THE ROLE OF REGIONAL FARMERS’ ORGANISATIONS IN THE AFRICA FORUM

1. THE ROLE OF REGIONAL FARMERS’ ORGANISATIONS IN THE AFRICA FORUM CAADP AFRICA FORUM Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 2010 By Alangheh Romanus Che on behalf of 5 RFOs

2. BACKGROUND African Forum as an initiative of GTZ was important in sharing of success stories among agricultural stakeholders in Africa However it did not have much endorsement from governments to successfully up scale success stories from across the continent On the other hand CAADP process had endorsement but had no platform for stakeholders to share and upscale success stories, hence CAADP Africa Forum 2009 (Nairobi) decided that subsequent forums should be led by RFOs

3. Background Regional RFOs in the Continent ROPPA – West Africa EAFF – Eastern Africa SACAU - Southern African UMAAGR –North Africa PROPAC – Central Africa These RFOs will launch Pan African Farmers Forum (PAFFO) in Lilongwe - Malawi

4. Back ground Continued....... There has been a decline in Agricultural Production and income levels of the rural poor in Africa for the past 25 years. To reverse the situation RFOs in the continent do strongly advocate for: The review of the technology pattern that was employed in the past Review of the capacity profile of all those involved in technology transfer Review the exiting policy and institutional framework The Recognition and involvement of FO in defining policy decision, elaborating agricultural programs and projects as well as Monitoring and Evaluation CAADP Process identifies with this philosophy

5. Role of RFOs in the Africa Forum • As a platform to strategise on how to: • Influence Policy decisions making at continental and regional level through engagement with the African Union and REC, • To offer support to NFOs in country CAADP process through • Updating NFOs on country CAADP process, • Providing capacity to NFOs to evaluate CAADP implementation, developing agricultural investment plans and participating effectively in the process, • Facilitating sharing of experiences on FO engagement in national processes • Ensure coherence in African agricultural policies (national – regional – continental)

6. Role of RFOs in the Africa Forum In addition, RFOs also: Coordinates the collection of best-practices in production and post-production activities from across Africa Consults with other stakeholders in identifying and defining the theme for the forum Consults with other stakeholders in identifying participants and resource persons to the forum

7. Conclusion To enable RFOs undertake their responsibility, there is need for their capacities to be strengthened through: Provision of both financial and technical resources to strengthen their institutional and organizational to mobilize farmers in developing agriculture in the continent. Provision of financial resources to upscale the success stories shared during the Forum across the continent Strengthening the partnership and collaboration with AU and NEPAD in identifying challenges faced by producers in the sector and support farmers to independently review CAADP processes at national and regional level

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