Calendar of events

 27-30 April, 5th annual conference of the African Forum for Utility Regulators, Accra, Ghana.
 28 April, African Water Facility meeting, Maseru, Lesotho.
 5-9 May, Science and technology, fisheries and aquaculture regional workshop, Lilongwe, Malawi.
 5-16 May, 9th ordinary session of the Pan-African Parliament, Midrand, South Africa. Source : NEPAD, april 25, 2008

NEPAD TV schedule

The next programme schedule for the NEPAD TV slot on the SABC Africa channel (DSTV Channel 286) is : African Views
 30 April, 8pm-9pm (SA time)

This phone-in panel discussion will be led by Prof Mohammed I Jahed, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The topic will be : NEPAD, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and African governance.

Professor Jahed will be accompanied by panelist Dr. Ivor Sarakinsky, a lecturer at the Graduate School of Public and Development Management. Source : NEPAD, april 25, 2008

NEPAD-Spanish Women’s Fund

The NEPAD Secretariat would like to thank all the organisations that have responded to last week’s request to make contact with the Secretariat. The speedy response is greatly appreciated. Organisations that have been requested to submit additional documentation are urged to do so as soon as possible.

The NEPAD Secretariat would also like to announce that : The appointment process for the new gender advisor at NEPAD will be accelerated.

The Technical Management Team will be in place soon. The successful candidates have already been notified and contracts are being finalised.

Disbursement of funds for all approved projects will start.

The NEPAD Secretariat would like to thank all applicants for their patience and understanding. Source : NEPAD, april 25, 2008

CAADP progress in Uganda

The NEPAD Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is moving ahead in Uganda under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the lead Ministry for its implementation and providing the Focal Point Office.

Ongoing CAADP activities and related programmmes in the country include :

Stocktaking and analytical exercise, mainly focusing on the review of existing policies, strategies, plans, investment programmes and reaources allocation in the agricultural and rural sector as well as the sector performance in relation to national, CAADP and Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets. Assessment of current sector performance and analysis of the role of agriculture in growth and poverty reduction in Uganda and alignment of long term agricultural development efforts with the CAADP framework as well as identificationof gaps to be bridged in order to achieve the CAADP and MDG targets.

Focusing on the formulation of policy and investment strategy options for sustained agricultural growth, poverty reduction, and food and nutrition security to meet the CAADP and MDG targets.

As part of the budget and expenditure review and tracking, and also in line with achievement of 10% target for public spending on agriculture, a public expenditure review (PER) was initiated in April 2007 to align with the CAADP. The main purpose of the agricultural PER was to assist the Ministry and sector to be better equipped and strengthened in budget preparation.

Other ongoing programmes that relate to CAADP include development of a harmonised country programme on sustainable land management (SLM) through TerrAfrica in line with Pillar 1 of CAADP.

A major activity that is ongoing in relation to CAADP is the development of a National Fertilizer Strategy. Source : NEPAD, april 25, 2008

MGetting to know the PAP

Ten young journalists – from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Liberia, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Tunisia – have been selected for on-the-job training on parliamentary reporting during the 9th ordinary session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa from 5-16 May 2008.

The course is organised by the PAP in co-operation with the NEPAD Secretariat and the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ) during each session of the Parliament.

The journalists gain experience and knowledge of the work of Parliament, NEPAD, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), e-Africa Commission, and the NEPAD science and technology initiative.

In addition to fostering journalism in Africa, the training also promotes the role and function of the PAP.

The Pan-African Parliament was established in March 2004 by the African Union to provide a common platform for the African peoples and their grass-roots organisations to be involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent. Source : NEPAD, april 25, 2008