COMMUNIQUE OF THE FIFTH CAADP PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM

UNCLAS ABUJA 002149 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - Tags and addressee SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, DRL, INR/AA, S/CIEA DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/AA AND AFR/SD (HILL) USDA FOR FAS (PATRICIA SHEIKH) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR SUBJECT: COMMUNIQUE OF THE FIFTH CAADP PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM MEETING, NOVEMBER 9-10, 2009, ABUJA, NIGERIA ¶1. SUMMARY: This cable is the communiqu from the 5th Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program(CAADP) Partnership Platform (PP) Meeting, which took place on 9-10 November 2009 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria to review progress and share experience of CAADP implementation since the last CAADP PP in Pretoria, South Africa in March 2009. The 5th CAADP PP was hosted by the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) and supported by the African Union Commission (AUC),the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Secretariat and the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development. The meeting was held just prior to ECOWAS's International Conference on Financing Regional Agricultural Policy in West Africa (ECOWAP/CAADP),which was also the occasion to sign the first regional Compact. ¶2. The more than 150 participants included representatives of the African Union Commission (AUC),NEPAD Secretariat, Regional Economic Communities (RECs),Pillar Lead Institutions, other knowledge institutions, as well as Pan-African organizations and representatives of 20 development partners (DPs). Participants appreciated the contribution and effectiveness of ECOWAS for hosting the meeting. The meeting examined the key outcomes and recommendations of the AUC, NEPAD, RECs and Pillar Lead Institutions Meeting of 5 and 6 November 2009, discussed issues of partner engagement and coordination, and identified priority areas of action. END SUMMARY. -------------- Key Messages -------------- ¶3. The meeting noted with satisfaction the progress made in CAADP implementation and especially the progress on 12 countries signing compacts in line with the resolve reaffirmed by the African Union Heads of State and Government at their July 2009 Summit in Sirte, Libya on the theme "Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security". ¶4. The meeting recognized the marked improvement in the continental coordination of the CAADP implementation process by the AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat. ¶5. The meeting welcomed the commitment by development partners to support countries that have signed and/or are about to sign CAADP compacts in mobilizing resources for program design and investment financing. ¶6. The meeting appreciated the developments and momentum around agriculture and food security, the commitment by the G-8 and other stakeholders in L'Aquila in July 2009, the immediate follow-up by development partners in Addis Ababa and Washington, DC in September, as well as the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the G-20 declarations around CAADP. The L'Aquila roadmap and the actions since July to advance Joint Statement have been informed by, and reinforce the support to, CAADP. ¶7. The meeting noted with particular satisfaction, that the CAADP principles and values are adequately reflected in the following L'Aquila principles: 1) support country-led processes; 2) ensure comprehensive approach to food security; 3) strategically coordinate assistance; 4) support a strong role for multilateral institutions; and 5) sustain a robust commitment of financial resources (including Qand 5) sustain a robust commitment of financial resources (including the $20 billion in resources pledged at the G8 Summit). ¶8. The meeting welcomed the partnership event held on September 26, 2009 at the UN General Assembly, hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and the deliberations of the Committee on Food Security, which together highlighted the importance of CAADP as a model for food security programming and partnership development. The meeting expressed its hope that the same recognition afforded to CAADP will be reflected in the deliberations and outcomes of the World Summit on Food Security. ¶9. The meeting took note of the forthcoming Conference of Parties (COP) 15 on climate change and deliberated on the effects on agriculture and food security in Africa and called for the completion and implementation of the continent-wide Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Framework. -------------- Implementation Progress -------------- ¶10. The meeting commended the progress made in CAADP implementation by Member States, RECs, and by the continental-level African institutions AUC, NEPAD Secretariat and Pillar Lead Institutions. The meeting, in particular, noted the signing of eleven (11) compacts since July 2009. ¶11. The meeting commended the strong support by ECOWAS in conducting country round tables and signing nine (9) compacts as