COMESA has established a regional livestock facility hub which will operate as a network of stakeholders interested in and committed to improving the institutional environment at regional level in order to have effective and efficient animal health, welfare, livestock trade and production services.

The regional hub was launched on 13th April 2017 in Mauritius after a livestock forum.

During the two-day meeting, the delegates critically reflected on potential responsibilities and contributions of the Hub in the development of the livestock sector in COMESA. They developed an action plan that included the steps to formalize the Hub as a tool for livestock development within the 19 member COMESA Region.

The forum was officially opened by the Minister of Agro-Industry of Mauritius Mr. Mahen Kumar Seeruttun who emphasized the need for the region to have harmonized systems which will help develop the livestock sector.

“We do recognize the important role of livestock production in poverty alleviation and providing meaningful livelihoods to a large number of our citizens. We assure you of our support to the Livestock Policy Hub to enable it fulfil its role in the drafting of livestock policies that are meaningful for our farmers,” Minister Seeruttun added.

African Union Interafrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Director Professor Ahmed El-Sawalhy, reiterated that his organization was committed to ensure sustainable use of animal resources to ensure maximum contribution to socio-economic development of the continent. He was represented by AU-IBAR Senior Policy Officer Dr Mphumuzi Sukati.

Secretary General Sindiso described the livestock hub as crucial as it will help improve investment, intra and inter regional trade in livestock and livestock products.

“The regional hub will strengthen our regional integration for better control of trans-boundary diseases and improve production and productivity of livestock agriculture for the benefit of COMESA citizens,” Mr Ngwenya said through his representative Director of Industry and Agriculture Mr. Thierry Mutombo Kalonji.

The Regional Livestock Facility Hub is being supported by AU-IBAR through the Veterinary Governance (VET-GOV) Programme working with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in partnership with the European Union and USAID.

To be functional and effective, the regional hub will be made operational around the Regional Livestock Technical Focal Points and the Alliance for Commodity Trade in eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialized agency under COMESA in charge of facilitating Commodity trade in the region.

The Forum was attended by experts in livestock, animal health, Member States, regional Economic Communities, cooperating partners, academia and regional farmer organisations.

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Final Communiqué

Livestock Forum for the Establishment of Regional Livestock Policy Hub in COMESA

The VET-GOV programme has supported the establishment and strengthening of National Livestock Policy Hubs (NPLH) in most of the COMESA Member States (MSs). To complement the NLPH and for overall guidance and oversight of implementation of livestock programmes, COMESA is looking forward to the establishment of Regional Livestock Policy Hub (RLPH). The RLPH will be linked to the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialized agency under COMESA in charge of facilitating Commodity trade in Eastern and Southern African Countries.

The Livestock Forum for the establishment of the RLPH within the COMESA was held in Port Louis, Mauritius on the 11-12th April, 2017. The overall objective of the meeting was to discuss on improvement of the institutional environment at national and regional levels to provide effective and efficient animal health and extension services in COMESA. The Forum was attended by participants from COMESA Secretariat, AU-IBAR, OIE, FAO, USAID/USDA, Tufts University and RECs (COMESA, EAC and IGAD). The list also included invited representatives from Comoros, Kenya, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe in addition to participants from the Regional Farmers Organizations (EAFF, SACAU).

The forum was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Mahen Kumar Seeruttun, the Minister of AgroIndustry, Mauritius following remarks from Dr Mphumuzi Sukati, Senior Policy Officer, Economics, trade and Marketing on behalf of Professor Ahmed El-Sawalhy, the Director AUIBAR and Mr. Thierry Mutombo Kalonji, Director of Industry and Agriculture, on behalf of COMESA Secretariat.

The Livestock Forum Hub deliberated on the following:

• Livestock Forum meeting Objectives;

• Overall VET-GOV programme progress;

• VET-GOV programme progress in COMESA, EAC and IGAD;

• Livestock trade and trade policy in Africa: Opportunities and challenges;

• The effect of TADs on livestock production and trade;

• Importance of RLPH and its functional linkages with National SPS committee;

• The effect of drought on Livestock production and trade in the Horn of Africa and the way forward;

• The OIE Standard Setting Process;

• Major Trans-boundary animal diseases and Zoonosis in Eastern African Countries, their implication on animal production, trade and the way forward;

• The effect of drought on the livelihood of livestock producers and resilience in the Horn of Africa and the way forward;

• The importance of RLPH and TOR for its establishment;

• TOR of the RLPH and proposed structure and its vertical and horizontal linkages;

• Criteria for selecting Members and profile of individual Membership (Organizations and individuals within the organizations);

• Recommendations and the way forward

During the two-days meeting, the delegates critically reflected on potential responsibilities and contributions of the RLPH in the development of the livestock sector in COMESA; developed an action plan that included the steps to formalize the RLPH as a tool for livestock development within the COMESA Region.

