By Mary Mwendwa
A Regional Consultative meeting of the UNCCD which is underway in Kenya, has called for strong communication channels to help the convention move foward.
The meeting which is expected to deliberate on issues that affect AU countries who are members of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) face challenges of desertification and land degradation .
During official opening of the forum, a speech that was delivered of behalf of Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary , Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR), Professor Judy Wakhungu highlighted the following issues which were key . Wakhungu in her speech expressed her gratitude to the African Union Commission to the government of Kenya and people of Kenya for accepting to host the meeting. She also appreciated her election as the chair of African Group of Negotiators for the UNCCD.
“We have seen untold human suffering and tragedy that has come as a result of illegal migration. Therefore sustainable land management forms the basis of sustainable agriculture and livelihood in Africa.It is in regard to these facts that Africa countries have supported the UNCCD.”She said.
Prof.Wakhungu pointed out the trends that are alarming in land degradation and desertification as a source of concern for the political leadership of the African continent. “Land degradation and desertification are important to Africa because they impact on our ability to ensure food security , environment health and political and social security.”
Almami Dampha, Senior Policy Officer, Forestry and land management , African Union Commission,narrated how UNCCD came into operation after the Argentina COP, he was part of the meeting where he represented the (African Union Commission( AUC )negotiations on UNCCD.”In this particular meeting AUC was given a mandate by AUC assembly to provide support to the negotiation processes in order to build capacity on African priorities. However, AUC is an observer during the negotiations and can only speak through other parties.”
Almami noted key issues of concern that are addressed by AUC.”As AUC we work towards enhancing capacity to African countries in order to address challenges of desertification and land degradation which is a serious threat to sustainable development.We also do policy advocacy and provide support for meetings, mobilize resources and in some cases provide interpreters during the negotiations.”
Speaking about the consultative meeting, Mr.Almami said the meeting came in force as a result of a request that was placed during the last UNCCD Meeting held in South Africa.”The highlights of the meeting are around areas of various reports on the organs of the UNCCD convention, for example the Committee on the Review of the implementation of the convention (CRIC), COP Bureau, Committee on Scientific Training (CST),all these being global organs where Africa is represented.This meeting has also noted that there needs to be a strong communication channel among parties which also needS goodwill.”
On desertification and land degradation issue Almami said Africa’s food security is threatened.”We have a lot of youth migration who are moving to towns where they are exposed to many dangerous factors and hence food insecurity arising.Africa is also not able to feed itself because most of its land is degraded.Farm inputs are expensive to most small holder farmers and also infrastructure challenges also contribute to this problem.
However, all is not lost , some of the Africa countries are trying their best through improved seeds and other farming technologies like irrigation to avert the situation. Bodies like CAADP(Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme ) which tasked AU countries to set aside at least 10 % of their GDP to agriculture and PIDA (Program for Infrastructure Development In Africa) have helped in seeing food insecurity situation improve.UNCCD is underfunded and therefore this is one of biggest challenges to achieving our mandate.”Almami said.
Other issues of concern that came out of the meeting were on gender, where it was noted most focal points were men dominated , groups to meet regularly to exchange ideas and head of policies in respective countries to influence policy at large.
IGAD, UNEP, SCOs,AFF,Kenya’s ministry of Environment and Natural Resources were part of the organizations represented in the Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) of the UNCCD African Group of Negotiators.
UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and people can be found.
In attendance were representatives from Morocco, Kenya, Malawi, DRC, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Swaziland, South Africa, Nigeria , Gambia among other countries.