well as its pledge to achieve an additional four (4) out of six (6) remaining compacts by the end of the 2009. ¶12. The meeting recognized the efforts being made by COMESA to accelerate the country round tables and signing of compacts in its remaining member states. The meeting specifically commended COMESA for the signed-up Compacts in Burundi and Ethiopia. The meeting also noted the initiatives being taken by SADC to accelerate CAADP implementation in its region. ¶13. The meeting noted the significant progress made by the AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat in articulating clearer mechanisms for ensuring effective support by the Pillar Lead Institutions to the Country Round Table processes and development of regional Compacts. ¶14. The meeting recognized that progress has been made by ReSAKSS, in collaboration with Pillar Lead Institutions, in developing a comprehensive M&E framework that also incorporates detailed budget-tracking methodology. The meeting also noted that the framework was presented and reviewed at the AU Conference of African Ministers' of Agriculture, Land and Livestock in April 2009. The meeting finally noted that the ReSAKSS was positively evaluated by an external team of consultants on behalf of Development Partners. The evaluation expressed the need for a more systematic link of ReSAKSS to CAADP. ¶15. The meeting noted that a comprehensive review of the Interim Steering Committee (ISC) of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) was completed. It welcomed the establishment of a new management arrangement - the Partnership Committee - consisting of seven (7) members representing, AUC (1),RECs (1),Pillar Lead Institutions (1),Farmers Organizations (1),Private Sector (1) and Development partners (2). The Partnership Committee also includes three observers: NEPAD Secretariat (1),Global Donor Platform (1) and the World Bank (1). The NEPAD Secretariat will also be the PC Secreariat ¶16. The meeting appreciated the role of the September 2009 Addis Ababa meeting and the resulting "Addis Consensus" in deepening the awareness about CAADP among in-country development partners and the wider international development community. In particular, the PP meeting duly recognized the efforts exerted to develop the "Guidelines for Donor Support to CAADP Process at a Country-Level" and their official endorsement in Abuja by the Development Partners and the African Union Commission. ¶17. The meeting took note of the progress being made on CAADP implementation at country level and provided an opportunity to share lessons and experiences from the countries represented at the PP: Qlessons and experiences from the countries represented at the PP: Benin, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Togo and Uganda. The meeting specifically welcomed the invitation by Rwanda to a planned Post-Compact Joint Review on CAADP Investment Plan and Implementation scheduled for 7-8 December 2009 in Kigali, Rwanda. -------------- Agreed Actions -------------- ¶18. The meeting called on AUC-NEPAD to develop and implement a detailed roadmap and action plan for 2010 on post-compact support to countries and RECs, including a systematic and coherent coordination framework. ¶19. The meeting called upon AU Member States to accelerate progress towards fulfilling their commitments to increase budget allocation to the agricultural sector to at least 10 percent. ¶20. The meeting called for a combined effort by AUC-NEPAD and Development Partners to advance the implementation of the Guidelines for Donor Support to CAADP Process at a Country-Level. In particular, the meeting underlined the need to ensure that donor field offices are aware and make effective use of the guidelines in their engagement with the CAADP agenda and in aligning policy formulation and programs with the compacts. The meeting further encouraged Development Partners to review and report on the application of the guidelines as part of the mutual accountability reporting. The meeting also invited other DPs to endorse officially the use of the Guidelines by signing the Joint Statement that 12 DPs and AUC signed at the PP. ¶21. In the same vein, AU member states are urged to make effective use of the guidelines and agreed donor coordination mechanisms at country level to further advance the CAADP implementation process. ¶22. In the spirit of the inclusiveness of the CAADP process, AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat are called upon to devise and strengthen mechanisms to support the engagement of farmers' organizations, private sector associations, NGOs, and other civil society organizations with the CAADP agenda. ¶23. The meeting called for the organization by ReSAKSS, in consultation with AUC-NEPAD, of a technical meeting by February 2010 to validate the M&E framework and agree on an action plan for its operationalization, including a clear peer-review architecture at regional and country level. ¶24. The meeting called for the first comprehensive M&E report to be completed by the next PP for review and refinement. The meetings tasked NEPAD Secretariat, working in