AU-SAFGRAD in collaboration with UNCCD Secretariat, UNEP and the Government of Cote d’Ivoire, facilitated the organisation of the 10th Session of AMCEN back to back with the Africa Preparatory meeting to UNCCD COP16. The meeting was made of 4-day technical session 2-day ministerial consultation. AU-SAFGRAD mainly focused effort in the technical discussions particularly in the adoption of African Common Position for a Legally Binding Protocol on Drought to be defended during the next COP16 in Saudi Arabia.
In his opening remarks, Dr Ahmed Elmekass on behalf of the African Union Commission (AUC). Dr Elmakass extended his gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Cote D’Ivoire on hosting the Africa Regional meeting in preparation for the UNCCD Cop16. He further indicated that the AUC mandates and priorities are well aligned with the UNCCD Strategic Objectives. Dr Elmekass added that drought is a global challenge which affects everyone. He added that due to drought, people have migrated from rural to urban areas and other from one country to another, agricultural production impacted and people lost their jobs and livelihoods,
He indicated that, COP16 will be a landmark to accelerate action on the ground. He added that, since COP11, which was held in Namibia, the Africa region have been discussion issues of drought since then. The UNCCD COP12 then established an IWG to look at the possibility of having a standalone strategic on drought while COP13 adopted the standalone strategic objective on drought which was integrated into the 2018-2030 UNCCD. This discussion continuous at COP14 and 15 respectively, where the IWG on drought was established to look at possible policy options to address drought at all level.
He added that, the African Heads of States in their special session meeting held in 2023 and 2024 respectively adopted the African Region negotiations positions on drought protocol. He further calls upon the regional negotiators, partners, stakeholders and regional organisations to come up with a concrete negotiation strategy to strengthen the regional position on drought.
