African Union-Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) through the EU-funded phase two of the Fisheries Governance Project (Fish Gov 2) and SIDA-funded Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity Project organised a 2nd meeting of a platform of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and training workshop on negotiation skills.
The overall objective of the workshop was to establish and operationalize the Platform of African SIDS to address specific issues and needs of SIDS and develop subsequent strategic positions to ensure increased contribution to food and nutritional security, poverty alleviation and economic growth consistent with the Malabo Declaration the that called for action on transformation of African agriculture by 2025.
Other specific objectives were to:
-Consolidate the outcomes and recommendations of the first meeting of the AU-SIDS Platform and chart the way forward for strategic positions;
-Enhance the capacities of AU-SIDS and other pre-identified negotiators - in terms of International negotiations;
-Formulate a mechanism to coordinate African common positions and enhanced African voice at Global Fora for fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic biodiversity, environmental sustainability and climate change related regimes;
-Enrich and validate the final report of the consultancy on Identification of specific issues relevant to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and draft strategic positions and recommendations for the establishment/strengthening a platform of Small Island Developing States (SIDS);
-Enhance awareness and build capacity among stakeholders on the importance of the various regimes, relevant provisions, challenges and mechanisms for effective role and participation in Global Regimes
The workshop was attended by 31 participants including Trainees from AU-MS from Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, and Gabon; 4 AU – SIDS (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles), representative of Regional project: ECOFISH; Centres of Excellence in Fisheries and Aquaculture (Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, University of Cape Coast, Ghana), WIOMSA, Nairobi Convention; Experts, Resource persons; as well as AU-IBAR staff members.
OUTCOMES OF THE MEETING
a. The outcomes and recommendations of the first meeting of the AU-SIDS Platform held in August, 2022 were consolidated in order to chart the way forward for strategic positions of the AU SIDS;
b. The capacities of AU-SIDS and other pre-identified negotiators were enhanced through an articulated training package in terms of International negotiations;
c. Through interactive Sessions, a mechanism to coordinate African common positions and enhanced African voice at Global Fora for fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic biodiversity, environmental sustainability and climate change related regimes was formulated;
d. The final report of the consultancy on Identification of specific issues relevant to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and draft strategic positions and recommendations for the establishment/strengthening a platform of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) by ACECOR was presented to delegates, enriched and provisionally validated pending inputs from Cape Verde and Sao Tome & Principe within a specified timeframe; and,
e. The Meeting enhanced awareness and build capacity among stakeholders on the importance of the various regimes, relevant provisions, challenges and mechanisms for effective role and participation in global regimes.
RECOMMENDATIONS
a. The Meeting expressed the need to develop a framework for appropriate linkage between AU-SIDS and AU-COEs in Research and Development;
b. The Meeting Mandated the Seychelles as the current Chair of the AU-SIDS to reach out to Cape Verde to come on board at this formative stage of the Platform in order to contribute to the impressive progress being accomplished;
c. The Meeting identified the need to undertake extensive literature and research and establishment of good practices for SIDS;
d. Delegates agreed to the need to come up with a team of selected negotiators;
e. Collaboration and promotion of Regional Cooperation was sighted as a key element;
f. the issue of establishing and operationalizing the MPA;
g. the need to domesticate Global Instruments relevant to fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic biodiversity diversifying away from fishing;
h. improving capacities for research and establishment of partnerships with other AU MS;
i. The need to establish a road map including institutionalization of Platform for better coordination and facilitation of the Platform;
j. Delegates proposed that appropriate evaluation and steps to Select key relevant Global Fora that will provide high impact in relation to the groupings; and,
k. The need for joint pre-planning of the preparatory meetings of the Conferences of Parties.
Helen Moepi, Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer at the AU-IBAR said “For the first time, we are establishing and African Union lead platform of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) including Madagascar. This platform’s goal is to help the SIDS to be able to negotiate collectively, to propose their position in global forums, to become one voice, coming from the Islands in Africa. We hope, once the platform will be established and operational, that the SIDS will be able to work together. The main goal is to bring them together, to communicate together, to negotiate together and to present their position together.”
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There has been an acknowledged need for capacity building of African Union Member States as an accepted development theory in decision-making and participation in International Ocean negotiations. AU-IBAR and AUDA-NEPAD jointly organised the second meeting of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Platform and training in negotiating skills in Seychelles from 15 to 17 February, 2023 in response to the need for improved negotiating skills and participant recommendations from the last SIDS meeting held in August, 2022.
The absence of active engagement in International Ocean negotiations by African Nations is indicative of the skills gap in negotiation. Some Countries have failed to approve or execute International Instruments. The capacity of Governments to implement important International Agreements and Africa's voice must be reinforced. The consolidation of collaboration and coordination mechanisms, effective participation, and articulation of a unified African voice in Global fora such as climate change and Ocean governance require improvement.