The Forum members appreciated the efforts made by the VET-GOV COMESA and partners in fostering the regional policy making processes and ensuring inclusiveness, gender responsiveness; participation/representation of multidisciplinary stakeholders and the use of evidence and knowledge-based decision making in the membership and activities of the relevant institutions.

Following fruitful deliberations and considering;

• The role played by COMESA in the development of the RLPH that will support the coordination, harmonization and integration of countries to stimulate a more conducive environment for public and private investments in the livestock sector;

• The improved capacity of COMESA in terms of regional coordination and harmonization for the benefit of the livestock sector;

• The role played by AU-IBAR for the reinforcing of the veterinary governance in Africa for developing policies, strategies and legislations to improve the livestock sector Governance.

• The role played by FAO at international level in reinforcing veterinary services capacities and technical support provided for policies development and implementation for the development of the livestock sector ;

• The role played by OIE through PVS missions in enhancing capacities of countries to comply with OIE standards regarding veterinary services delivery;

• The need for establishment of a RLPH within the COMESA region that will operate as a network of stakeholders interested in and committed to improving the institutional environment at regional level to provide effective and efficient animal health and production services.

The Livestock Forum agreed on the following recommendations and way forward:

• Establishment of the RLPH within the COMESA to provide effective and efficient animal health, welfare, production and trade services taking into consideration that:

  • The policy hub is to be coordinated at the Directorate of Industry and Agriculture at COMESA, and will be linked to ACTESA, the COMESA specialized agency in charge of facilitating commodity trade in Eastern and Southern African Countries;

  • Additional livestock initiatives (by AU-IBAR/FAO/OIE, COMESA) should utilize the policy hub in order to strengthen and sustain its operations; and

  • AU-IBAR to finalize the draft road map and action plan on operationalization of the livestock policy hub in COMESA to be shared with partners and RECs and agree on implementation.

• Framework and mandate of the RLPH within COMESA

• • The attached proposal on

  • Structure;
  • Terms of reference;
  • core values and
  • mode of operation
  • List of members organisations and other stakeholders

Will constitute the framework and mandate of the RLPH within COMESA

• Sustaining Regional Policy Processes and Initiatives

  • Building on the successes of the VET-GOV programme, AU-IBAR/FAO/OIE/COMESA and RECs within AU to establish linkages with any ongoing regional policy processes and livestock initiatives that may be relevant at regional level;

  • The COMESA RLPH will be housed under Industry and Agriculture division with functional linkages with ACTESA and CAADP regional team in charge of developing and monitoring the regional CAADP COMPACTs and the Regional Investment Plans;

  • COMESA and Partners to support intra and inter-regional linkages within the framework of the COMESA/ACTESA Agricultural/Livestock Program; and

  • Partners (AU-IBAR, FAO, OIE, RECs) to continue support to the LPH in each member state and focus on the anchorage of the LPH in appropriate ministry and relevant directorates for national ownership.

The specific recommendation

For AU-IBAR

• Support the region in its efforts of coordination and harmonization within the governance of animal resources under the AUC Agenda 2063, CAADP results framework and the LiDeSA.

• The VET-GOV and subsequent programs is to promote and assist the complete establishment of N/RLPH;

• Assist Members States and the region to put in place functional links between the N/RLPH with CAADP teams at national and regional level as well as others relevant networks.

For FAO

• Continue the technical assistance necessary to Members States for the formulation, the implementation of livestock policy as well as capacity building necessary to stakeholders in the sector.

For OIE

• To continue supporting Member States through the OIE PVS Pathway for sustainable improvement of country's Livestock Services' compliance with OIE standards on the quality of Livestock Services.

• Continue supporting the regional harmonization of legislation and standard to promote trade and investment.

For COMESA Secretariat

• Ensure a regional coordination and harmonization of policies and strategies of the livestock sector within COMESA in line with continental policies like Agenda 2063, CAADP results framework and the LiDeSA;

• Ensure the follow up of the official recognition of the governance tool and its adoption within reasonable time frame in the region.

For Member States

• Facilitate the LPH to contribute in the review of the National Agriculture Investment Plans (NAIP) for a better mainstreaming of the livestock component in the CAADP process;

• Ensure the availability of adequate resources to support the operationalization of NLPH;

• Advocate for proper integration of the NLPH into livestock development programmes and viable linkages with the proposed RLPH;

• Develop synergies at national level allowing the NLPH to better function, particularly with national SPS committees.

The Establishment of the RLPH

COMESA Secretariat will take appropriate steps for the adoption of the RLPH.

Acknowledgement

The members of Livestock Forum for the establishment of the RLPH within the COMESA thank the Government and people of the Republic of Mauritius for hosting the forum meeting and COMESA Secretariat for assistance provided in the organization of the meeting, AU-IBAR and partners for the support extended during the preparation and conducting the meeting, and the European Union for funding the programme.

Done in Port Louis, Mauritius on 12th of April 2017