Ernest Ruzindaza, the AUC-CAADP Team Leader, commended the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for being among the African countries that has adhered to the CAADP principle of committing 10 per cent or more of its national budget to the agriculture sector and going beyond the recommended annual six per cent agricultural growth rate; translating to significant economic growth.

“The NAIF is cardinal in implementing our continental obligations and also the country’s aspirations into an evidence-based plan with clear targets, budgets and mutual accountability,” he said. “We all have a huge responsibility to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia ensuring food security, creating employment and accelerating the growth of the country’s economy.”

The workshop in Ethiopia is the sixth to be held after Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Rwanda as part of implementing the commitments of the Malabo Declaration and revamping the agricultural sector in Africa as spelt out in CAADP. Similar workshops will be held in Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso during the course of the year.

The workshop drew participation from AUC; development partners; senior Ethiopian government officials and private sector and civil society groups.

For more information, please contact:
 

Ms. Carol Jilombo

African Union Commission

Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture

JilomboC@africa-union.org