STRUCTURE OF THE ECOLOGICAL ORGANIC AGRICULTURE INITIATIVE AND

UPDATE ON THE CONTINENTAL STEERING COMMITTEE

THE EASTERN AFRICA REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGARUSHA, 13 NOVEMBER 2014

David AmudaviBIOVISION AFRICA TRUST, NAIROBI

Supported by

• Goal of the Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA)

• Purpose and Objectives of EOA Initiative

• Strategic Areas of EOA Initiative

• Structure of EOA Initiative

• Rationale for Focusing on Structures/Platforms

• Mission and Mandate of Continental Steering Committee (CSC)

• Establishment of the CSC

• Membership of CSC

• Some Achievements so far

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

BRIEF ABOUT PURPOSE OF 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.

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.

STRATEGIC FOCUS OF EOA1. Research, Training and Extension Understanding research and training gaps within EOA value chains and undertaking activities to

fill them.

2. Information and Communication Creating awareness and strengthening EOA extension support systems through diverse

information and communication strategies, products and technologies

3. Value Chain and Market DevelopmentStimulating 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 Promoting engagement by relevant stakeholders including governments, farmers, civil society,

private sector, and the international community.

5. Policy and Programme DevelopmentSupporting the development and implementation of enabling policies and programmes.

6. Institutional Capacity DevelopmentSupporting and equipping professionals with skills and competences to promote EOA in Africa.

STRUCTIRE OF EOA INITIATIVE

Africa Union Commission (Chair of Continental EOA SC)

Continental EOA Steering Committee

EOA Secretariat

National Platforms

National Platforms

National Platforms

Regional EOA SC (include national)

Certification 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 Organisation

National EOA PlatformPublic SectorGovernment

Civil Society Private Enterprises

Research & TrainingAdvisory Services

Farmer Organizations

Consumers

Project Implementing Organizations

Centres of Excellence

(Research, Training, Extension, Information

& Communication, Value Chains & Market

Development

Regional EOA SC

Continental EOA Steering Committee –Chaired by the Africa Union

Commission

EOA Secretariat

• Create coherence and synergy for sharing experiences, lessons and best practices

• Improve communication, knowledge transfer and know-how among various stakeholders

• Develop new technological and commercial collaborations

• Popularize the initiative and reach various stakeholders and markets

• Find partners to optimize on comparative advantages and undertake joint research and development activities

• Identify capacity gaps, seize emerging opportunities and contribute to appropriate programme design and development

• Amplify benefits from investments in economic and environmental opportunities

Rationale for Focus on Platforms/Structures

THE CONTINENTAL STEERING COMMITTEE

The Purpose of the Continental Steering Committee (CSC) is to

support the EOA Initiative in meeting its objectives by;

•Acting as a bridge between the EOA Secretariat and the African

Union Commission

•Engaging internally with the EOA Secretariat and externally with

the AUC

•Prioritizing the Secretariat’s activities

•Providing advice, guidance, and oversight over the

implementation of the EOA Action Plan

•Tracking progress of EOA projects

MANDATE OF THE REGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE

• Raise awareness and promote EOA practices and policy

issues in Africa

• Provide guidance on work areas, consultant activities, and

deliverables for agreed upon Project work

• Constitute and populate Subcommittees in the area of

Ecological Organic Agriculture where necessary

• Solicit for funds and support for EOA Initiative

• Report to the African Union Commission on EOAI progress

• Identify and propose EOA Champions to AUC

• Ensure wide stakeholder participation in EOA Initiative

Establishment of Continental Steering Committee

The Continental Steering Committee has evolved and stabilized since the inception of the EOA I.

First established in 2011 under the chair of Dr. Sarah Olembo (formerly of AUC), but it was largely East African

Took formal shape in 2012 during the Dakar EOA mainstreaming planning meeting with Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo as the chair (formerly Head of Agriculture and Food Security, AUC)

Composition of membership reviewed in February 2013 in Nairobi during pilot review and formally launched 23-24 October 2013 in Addis Ababa, with Dr. Janet Edeme as the acting Chair

2nd meeting held in Cotonu, Benin on 26th August 2014

3rd meeting planned for February 2015 in Southern African

CONTINENTAL SC MEMBERSHIP

The SC consists of 23 members appointed to serve on behalf of their

institutions, and not as individuals, and agree to represent the general

interests of their sector.

•African Union Commission (1) – Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture

(DREA) (Chair)

•Regional Economic Communities (2) – these two positions will be filled initially by

the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Economic

Community of Central African States (ECCAS) – and then regularly rotated to include

other RECs, as requested.

•Farmer-based Organizations (1) – To be regularly rotated to include other regional

farmers’ organizations. For now Farmers Organization of Southern Africa (SACAU)

has the membership

•NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (1)

•Civil Society Organizations (1) – ActionAid is to be contacted to provide a

representative from their network.

CONTINENTAL SC MEMBERSHIP .....cont’d

• EOA Lead Organizations for donor-funded projects (2) – Biovision Africa Trust and

PELUM Kenya

• African Research Institutions (1) – FARA can be asked to sit in for the first three years

• Private sector (1) – A representative is to be provided by Mr. Komla Bissi of AUC

• African Organic Network (AFRONET) (1)

• African Academic Institutions (1) – Association of African Universities (AAU) shall be

contacted to provide an academic institution to serve on the committee

• EOA Regional Clusters (5) – for East Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, North Africa,

and South Africa

• Development Partners (2) – SDC and SSNC

• An Indigenous African Organic Certification Body (1) - UGOCERT

• International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) (1)

• Representative of Women in Organic Agriculture (1)

• National Ecological Organic Agriculture Institutions in Africa (2) – National Organic

Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU), and Association of Organic Agriculture

Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN)

SOME ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CSC

• Supported the 3rd West African conference held in August 2014 and

now supporting the planning of the 3rd African Organic Conference

to be held in Nigeria in October 2015

• Supported the African Union Commission’s trainings in Organic

standards and certification systems and in identification of Satellite

Centers to provide training and extension support to smallholder

farmers groups involved in organic production and marketing

• Put pressure on implementation of Heads’ Decision on Organic

farming and reporting of progress being made

• Provided guidance to structures of EOA and has recommended

regional EOA Steering Committees to be formally re-constituted

• Working on strategies of raising resources and support for the

initiative (fundraising, champions, etc)

CONTINENTAL SC MEMBERSHIP .....cont’d

Down the memory lane in Thika, Kenya

THANK YOU

www.eoa-africa.org