By Sadique Bamwita
ENTEBBE
The regional biennial review report on Malabo declaration commitments including halving poverty through agriculture, enhancing investment finance, mutual commitment and enhancing resilience to climatic variability among others , has revealed that all member states under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development(IGAD) including Uganda , have not achieved the set targets.
This was revealed by Caro Brenda Lorika, the environmental and social Development expert (IGAD-world bank) on food systems resilience program for Eastern and southern Africa region while presenting the dissemination of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development program (CAADP) report.
She noted that based on the fourth regional review report compiled by IGAD regarding the seven commitments in the Malabo declaration, indicates that overall the all six member states including Uganda have not performed well.
“All the member states including Uganda are not on track in fulfilling the seven commitments outlined in the Malabo declaration based on data that was availed in August during the review period 2023. However, there is progress in some of the indicators in the commitments. Given this situation, IGAD has decided to convene dialogues to forge a way forward together with member states by identifying the challenges and gaps and opportunities available to enhance these commitments and also have a clear roadmap on how to move on so that they can successfully achieve the set targets, “Mrs. Caro Lorika explained.’
Mrs. Caro Brenda Lorika adds that according to Malabo declaration commitments, each member state is required to allocate 10 % of It’s annual budget to enhance investment in agriculture but unfortunately what is provided is less than this percentage. She is however optimistic that through continuous engagements this would be addressed.
‘Though Uganda has progressed in some of the commitments, it is still lacking in the area of investment financing. All governments of member states are supposed to advocate for resources in different areas within their annual budgets but also in the private sector and donor funding.
“In our fourth Biennial Review, at least 6 out of 8 member states reported. Sudan didn’t report because of the ongoing war while Eritrea has not been much involved but the rest of the six member states we have had reports from them. In the review, each of the member states has some level of progress but overall they are not on track except for the first biennial review report produced in 2017 which indicated that most of the countries were on track.
‘ We are hopeful that through roundtable engagements with the member states , we should be able to support them to improve and also identify the areas where they are not performing well and do advocacy and bring all stakeholders to support this cause,‘Mrs. Caro Lorika expressed optimisms.’
The focal person for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development program (CAADP) at the Ministry of Agriculture Animal industry and Fisheries, Max Tusiime, noted that as Uganda prepares for the Kampala declaration that was agreed upon early this year by Heads of state during a Summit held in Kampala, there is need to improve the area of fertilizer intake and availability of data.
