GROWINFO NOVEMBER 2015

GROW

GrowINFO

November 2015 WEST AFRICA (WAF)

Dear fellow fighters for food justice, In November, the schedules could not be so much busy, the internal and external meetings related to the GROW campaign were more frequent than ever. The key period of the regional campaign, the ECOWAP+10 conference, concentrated our efforts and other meetings also took place: non-state actors of CAADP, EndaPronat, Enda CACID. Atcountry level, the fight also continued unabated: the influence of electoral programs in Burkina Faso for the inclusion of rural women, the presentation of budget proposals, the defense of family farmers or of youths’ place in agriculture in Ghana, and the planning of the campaign in Mauritania or the preparation for the participation in the COP21 in Niger. RMB successfully held the high level conference on transhumance and IPAR held meetings on land issue in Senegal and in Africa. Monitoring food security enables us to anticipate the possible consequences of the “El Niño” phenomenon and we participated in PREGEC.

BRIEF NEWS ROUND-UP FOR FEBRUARY 2015 GROW heavily mobilized for#ECOWAP10 GROW and its partners held a series of activities during the international conference on Agriculture in West Africa and its Forum «ECOWAP+10 Review and Outlook ahead 2025". Action against Hunger joined the #ECOWAP10 campaign to highlight the theme of nutrition. The messages of the campaign were widely disseminated on social networks (@taclonslafaim et www.facebook.com/Lets-Tackle-Hunger).

The campaign started with digital actions and in Dakar with the press conference of ECOWAP report: a fragmented policy. A three-day film festival debate was held on agriculture and youth employment, perspectives on Zero Hunger in West Africa, and Livestock: employment opportunities and challenges. Throughout the meeting, GROW held an information and documentation stand on the campaign’s progress. An English and French version of TV5 Monde broadcast on the ECOWAP achievements is available at http://bit.ly/1laSwJS (FR) and http://bit.ly/1QW34ck (EN). The conference culminated in key guidelines for the next 10 years (one regional policy, role of women and youths, regional livestock policy, support to value chains such as milk), and a compact that commits all stakeholders including civil society organizations that will ensure the citizen monitoring on the objectives and commitments. idemiguel@oxfamintermon.org APESS participated in #ECOWAP10 APESS participated in the ECOWAP+10 conference and the regional fair in Dakar. During those meetings, APESS released its position paper on ECOWAP+10 in which it calls on political leaders to make every effort to avoid a possible livestock crisis. In its stand, APESS also disseminated capitalization papers on its innovation platforms -Banfora milk in Burkina Faso and Martap in Cameroon- for advocacy on local milk industry. hindatou_amadou@yahoo.fr Meeting of West African CSOs on desirable outlook, guidelines and adjustments of ECOWAP/PDDAA During the ECOWAP+10 international conference held on 17-19 November 2015 in Dakar, the West African regional organizations -ENDA-CACID, AFAO, and IPAR-, in partnership with OSIWA joined their efforts to bring their technical and political contribution to the gathering by organizing a multi-actor dialogue on the investment in agriculture. This indicates that agriculture remains a super-priority in West Africa. Lessons and outlook were learnt for the horizon 2015. cherif.bodian@ipar.sn

Workshop of non-state actors (NSA) held by ACCORD regional office and the Pan-African Coalition of NSA (CNC/ CAADP)

