ECA Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Africa and ICGLR Joint Press Communiqué 

Press Release No. 41/2009

Bujumbura, 14 September 2009 - The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in collaboration with the Eastern Africa Sub-Regional Office of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is organising a Workshop for Partners on the Feasibility and Implementation of the Joint Program on Food Security in Eastern Africa, in Bujumbura, Burundi, from 14 to 15 September 2009. The Partners include the ICGLR, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community for the Great Lakes Region (CEPGL).   

The objective of the workshop is to discuss the proposed program on food security in Eastern Africa with a view to achieving harmonization taking into account strategies, projects and experiences of partners, to ensure its development and implementation in synergy. During the two-day workshop, there will be plenary sessions which shall facilitate the adoption of the road map for finalization and implementation of the program including commitments and pledges from interested partners.   

The meeting will be attended by International Partners identified through consultations carried out by the UNECA Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Africa as well as bilateral partners based in Burundi. The meeting will also be attended by Member States such as Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda which are members of several Regional Economic Communities (RECs) including ICGLR, IGAD, EAC and CEPGL. Member States are expected to share their experience on food security as well as challenges met.  

Key partners including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), centres of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, the Inter- African Bureau for Animal Research of the African Union (AU/IBAR) will attend the meeting in order to enrich discussions and share their expertise and experience in the various areas of food security.

It should be recalled that in its repositioning program, the Economic Commission for Africa is putting emphasis on assistance to member States, Regional Economic Communities and Intergovernmental Organizations as “privileged” partners.  

The vision of the action plan of the Economic Development and Regional Integration cluster of the ICGLR is to « transform the region into a space of sustained growth and shared development, a space of cooperation based on strategies and policies of convergence ». The program covers three sub-programs and 15 priority projects. These sub-programs include “Cooperation for Poverty Reduction, Harmonization and Strengthening of Cooperation Policies and Infrastructure Development”.   

A strategic partnership ICGLR/ UNECA enabled the preparation of an agreement on multi-annual programming which takes into account member States development priorities. The process is in progress and it is in this framework that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the ICGLR Secretariat and the UNECA Eastern Africa Sub- Regional Office on 1 April 2008 to support the implementation of programs and other development projects.  

Done in Bujumbura, on 13 September 2009
ICGLR/UNECA

Contacts:

Julien Bucyabahiga
Communication Focal Point
UNECA/ SRO-EA
(250) 252 586548
jbucyabahiga@uneca.org

Lydie Nzengou
ICGLR Communication Officer
(257) 79 346 622
lydie.nzengou@icglr.org

Daya Bragante
Food Security Focal Point
UNECA/ SRO-EA
(250) 783560345
dbragante@uneca.org

Roger Nsibula
Economic Development and Regional Integration
Program Officer, ICGLR
(257) 79 375 501
roger.nsibula@icglr.org