AU Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE)

14-17 November 2023. Fifth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE).

The objective of the meeting was to review progress made in the implementation of AU and STC Decisions, provide policy guidance, and adopt reports, frameworks, Guidelines, and programmes, as well as recommendations that will be presented for consideration by the Executive Council of the African Union. It was organized by the African Union Commission through its Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), which is responsible for the Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment thematic area.

Experts Session on Agriculture and Rural Development (14-16 Nov)

This Sectoral Session included, RED, AFSA, SAFGRAD, IAPSC and CAADP (Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme); Animal Resources (IBAR, PANVAC, PATTEC)

 

Experts Session on sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (14-16 Nov);

This Sectoral Session included: Blue Economy (Biological and Non-Biological Resources; Ocean Governance) and Sustainable Environment (Biodiversity, Forestry and Wildlife; Climate Change and Meteorology; Disaster Risk Reduction; Sustainable Land Management; Water and Environment (including Sanitation)

High Level Ministerial Session of the 5th ARDWE (17th Nov)

This meeting validated the report on the implementation of the recommendations and decisions of the 4th STC focusing on the work under the following sectors: 

1. Agriculture and Food Security 
2. Animal Resources 
3. Blue Economy 
4. Rural Development 
5. Sustainable Environment.

AU-IBAR hosted a high-level side event

At the sidelines of the STC-meeting, AU-IBAR hosted a high-level side event with ministers from 6 AU member states: Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Somalia, Chad and Egypt. While Ministers from 6 countries: Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania sent their representatives. This event sought to engage Ministers and experts responsible for Livestock, Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture to provide valuable insights into AU-IBAR's mandate, strategic direction, and ongoing programs, aligning with the broader goals of the STC-ARDWE

Background:

The Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment STC - ARDWE is one of the fourteen (14) STCs established by the Decision of the Twelfth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (Assembly/AU/Dec.227 (XII)), which was held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on 01-03 February 2009. The STC is composed of Ministers or senior officials responsible for sectors falling within its areas of competence. The Ministers approve projects and programmes submitted by the STC-ARDWE experts. They also have the duty to ensure effective supervision, follow-up and evaluation of the implementation of decisions taken by the organs of the Union and the coordination and harmonization of projects and programmers of the Union.