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70 Years of Implementing Change in the Animal Resources Sector
Posted by Patricia Lumba on 09 April 2021 11:50 AM CAT
Twenty-Twenty-One (2021) marks 70 years since the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) was founded. With its current mission to provide leadership and integrated support services for the development of animal resources in Africa, this is not just a celebratory year but also a reflective one.
AU-IBAR’s 70th anniversary is an ideal opportunity to showcase AU-IBAR’s success, values, and strengths and give context to its past and current achievements and future strategies in close collaboration with stakeholders, and the Regional Economic Communities.
Throughout 2021, celebrations will take place by highlighting past successes and setting new goals for future achievements within the realm of crucial animal resources development initiatives and policy instruments.
In a couple of months, a key celebratory event will be the Awareness webinar and podcast series on the work of AU-IBAR in supporting the implementation of the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA). This will be highlighted through the current position of Live2Africa, which is providing support in the implementation of the LiDeSA. With the Animal Health Strategy for Africa to further support the performance of the AU-IBAR strategy and the LiDeSA, further awareness will be through a podcast series on animal health on the continent. AHSA's awareness is expected to be launched on World Veterinary Day.
The successes are a testimony to AU-IBAR’s successful collaborations Africa-wide, ranging from local institutions to governmental agencies and Regional Economic Communities, all with the same vision: An Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace.
The anniversary visual on AU-IBAR’s website and social media channels will be updated to reflect announcements on events and other celebrations in due course.
The 70th-anniversary celebrations happen midway of the 2018-2023 AU-IBAR Strategy, which highlights five strategic objectives:
- Human and Institutional Capacity Utilisation and Strengthening
- Promoting policy development and coherence for the development of Animal Resources in Africa
- Coordination, Participation and the African Voice
- Active Private Sector Engagement
- Knowledge Management, Information, Communication, and Advocacy
The urgency to implement AU-IBAR's strategy was further highlighted with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which brought shared responsibility and continental solidarity for animal resources development.
During the May 21, 2020 AU-IBAR Consultative meeting on the impact of COVID-19 on the Animal Resources Sector in Africa and Identification of mitigation measures, Prof. Ahmed El-Sawalhy acknowledged not only the challenges, but also the possibilities that now lie ahead for animal resources sector, particularly if continued collaboration is in place.
“The wider impact of COVID-19 on the animal resources sector, if not addressed in a collective and organised way could reverse the positive growth of the past decades and impact where we were able to progress. Collectively, we made great strides in several areas. These include alleviating avian influenza and eliminating rinderpest. Promoting bee health and animal genetics. Most recently, efforts have been made in leveraging the blue economy for inclusive and sustainable fisheries. Let us capture the lessons from the past to refuel our sectoral growth.”
The pandemic also changed AU-IBAR’s operational strategy to some extent. With digital solutions now being a key aspect to driving results, this is evident from AU-IBAR’s adaptation of innovative online stakeholder Meetings and the development of the ecosystem community of practice platform.
These words sum up much of how AU-IBAR has worked in the past 70 years has continued to do so: strengthening its partnerships, building bridges, and mobilising action throughout the animal resources sector.
At the 70th year mark, what do you see as critical for AU-IBAR to reach the vision of ‘An Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace.’
