With the high dependency on agriculture

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1 1 Issue #: 565_2 nd Novermber 2018 Building Resilience on Climate Change is Top Priority for COMESA Vice President of Zambia, Mrs. Inonge Wina, who opened the forum, said agriculture development and food security were highly at risk due to natural and human induced disasters. This was as a result of low public and private investments in relevant sectors; lack of effective evidence- based planning and weak institutional capacities. (L-R) Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Dev Haman, Vice President of Zambia, Mrs. Inonge Wina, World Bank represenative and Dr Mclay Kanyangara With the high dependency on agriculture for majority of COMESA Member States, there is need to be vigilant with the threats of climate change that may affect the productivity of the sector, COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe has said. The top priority for COMESA, therefore is to build resilience to the impacts of climate change in the agro-food systems, infrastructure and energy supplies. Ms. Kapwepwe made the remarks during the opening of a two days Regional Forum on Climate Adaptation and Food Systems Resilience in Eastern and Southern Africa that took place on October 2018 in Lusaka Zambia. Central to the theme of the Forum was the role of regionalism and collective, supranational pathways towards resilience. In her speech delivered by Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Dev Haman, the SG noted that regional integration entails interconnecting physical and non-physical national systems into regional systems. For these interventions to succeed, she observed, there was need for high level of awareness especially at the leadership, an enabling national and regional policy environment with human and institutional capacity to effectively deal with the issues. She cited technology development, transfer and diffusion as well as access to financing by farmers as the key interventions for success. Decision Makers The two days forum brought together decision makers from across the COMESA region and representatives from other regional economic communities including the East Africa Community, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Indian Ocean Commission and the Southern Africa Development Community. It was intended to facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange in developing shared policies, programming and systems to provide an opportunity for Member States to highlight their development priorities. With the El Niño looming in the horizon, there is an urgent need to look at country preparedness for such events and share lessons, experiences and good practices on matters of climate change, she cautioned. The World Bank Director of Agriculture Global Practice, Mr. Simeon Ehui said substantial investments in adaptation will be required to maintain current yields and achieve the required yields to feed the population in the region. he said the region should learn from the past experiences such as the strongest El Niño that occurred in Lessons should be learnt and documented from the , record-high temperatures, droughts and floods that occurred fueled by one of the strongest El Niño events in recent decades, which crippled agricultural production across East and Southern Africa, Mr. Ehui said. He said the World Bank group was scaling up Climate Smart Agriculture under the Climate Action Plan and keen to partner with countries that are willing to triple the productivity of agriculture produce to ensure food security. The forum ended on Friday, October 26, This bulletin is published by the COMESA Secretariat Corporate Communications Unit but does not necessarily represent views of the Secretariat. For Feedback: pr@comesa.int Contact Address : COMESA SECRETARIAT, COMESA Center, Ben Bella Road P.O. Box 30051, , e-comesa@comesa.int

