China to work with NEPAD and African partners on aquaculture research

The Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences (CAFS) and the WorldFish Centre have agreed to work together on a scientific research programme particularly focusing on fish breeding and to co-host future Forums on Fisheries Science and Technology.

The agreement was announced at a luncheon hosted for the NEPAD and WorldFish Centre delegations by the president of CAFS, Prof. Zhang Hecheng, during the 2007 Chinese Forum for Fisheries Science and Technology held in Qingdao, the capital city of Shandong province from 22-25 October 2007.

NEPAD was represented by Dr. Sloans Chimatiro, NEPAD fisheries advisor, and WorldFish by Dr. Raul Ponzoni.

Under the agreement WorldFish will mobilise international scientists, particularly fisheries scientists from Africa to give them an opportunity for wider scientific exposure.

In addition, the Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, through its cooperation with the WorldFish Centre will explore opportunities to collaborate with African partners in fisheries and aquaculture research and technology development under NEPAD FISH.

The National Fisheries Technology and Extension Centre in the Ministry of Agriculture also pledged to work with NEPAD to assist African partners in the field of fisheries and aquaculture.

The Forum was co-sponsored by Shanghai Fisheries University, WorldFish Centre, Fisheries Research Agency of Japan, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute of Korea, Ocean University of China and Institute of Oceanography and Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences.

During the Forum, Dr. Chimatiro presented a paper entitled “NEPAD action plan for the development of African fisheries and aquaculture : seeking new partnerships in fisheries and aquaculture science”. NEPAD, november 9, 2007

Top-level executives attend annual regional meeting on Africa’s progress

The 8th Regional Consultation Meeting (RCM) of UN agencies and organisations working in Africa in support of the African Union (AU) and its NEPAD programme was held on 5-6 November 2007, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

It was opened by Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, and was also addressed by Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Dr. Maxwell Mkwezalamba, Commissioner for Economic Affairs, African Union Commission, Prof. Firmino Mucavele, Chief Executive, NEPAD Secretariat and Dr. Luis Sambo, World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa.

Among other issues, the RCM deliberated on :

A progress report on the implementation of recommendations of the 7th RCM ;

A review of the cluster system ;

A review of the 10-year capacity-building programme for the African Union ;

A post-conflict reconstruction.

A number of recommendation emanated from the 8th RCM, some of which were :

High-profile leadership should be provided, and institutional commitment sustained, to ensure the effective functioning of the cluster system ;

A steering committee based in Addis Ababa should be established to follow up on the decisions and recommendations of the RCM, the composition and terms of reference of which would be finalised after consultations ;

The regional integration agenda of the AU should be factored into all programmes and activities of the cluster system ;

Gender issues should be effectively mainstreamed in the activities of all clusters, in line with the strategic vision of the AU ;

A holistic approach should be used in addressing health issues in the cluster system ;

RCMs should be held once a year and Addis Ababa-based agencies should meet more frequently to keep the process alive. In addition, the RCM secretariat should prepare quarterly reports on cluster activities ;

Mechanisms for sub-regional coordination should be established to ensure the effective implementation of NEPAD programmes at that level ;

UN agencies should increase support to the AU Commission to enhance implementation of decisions of the AU Assembly ; UN agencies should increase support to the ECA to enable it to effectively carry out its coordinating role ;

An information-sharing and knowledge-networking forum should be established to enhance awareness, and to facilitate the implementation of NEPAD ;

The AU Commission, NEPAD Secretariat, RECs and other bodies involved in the implementation of the NEPAD programme should facilitate a free flow of relevant and timely information to ensure wider dissemination and outreach. NEPAD, november 9, 2007