Rural Economy & Agriculture

The overall Objective of the African Union Commission on its program on Climate Change and Desertification is to provide policy and political guidance, and to enhance coordination and harmonization of Africa’s activities in the field of climate change and desertification within the overall framework of the Climate for Development in Africa (CLIMDEV) which is a joint initiative of African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC). It will ensure an effective engagement of Africa’s political leadership at all levels using the AU structures in order to advance climate change and desertification issues. Furthermore, it would enhance partnership with the international development community in aligning and harmonizing the technical and financial support along the climate change agenda.

The Great Green Wall or Great Green Wall of the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative ( L’ initiative de la Grande Muraille Verte pour le Sahara et le Sahel) is a planned project to plant a wall of trees across Africa at the southern edge of the Sahara desert as a means to prevent desertification. Initiated in 2005 by H.E. President Olusugon Obasanjo of Nigeria, and Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, It was adopted and developed by the African Union to address the detrimental social, economic and environmental impacts of land degradation and desertification in the Sahel and the Sahara.

The EC-ACP Capacity Building Project on Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs Project) was established at AUC (Africa Hub) in 2009. The MEAs Project has as overall objective to strengthen and enhance the endogenous capacity of African ACP countries to effectively implement MEAs (both regional and continental) and related commitments, leading to sound management of the environment and natural resources and therefore to sustainable development and poverty eradication in Africa.

The AU Water and Sanitation Programme aims at implementing the July 2008 Assembly Declaration on the Sharm El Sheikh Commitments for Accelerating the Achievement of Water and Sanitation Goals in Africa, and the African Water Vision 2025.

African livestock is affected by several diseases such as Trypanomosis, Peste-des-Petits-Ruminants (PPR), Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), African swine fever (ASF), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Newcastle disease (ND), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Rift Valley Fever, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza et etc… These diseases constitute serious constraint for livestock production and international trade of animals. Economic damage caused by animal disease in Africa was estimated around 4 billion $ USD per year. These diseases have an important impact on food security and the capacity of Africa to achieve self-sufficiency in food proteins. Those diseases, such Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Rift Valley Fever are zoonotic diseases with consequence on public health. Better control and eradication strategies of animal disease, are achieved through the use of good diagnostic tools and vaccines.

The Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign, PATTEC, was established following the adoption of Decision AHG/Dec. 156 (XXXVI) by the African Heads of States and Government during the OAU Summit held in Lome, Togo in July 2000, urging Member States to embark on a Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign, (PATTEC).

The Department’s mandate is to boost AU Member States’ rural economy development and agricultural productivity by supporting the adoption of measures, strategies, policies and programmes on agriculture. It works closely with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other partners.