2 2 Energy Experts Meet in Zambia Nov 6 Discussion to focus on developing and financing issues for hydropower projects in Africa inclusive and sustainable industrial development, and realization of the UN s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union s Agenda 2063 which provides robust framework for developing Africa to be an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa. hydropower dam Preparations for hosting the global hydropower promotion event in Zambia are complete. The 8th Hydropower for Today Forum will be held in Lusaka on 6-7 November It is jointly organized by COMESA and the International Center on Small Hydro Power (ICSHP), based in Hangzhou, China. Other co-hosts are the Ministry of Water Resources of China; Zambian Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Water Development, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The forum provides a platform for international experts to focus on the issues of small hydropower through the triangular-cooperation-method that involves cooperation among international organizations, developing countries and developed countries. The theme for the 8th forum is: Hydropower Promotes Industrial Development in Africa and will focus on hydropower exploitation and industrial development Africa. Discussions will cover: developing and financing issues for hydropower projects in Africa; South- South cooperation and renewable energy development in Africa; and international standards of small hydropower and green small hydropower development. The objective of this year s Forum is to promote the Belt and Road initiative, The Hydropower for Today Forum began in 2005 and has been in operation for 14 years. It provides a platform for international experts from all over the world to focus on the issues of small hydropower. The Forum is an important platform for countries to share experiences, and to seek cooperation and common development. Registration of participants is underway on registration-form/ COMESA DIARY Dates Activity Venue 5-6 Nov 2018 Inaugural meeting of COMESA Countries involved in the Cross-Border Trade Initiative Hilton Garden Court, Lusaka 6-7 Nov 2018 The 8 th Hydro Power for Today Forum COMESA Secretariat, Lusaka 7-9 Nov 2018 COMESA Committee on Statistical Matters Intercontinental 12 Nov 2018 Signing the EDF 11 Trade Facilitation Program between COMESA & the European Union. 16 Nov 2018 Extra Ordinary Meeting of Trade & Customs Nov 2018 Committee Thirty Ninth Meeting of the Committee on Administrative & Budgetary matters Nov 2018 Thirty-Ninth Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee Hotel, Lusaka COMESA Secretariat 25 Nov 2018 Thirty-Ninth Meeting of the Council of Ministers Nov 2018 The 2018 PIDA Week Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Dec 2018 Intra-Africa Trade Fair Cairo, Egypt

3 Structural Vulnerability Assessments Conducted in Madagascar 3 Stakeholders from the Government and Civil Society in Madagascar met in Antananarivo from October to review the COMESA Peace and Prosperity Index forecasted drivers for the country. The index drivers are depicted under different clusters of the COMESA Early Warning System (COMWARN) Structural Vulnerability Assessments (SVAs) model. The COMWARN SVA model is theoryinformed, data-driven and evidence-based assessment of structural vulnerability. It uses the COMESA Peace and Prosperity Index (CPPI) to track both regional and country-specific structural factors to peace and prosperity. The CPPI consists of four indicators namely Peace, Health, Wealth and Trade Openness derived from Article 3 of the COMESA Treaty. The index offers a timely diagnosis of forecasted structural drivers associated with future peace and prosperity. Multi-stakeholder Consultation In 2016 the COMESA Council of Ministers directed COMESA to conduct multistakeholder consultation workshops at the country level to raise awareness on the CPPI. Since then, COMESA Secretariat through the Governance, Peace and Security Unit has been holding SVA consultations in Member States, with Madagascar becoming the fourth host after Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Participants in the Madagascar forum were drawn from government agencies representing Foreign Affairs, Health, Interior and Decentralization, Justice, Finance and Budget, Education, Office of the Prime Minister, National Reconciliation Commission, Defense as well as the Anti- Corruption Commission and Civil Society Organizations. The forum recommended the establishment of a response mechanism to be coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Steering and Technical Committee will also be formed to oversee implementation Madagascar delegates at the meeting and help disseminate the CPPI forecasted drivers to the grassroots. In addition, the participants recommended that Madagascar accedes to the AU conflict prevention and mitigation process, which will lead to the establishment of a Situation Room. To support the process, the African Union Continental Early Warning System (AU CEWS) participated in this consultative workshop and presented the Continental Structural Conflict Prevention Framework (CSCPF). Structural Vulnerability Assessments model uses the COMESA Peace and Prosperity Index to track both regional and countryspecific structural factors to peace and prosperity

