Outcomes and recommendations of the second meeting of the platform of small island developing states (SIDSs) and expert consultative training workshop on negotiation skills
Posted by Marie Rignace on 22 February 2023 6:30 AM CAT
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.”