African leaders have urged the African Union to prioritise intervention areas that focus on developing the "African Voice" in International fisheries and aquaculture fora, and to implement a number of actions within timelines to help African Nations formulate and promote shared views in these negotiations. To ensure that International accords integrate African requirements and contexts, ratification and implementation by African Governments is essential for ensuring sustainable and profitable fisheries in Africa.
A review of the Policy Direction for Sustainable Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Blue Growth in Africa was the focus of the Workshop. The goal of the meeting was to explore strategies that will assist the African Union in achieving its Agenda 2063 objectives over the next fifty years.
The meeting identified key priority areas that need a unified front in International forums and could considerably advance Africa's fisheries and aquaculture sector. These include: Marine resources and Energy; Ports Operations and Marine Transport; Sustainable natural resource management and Biodiversity conservation; Sustainable consumption and production pattern; Water security; Renewable energy; Climate resilience and natural disasters preparedness and prevention, with an emphasis on Africa's participation in global efforts for climate change mitigation that support and broaden the Policy space for sustainable development on a continuing basis.
Particular mention was made of the several strategies in place to meet these needs. One is The Africa Blue Economy Strategy (ABES) aims to establish an inclusive, sustainable blue economy that transforms and grows Africa. Africa's Blue Economy Strategy outlines how to capitalise on this potential. It emphasises economic diversity, innovation, human capital investment, social integration, and Regional and International trade. To reform Africa's fisheries and aquaculture for food, livelihoods, and prosperity, the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy (PFRS) was created. The PFRS for fisheries and aquaculture was created to overcome the obstacles that prevent African nations from fully benefiting from their ocean and aquatic resources. The PFRS aims to promote equitable, social, and economic growth in Africa by creating a favourable fish sector environment. It also organises Africa's fisheries sectors to help reform National and Regional Policies. The training was attended by 35 participants from the African Small Island Developing States. The training was implemented under the Enhancing Sustainable Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Development in Africa: project for accelerated reform of the sector Project (FishGov 2), a European Union-funded Project.
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AU-IBAR (the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources) is currently implementing the second phase of the Fisheries Governance Project (FishGov2) which aims to enhance the contribution of its member states towards sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in order to achieve its objectives set out in the AU Agenda 2063. The projects are funded by the European Union (EU) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) respectively.
Some of the specific objectives of the project is to ensure that Africa represented and effectively participates in international fisheries and aquaculture fora.
In order to achieve that, AU Member States, including SIDS (Small Island Developing States), must have the capacity to negotiate on international level and there needs to be a mechanism in place to coordinate African common positions with several activities including:
· The identification of specific needs of African SIDS and Madagascar and that these are into account in international fora and
· The enhancement of capacities on international issues and organization of specific training for pre-identified negotiators.
Hence, the AU-IBAR is organizing the 2nd Meeting of the African SIDS Platform and Workshop from the 15th February 2023 to the 17th February 2023 in Seychelles.
Additionally, the workshop seeks to consolidate the outcomes and recommendations of the first meeting that happened in August 2022 and to chart the way forward for strategic positions to ensure increased contribution to food and nutritional security, poverty alleviation and economic growth consistent with the Malabo Declaration that called for action on transformation of African agriculture by 2025.
Other specific objectives of the workshop includes:
In the above regards the FishGov2 and Biodiversity Projects with funding from EU and SIDA will co-organize the meeting in Seychelles with the following key objectives to:
· Consolidate the outcomes and recommendations of the first meeting of the AU-SIDS Platform and chart the way forward for strategic positions;
· Enhance the capacities of AU-SIDS and other pre-identified negotiators - in terms of international negotiations;
· Formulate a mechanism to coordinate African common positions and enhanced African voice at Global Fora for fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic biodiversity, environmental sustainability and climate change related regimes;
· Enrich and validate the final report of the consultancy on Identification of specific issues relevant to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and draft strategic positions and recommendations for the establishment/strengthening a platform of Small Island Developing States (SIDS);
· Enhance awareness and build capacity among stakeholders on the importance of the various regimes, relevant provisions, challenges and mechanisms for effective role and participation in global regimes;
Estimated 35 invited participants to the Workshop would comprise of delegates representing Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros, Cape Verde, and Sao Tome & Principe including Madagascar; Southern African Development Community (SADC); Regional Projects in Fisheries, Aquaculture and Blue Economy; Regional Sea Conventions (RSAs); African Union Centres of Excellence in Fisheries and Aquaculture (AU-COEs); Experts (Trainees and Trainers); AU-IBAR Consultants; Development Partners and relevant staff from the AU-IBAR.
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