The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) has become the latest Member State in formally committing to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Framework. This was following a visit of a delegation from the AU Commission to SADR, which met with the Minister of Cooperatives and senior government officials from the country’s development sectors. In April 2014 the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic wrote to the Commission requesting its support in implementing the CAADP Process.

The AU delegation made an orientation presentation to underscore the motivation behind CAADP, its value addition, processes and expected outcomes. The delegation highlighted the distinguishing characteristics of CAADP, namely; investment and strategic partnerships. The Mission was comprised of Mr. Lailá Lokosang, Senior CAADP Advisor and Mr. Abderrahmane Khecha, Senior Policy Officer, both in the AUC Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture.

On its part the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic team in attendance of the half-day engagement session cast some light on the developmental setups and the humanitarian situation in both the refugee settlements and in the Liberated Territories of the country.

The Moroccan occupation in the larger part of the country, wide displacement of citizens, shortage water, and soil salinity, climate change and the effects of the global economic meltdown in donor countries featured as the major challenges to development in the country. Available opportunities and strengths include social cohesion and safety-nets and high literacy rates (95% among women). The Sahrawi population is largely nomadic pastoralists with camel providing the potential for export market.

The meeting agreed to follow the next steps for full implementation of the CAADP process leading to signing of the CAADP Compact in 2015. The AU Delegation inspected some agricultural projects including a large automated poultry and egg producing plant, a vegetable farm dependent on drip irrigation technology, an agricultural research and induction training station and family farming projects using climate smart technologies.

Contact:
Mr. Lailá Lokosang
Senior CAADP Advisor (Food & Nutrition Security) – LokosangL@africa-union.org.