Through this workshop held on 14-15 November 2015 in Dakar, the CNC/CAADP that was heavily involved in the coordination mechanisms of civil society and non-state actors at pan-African level, but much underrepresented in West Africa, took advantage of this ECOWAP review period to raise West African NSAs’ awareness on stakes related thereto and enhance regional coordination to increase their influence during ECOWAP review. At the end of deliberations, the recommendations focused on strengthening the CCAA (Consultative Committee for Agriculture and Food) which is the framework provided in Malabo commitments, to ensure ECOWAP joint and inclusive review. CNC/CAADP president suggested contacting GROW coordination in West Africa to build an alliance on a common strategic agenda. alukelo@oxfamintermon.org GROW Steering Committee in West Africa We took advantage of the attendance of four focus countries of the campaign (Mauritania, Burkina, Niger, and Ghana) and regional members (WILDAF, APESS, RBM) at the ECOWAP+10 conference held by ECOWAS, and set up a small steering committee to take stock of the activities achieved at the regional level and in the different countries. This also enabled us to prepare and then evaluate the activities of the campaign related to ECOWAP+10 conference, and analyze its conclusions for the continuation of our work. The talks showed the high interest of our campaign and the huge potential of cross learning, as well as the opportunities and challenges we have drawn from the conclusions of the ECOWAP+10 conference. idemiguel@oxfamintermon.org GROW Mauritania defines its strategy ON 23-24 November, Oxfam Mauritania and its partners of GROW Country campaign held a planning workshop for the period 2015 -2019. The participants included Oxfam Senegal, the Network of Civil Society Organizations for Food Security (ROSA) as main partner of Oxfam Mauritania, NGOs and international institutions such as Concordis, Save The Children, ACORD, and FAO and resource persons from various ministries (Agriculture, Social Protection, Economic Affairs and Development, and Finance). At the end of the workshop, the objectives of the campaign for the 2015-2019 period have been defined as well as those of the 2015-2017 period. adjigo@oxfamintermon.org

Second high level consultation on cross-border transhumance between the Sahel and coastal countries This meeting was held on 3-5 November in Cotonou. It was a framework of meeting, exchanges and sharing between policymakers from origin and host countries of cross-border transhumance. This framework which was established by political authorities of coastal and Sahelian countries (Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali) as well as officials from integration institutions (ECOWAS, UEMOA, and CILSS), aims to improve the management of cross-border transhumance by putting the necessary information at policy makers’ disposal for the adoption of strategic and operational decisions against those influxes. The findings of the study on the effective implementation of the regional food reserves were also presented to experts so that they can improve it for validation by the Ministers who attended the Cotonou conference. salinadege@yahoo.fr

ACEP sensitizes Ghana tertiary level students Africa Centre for Energy Policy organised rallies and forums in four Universities in the Western, Ashanti, Northern and Greater Accra Regions to engage the tertiary students on the need to invest in agriculture. This initiative was to get their inputs and add their voice to the #Oil4Agric campaign and also get them to follow the online discussion on social media engagements. nagyekum@oxfam.org.uk In Ghana, Wildaf advocates for the recognition of small-scale farmers WiLDAF Ghana will launch a social media campaign calling on government and policy makers to integrate smallholder farmers into the national farmers’ awards scheme which is celebrated first Friday of December. There will also be television and radio discussions on the skewed criteria for selection which favour large scale farmers and marginalised small scale farmers.nagyekum@oxfam.org.uk PFAG presents the findings of its budget analysis

The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) with members of the GROW campaign submitted their inputs to Ministry of Finance towards the preparation of the 2016 budget statement and economic policy of Ghana. There will be post budget analysis of the 2016 budget to ascertain whether inputs submitted were considered and factored in the budget statement.

