Back row/ from left to right: representatives from World Bank, DfID,
Ministers from other countries
Front row/from left to right: USAID country representative, Rhoda Thrimisu Commissioner DREA-AU, President Paul Kagame, WFP, Agnes Kabibata Rwandan Minister of Agriculture, Sheila Sisulu WFP Deputy Executive Director
December 7 and 8. Kigali. Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture has hosted a two-day high-level stakeholder meeting to discuss post-compact implementation of its CAADP Compact in Kigali.This Post - CAADP Compact meeting, aimed to review the role of CAADP in stimulating effective and sustainable poverty reduction, economic growth and food security in Africa. The meeting mainly examined the key drivers enshrined in the CAADP priorities and frameworks and how the alignment of the Rwanda Agriculture Investment Plan to CAADP can facilitate and accelerate the achievement of sector targets and Millennium Development Goal I ( MDG I).
Rwanda presented its Agricultural Investment Plan, which is based on its medium-term strategy; Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation, 2009-2012 (PSTA II). This is a comprehensive strategic plan which provides detailed budgets for the priority programs and activities necessary in order for Rwanda to achieve the CAADP target of 6% or higher agricultural sector growth deemed necessary to stimulate the required transformation of Rwanda’s rural areas and significantly reduce poverty levels.
Dr. Monty Jones and Sheila Sisulu WFP Deputy Executive Director
This level of growth, if driven by factors that benefits the poorest households, has the potential to reduce poverty by almost 8% per year. While this is not quite sufficient to halve poverty by 2015, it would reduce poverty levels by 40% in the next 6 years.
In recognition of the central role of Agriculture in its effort to combat poverty and food insecurity, Rwanda was the first country to align itself to the CAADP agenda and to sign the CAADP Compact in 2007. Rwanda has since elaborated her agricultural investment needs and put in place mechanisms to align support and strengthen accountability.
On the second day, a half day field visit was organized to give delegates the opportunity to experience firsthand, the agricultural landscape in Rwanda through meeting farmers and visiting some interventions that gave them a chance to understand better the implementation challenges, opportunities and success stories of Rwanda in the last couple of years.
Officiating at the closing ceremony, Prime Minister Bernard Makuza reiterated the need to transform the sector and called upon CAADP countries and development partners to walk the talk by undertaking 'real actions' to ensure food security. He noted that development partners should recommit to support infrastructure development, especially in rural areas, and land consolidation programmes. "Rwanda is committed to the CAADP and we are eager to be the first African country to bring the CAADP programme to its completion," pledged Makuza.
References:
Partnership to cut hunger and poverty A Concept Note of Rwanda Post CAADP Compact: High level stakeholders meeting
allAfrica 10/12/2009 States, Partners Agree to Support CAADP