collaboration with ReSAKSS, to operationalize the M & E framework and report on progress. ¶25. To facilitate better coordination and link ReSAKSS more systematically to CAADP, the meeting called for the establishment of a ReSAKSS Steering Committee at continental level by AUC, working with NEPAD Secretariat, before the next CAADP PP. ¶26. The meeting called for the establishment of a Peer Review Unit, with sufficient autonomy, to work with ReSAKSS and the national SAKSS nodes to lead the preparation of independent progress reports for the PP, APF, APRM and other continental and global fora. ¶27. The meeting called for accelerated establishment and strengthening of country SAKSS nodes as described in the respective country round table documents and compacts, and in line with the AUC Roadmap on Policy and Knowledge Systems (PKS). ¶28. The meeting called on the AUC to develop a detailed action plan by the next PP for the establishment within 3-5 years of Regional Policy and Knowledge Systems Platforms/entities to host and better coordinate current and future knowledge support activities under CAADP. ¶29. Noting that the Pillar Lead Institutions have been provided a one-year interim mandate, the meeting called upon the newly established MDTF Partnership Committee to ensure speedy operationalization of the respective Child Trust Funds. ¶30. Having reached a common understanding on the principles of Q30. Having reached a common understanding on the principles of Mutual Accountability Framework (MAF),the meeting called on the MAF Task Team to develop the Framework for review and endorsement by the next PP. As part of the framework, the meeting specifically called for an inventory of commitments made by the African Union and related institutions (RECs, Member States, and Pillar Institutions etc); Development Partners and the International Community on CAADP by the next PP. ¶31. Noting that exploitation of regional complementarities is one of the core principles of CAADP and crucial to its success, the meeting urged Developments Partners to work closely with RECs and other pertinent stakeholders to develop, by the 6th PP, joint guidelines for a better coordination of CAADP support activities at regional level. The guidelines should build upon current experiences of partnerships under CAADP, including the guidelines for country-level donor support, the work on CAADP MAF and the regional compacts. ¶32. In order to expedite the operation of the MDTF Partnership Committee (PC),the meeting urged the respective member institutions to designate their representatives, with the exception of the Pillar Lead Institutions, which are required to be represented by their Lead Person. ¶33. Noting the call by the G-20 for the establishment, at the World Bank, of a Global Financing Mechanism for Food Security (Multi Donor Trust Fund),the meeting called for its proper alignment to CAADP's framework, structures, tools and streamlined procedures to ensure steady disbursement of funds to support the implementation of country compacts and investment plans. The meeting also called for the broadening of the CAADP Peer Review Mechanism and M&E system to monitor and report on the commitments and the use of the funds at country level in a transparent manner. ¶34. Concerned that Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) budget ceilings may limit the necessary scaling up of funding to support the CAADP agenda in some countries, the meeting called on Development Partners, working either individually and/or through the Global Donor Platform, to initiate dialogue with the IMF and other relevant parties to support AUC's and its member states' efforts to ensure such ceilings do not constrain agricultural growth. ¶35. The meeting called upon the AUC to finalize and validate the current draft Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Framework by the next PP. -------------- Organization and coordination of the CAADP PP -------------- ¶36. For a successful coordination of the PP meetings, the 5th CAADP PP entrusted the AUC with the establishment, before the end of November 2009, of a Joint Standing Committee to oversee the planning and organization of future PPs, including a broad and timely consultation on the agenda and decision points as well as following up on such decisions. This committee is expected to work closely with, and supported by, the MDTF Partnership Committee. The members of the Joint Standing Committee include four representatives from the African CAADP constituency: AUC (1),NEPAD Secretariat (1),RECs (1),and Pillar Lead Institutions (1),and up to three representatives (3) from the CAADP DP Task Team. ¶37. The meeting, taking note of the invitation of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) member state to host the Sixth CAADP Partnership Platform meeting, recommended that the AUC explore the offer and determine the venue and time of the next PP meeting in good time. ¶38. This communiqu was compiled in Abuja 12 November 2009 by key representatives from the U.S., UNITED KINGDOM, and ECOWAS. ¶39. (U) Embassy Abuja coordinated this telegram with ConGen Lagos. SANDERS