PFAG will also have a workshop to present findings of fertilizer subsidy programme implementation it carried out in September in 18 districts across the country. The workshop will seek stakeholders and experts views and opinions in preparing the final report for policy makers. nagyekum@oxfam.org.uk Election monitoring and digital mobilization in Burkina After six presidential candidates or their representatives signed the 10 measures for women to build Burkina Faso without Hunger, GROW Burkina followed up analyzing the six candidates' social programs, speeches, and statements during electoral rallies or in the media, to ensure whether they have taken the 10 measures identified by rural women into account. Based on this analysis, GROW Burkina launched a digital campaign on social networks and on the web site http://www.electionsburkina.org/. This enabled the overall population and particularly rural women to exercise citizen control on the consideration of the 10 measures and thereby ensure accountability by the candidates (would-be leaders). oissaka@oxfamintermon.org GROW Burkina attends the exchange workshop on the participatory research and sub-regional advocacy project for policy change in favor of food security held by ENDA-Pronat in Dakar on 16-18 October During this workshop, GROW Burkina shared with the participants its advocacy strategy on the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NASAN) and the implementation progress of this initiative in Burkina Faso. GROW Burkina also contribute to the development of a regional strategy on agricultural policies focused on land, water and other natural resources in favor of Family Farms with a view to promote food sovereignty in Senegal and West Africa. GROW was informed about a regional caravan slated for March 2016 to influence the land and seed laws being developed in subregional institutions (ECOWAS and UEMOA). This caravan may interest GROW and build a link with the Kilimandjaro initiative. oissaka@oxfamintermon.org Panel on compensation in the implementation framework of projects coveting land for pastoral, forestry and mining use in Senegal As part of a study on the compensation methods in the implementation framework of projects coveting land, IPAR held a series of panels with a thematic focus, land for agricultural, pastoral, residential, forestry and mining use. This research was aimed at enabling IPAR to analyze and characterize the evaluation methods for compensation. In a bid to come up with proposals to improve the system. The panel brought about thirty participants together including representatives and advisers of ministers, representatives of the national land reform commission, officials from water and forestry services, private sector actors such as Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD), AGEROUTE, and Teranga Gold Corporation, with experts from civil society organizations and specialized journalists in attendance cherif.bodian@ipar.sn.

Large scale land tenure in Africa - Using research action to enhance accountability The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy and IPAR held, a workshop on large-scale land deals in Africa on Thursday November 28, 2015. This multi-stakeholder dialogue workshop brought together policy makers, civil society activists, researchers, private sector representatives from various African and European countries as well as the United States of America to create the conditions for the launch of a dialogue between the various actors involved in land governance, to generate strategic and practical solutions and recommendations. , the Dakar meeting which meant to contribute to a better understanding of large-scale land acquisitions in Africa, also strives to further the land reform process underway in Senegal, through the identification of best practices in terms of equity, transparency, and accountability in land farming investments cherif.bodian@ipar.sn

Impacts of El Ni単o at the a regional level A regional strategy on El Ni単o has been developed and the analysis of El Ni単o's impact on food security in West Africa has been updated. Given the magnitude of the risk, all countries are targeted. The strategy will span three implementation

phases. The first focuses on information and support to West African and Sahelian countries as well as regional institutions for international actions. The second phase consists of a close watch, a refinement of differential transmission mechanisms or a likely increase of food prices in the region and its impact on different types of households, according to their wealth level and type of livelihoods. This phase will also be a preparation step. The third and final phase stands as a response in case of real crisis.sniang@oxfam.org.uk Conclusions of PREGEC and the Harmonized Framework The overall food situation is positive with well-supplied markets despite a late start of the agro-pastoral campaign in West Africa. The rainfall is well distribution in time and space in the Sahel and West Africa except in Chad and Northern Benin, Togo, and Ghana. The pastoral situation is also positive with the development of pasture land. Meanwhile, the overall cereal yield in the region roughly reaches 58,127,000 tons, meaning a 4% increase compared to last year and 12% compared to the average over the last five years; tuber and cash crop production is also on the rise. However, the nutritional situation is alarming in the region, despite the efforts of States and their partners. In addition, the findings of the harmonized framework indicate that 8.1 million people are currently facing food insecurity (including 5 million in Nigeria) and the number will reach 10.8 million next lean period (June-August 2016). Nigeria, Chad, and Mauritania are the most affected, and then Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso.MNaindouba@oxfam.org.uk

PARTIAL AGENDA OF MARCH 2015 Finalization of GROW Mauritania’s 2015 – 2019 campaign action plan, adjigo@oxfamintermon.org RPCA : validation of the external evaluation chart, Dakar, sniang@oxfam.org.uk Contract signature with the CILSS to support the mapping of nearby reserves, gabrielpons@oxfamintermon.org Workshop for adoption of following strategic documents (strategic planning, communication plan, resource mobilization plan, and manual of administrative and financial procedures), WILDAF, wildaf_ao@yahoo.com Training in advocacy for APESS members in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. hindatou_amadou@yahoo.fr Evaluation of the Burkina campaign “Election/ Rural women without hunger”, oissaka@OxfamIntermon.org

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