4 4 Implementation of RI Projects in Sudan on course Fungwa Kabati, (Finance) and Mr. Nkandu Kabibwa, (Statistics). The team reviewed the financial expenditures to ensure that there was adherence to stipulated financial management guidelines governing the project. This will inform further disbursement of resources due to Sudan. In a series of meetings with a cross section of stakeholders, the team appreciated the efforts being made by Sudan to enhance its exports and the progress made on implementation of old activities, initiation of new project activities and challenges that were being faced. Sudanese delegates at the meeting COMESA project monitoring team was A in Sudan recently to assess the status of implementation of the Sudan Institutional and Productive Capacity Building (SIPCB) Project. The Government of Sudan and COMESA signed the Project on 11th May 2018 following the approval of its Progress Monitoring Report by the 11th and 12th Ministerial Committee of the COMESA Fund. This facilitated the release of Euro 2,201,700 for implementation of its activities. The activities included development of the leather and livestock value chains, accession to the World Trade Organization; institutional strengthening; improvement in investment climate; and production of Harmonised Statistics (Industrial, Foreign Direct Investments) and import and export statistics). The SIPBC project brings the total financing provided to Sudan under the COMESA Adjustment Facility to over Euro 3.4 million since The objectives of the COMESA mission were to support the finalization of preparatory activities by the beneficiary institutions under the 6th and 7th Call project. It was also aimed at reviewing project expenditures in order to facilitate further disbursement; and to assess progress on the implementation of activities to enhance absorption levels. The mission team comprised of Mr. Mwiinga Mwiinga, (COMESA Aid for Trade), Dr. Mukayi Musarurwa, (Standards) Ms. In a meeting at the Ministry of Trade, the Undersecretary, Mr. Osama Hashim, told the COMESA team that Sudan, was expanding its export market under the made in Sudan initiative in the region. He recommended that bar-coding should be included in next phase of the project as it was a vital component for export goods to the international market. The Secretary General of the National Council for Free Zones and Markets Mr. Ibrahim Musa Dirara, said the successful implementation of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) has the potential to enhance Sudan s export of goods to the region and beyond. He said this will be accomplished by increasing the export of value added products. The SIPCB Project document focuses on supporting the development of business and investment case for the FTZ, increasing awareness of its potential to other government institutions and training of parliamentarians. It was noted that the activities were ongoing, and the relevant terms of references had been shared with the Project Implementation Unit for action.

5 Mauritius Ready for the 50 Million African Women Speak Project 5 Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo Women entrepreneurs in Mauritius us are set to enjoy more business opportunities once the digital networking platform, which is being developed under 50 Million African Women Speak Project (50MAWS) is completed. The African Development Bank funded three-year project will enable women to network with their countparts in Africa and beyond using electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, computers, laptops, ipads, among others. Through the digital platform, users will access financial and non-financial information they require to develop and grow their business. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, COMESA leads the implementation of the 50MAWS project. The project is being implemented in 38 African countries which are members of COMESA, the East African Community and the Economic Commission for Western Africa States. The platform is also expected to enhance interface between African women entrepreneurs and potential buyers, financiers as well as mentors. The ultimate outcome is to directly impact 50 Million women and create fair waged jobs for young people from the increased business activities, and capital flow. Addressing participants during a two-day stakeholder engagement in Bagatelle, Mauritius, the Vice-Prime Minister, and Minister for Local Government and Outer Islands, Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo re-affirmed the government s commitment to support women empowerment initiatives. Full Support Our government is fully committed to support women to stand on their feet by setting up their own business given the fact that empowering women makes sense from an economic point of view. It is also the right thing to do if we want to erase inequality, decrease poverty, create greater social justice and ensure sustainable development. The Minister added that supporting women empowerment is equal to creating countless opportunities for African countries and ultimately for the continent as a whole. She pledged full support to Mauritian women entrepreneurs training in the use ICT tools. According to the African Outlook 2017, women in Africa are twice more likely to start a business than their counterparts elsewhere in the world. It is therefore fitting that the 50MWS initiative is promoted across the African continent which has a thriving start-up community full of dynamic women entrepreneurs, the Minister added. Speaking at the same event, COMESA Senior Gender and Mainstreaming Officer Mrs. Mekia Redi, stressed the critical role of women in economic development. However, she observed, that women continue to face gender-specific barriers such as limited access to information and networking opportunities, business training, weak property rights that deprive them of collateral and tangible assets. These are social barriers that discourage them from thriving as entrepreneurs, she said. The use of ICT as an enabler will contribute to lessening some of the challenges affecting women to start and grow their business. (Source: