Partnership Platform will speed up implementation of the CAADP at country level

Amid increasing calls to hasten the pace of implementation, the NEPAD Secretariat hosted the first meeting of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform (CAADP-PP) on 28-29 September 2006, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Calls for the establishment of the CAADP Partnership Platform began last year during the extensive regional implementation planning process involving Regional Economic Communities (RECs), national governments, private sector and farmer organisations and development partners.

The need for the Platform was a key recommendation emanating from this consultative process, out of recognition that CAADP implementation, by virtue of the numerous actors and stakeholders involved, would require high-level coordination to mitigate the risks of duplication and inefficiency and to maximise opportunities for synergy and complementarities.

An analysis of the state of CAADP implementation and its challenges was the starting point of the inaugural meeting of the Platform followed by discussions on options and measures to accelerate CAADP implementation.

Support mechanisms and processes to make CAADP more efficient and effective, indicators of success for the CAADP process, and the critical issue of communication, were also discussed.

In analysing the state of CAADP implementation, representatives from the RECs took centre stage to provide a clear picture on the progress and challenges facing their regions and member countries and also provided updates on the CAADP country-level engagement process.

CAADP country-level processes were affirmed during the 2005 consultative processes as key in accelerating implementation at the country level as they provide a forum for national governments to form partnerships to allow for the coordinated implementation of country priorities and development assistance.

The experience of Rwanda, the first country to hold a national CAADP Implementation Platform, was shared and proved effective in demonstrating the added-value and importance of this forum, which allows national governments to:

– Take stock and review how national policy and investment processes are tackling key country level constraints to achieving the 6% target growth rate for the sector;

– Identify policy and investment gaps;

– Devise action plans to bridge these gaps;

– Agree on budget and external resource requirements and funding and institutional arrangements to implement these plans; and

– Adopt mechanisms for effective coordination and review of implementation progress and performance.

The first meeting of the CAADP-PP in Johannesburg proved effective as a forum for mutual review and learning as each REC presented their tailored approaches to implementation. Representatives of RECs seemed particularly impressed by the approach of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) to country level implementation. In COMESA, Ministers of Agriculture were requested to appoint CAADP focal points to mobilise all in-country stakeholders and lead the country-level process among other duties.

CAADP Implementation Platforms will be held in 12 countries during 2006 with a greater number expected during 2007.

The meeting also provided updates on key regional initiatives, including the TerrAfrica sustainable land and water management initiative, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) agricultural research, technology dissemination and adoption programs and the COMESA/SADC jointly developed Regional Fertiliser Strategy whose overall objective is to increase agricultural productivity and regional food security through increased and efficient use of both mineral and organic fertilisers among others.

Representatives of RECs also addressed their challenges; issues of capacity were overwhelmingly echoed as the primary stumbling block as well as enhancing coordination, alignment and communications between AU/NEPAD, RECs, countries and development partners.

Representatives of development partners reaffirmed their commitment to CAADP and to providing capacity to support implementation.

Development partners also cited enhanced communication of the CAADP implementation process as critical and committed themselves to support a CAADP communications strategy to ensure that all stakeholders remain informed and updated on CAADP implementation developments.

The next meeting of the CAADP-PP will be held in February 2007.

What is the CAADP-Partnership Platform?

A multi-partner, continent-wide mechanism for coordination, mutual review, and dialogue, and a complement to other CAADP related coordination mechanisms which currently exist, ore are to be established at the country and regional level.

What are its objectives?

To contribute, through dialogue and mutual review, to sustaining and deepening the commitment to and alignment with key CAADP targets and principles, on the part of African governments and partners

To facilitate a constructive dialogue and exchange between senior level representatives of African governments, development agencies, and private sector (including farmer) organisations on CAADP implementation, as well as on the broader strategic issues facing the agricultural sector in Africa

To review lessons and good practices regarding the identification, design, and implementation of national and regional policies, strategies and programmes that contribute to enhanced agricultural growth, food security and rural development.

Who participates and how frequently?

In addition to the African Union Commission (AUC), the NEPAD Secretariat, RECs, and leading bilateral and multilateral development and technical agencies, the CAADP-PP is open to relevant African civil society and private sector organisations, including farmer’s organisations, with competencies and mandates at the regional level or higher.

The CAADP-PP will meet twice a year, with a maximum interval of six months between meetings.

What is the added value of the CAADP-PP?

The CAADP-PP is expected to contribute to a more effective implementation of the CAADP agenda across Africa as a whole.

The benefits of such an arrangement include reduced transaction costs to national governments and other participating financing institutions as well as ensuring that a more consistent understanding of CAADP objectives and operational modalities exists across the different groups of actors and levels of implementation.

Source : nepad news – october 13, 2006