Presentation transcript

1. Involvement of Farmer Organisations (FOs) in regional CAADP processes
Jeske van Seters
CSA Seminar ‘How to better involve farmers’ organizations in agricultural public programs?’
29 – 11 – 2012, Brussels

2. ECDPM in a nutshell
•  Independent and non-partisan foundation
•  Main goal: broker effective development partnerships between the EU and the Global South, particularly Africa
•  Areas of work: EU external action, security & resilience, economic governance, trade & regional integration, Africa’s change dynamics, food security
•  Methods: dialogue facilitation, tailored advice, policy-oriented research with partners from the South, institutional capacity building

3. Structure of the presentation
1. Why regional policies matter for FOs
2. State of play regional CAADP processes
3. Involvement of FOs

4. 1. Why regional policies matter for FOs

5. Brussels, 27 November 2012
(source: NRC Handelsblad)

6. Rationale
Cross-border issues strongly affect farmers’ livelihoods & food security more broadly. Key areas for regional action include:
•  intra-regional trade
•  management of shared natural resources
•  conflict prevention & resolution

7. Opportunities of CAADP
•  Keep smallholder farmers at the center of agricultural policies
•  Promotion of intra-regional trade in agricultural products
•  Deliver on regional integration ambitions
•  Strengthen coherence of regional initiatives through multisectorial approach (agriculture, infrastructure, trade)
•  Strengthen coherence and complementarity between national and regional level

8. 2. State of playregional CAADP processes

9. Regional CAADP gaining momentum
•  ECOWAS: regional agricultural policy (2005) & investment plan (2009) in place, implementation ongoing
•  IGAD: Regional CAADP compact expected to be finalized before end of 2012
•  ECCAS, EAC & COMESA: Roadmap for regional CAADP launched in May, August and October 2012
•  SADC in process of developing ‘CAADP compatible’ regional agricultural policy

10. Challenges
1.  Overlapping membership of RECs
2.  Parallel processes -  e.g. CAADP & drought initiative in IGAD
3.  Capacity regional organisations – ECOWAS setting up agricultural agency & fund
4.  Funding
5.  Political will to apply regional policies at national level
6.  Involvement and influence of FOs

11. 3. Involvement of FOs in regional processes

12. Example of ROPPAs positioning at time of formulation process ECOWAP
•  Recognition of family farming as basis for agricultural development in the region
•  Promotion of intra-regional trade
•  Protection of land rights and promotion of sustainable production systems
•  Involvement of FO in formulation, implementation & monitoring of policies and programmes
These points are reflected in ECOWAP, continued efforts needed in implementation phase

13. Experiences vary between RECs
•  ECOWAS: ROPPA closely involved and contributes to ECOWAP/ RAIP process
•  EAC: EAFF given observer status at sectoral council
•  COMESA: Insufficient engagement with key actors at an earlier stage slowed down process
•  IGAD: Lack of regional pastoral organization to articulate pastoralist concerns for regional CAADP

14. Success factors
•  Strong mobilisation and availability of farmers
•  Decentralisation of discussions
•  Thorough preparations of (evidence-based) FO proposals
•  Tailored technical and financial support from international networks and organisations
•  Strong alliances with regional and national policy-makers and Non State Actors

15. Hindering factors
•  Lack of capacities to engage in regional CAADP processes
•  Credibility and legitimacy of farmers’ representation at regional level
•  Difficulty to come to unified positions
•  Limited space for genuine dialogue and influencing (e.g. late access to documents)

16. Thank you 
Jeske van Seters