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H.E Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to update Heads of States on initiative championing women in agriculture

Kigali
Rwanda
13 Jul, 2016

President of Liberia, H.E Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , together with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and action group Femme Africa Solidarité (FAS) will this month convene Heads of States and other key stakeholders on the ‘Empowering Women in Agriculture’ (EWA) initiative. The Breakfast Meeting will be held on the sidelines of the 27th AU Summit on the 16th of July in Kigali, Rwanda.

With the conviction that African women are crucial to agricultural transformation, EWA’s main concern is the lack of integration of the interests of female farmers in ongoing programmes for agricultural transformation in Africa. The result is that gender remains on the periphery of the growth process instead of being at the heart of it, despite the critical role played by women in African agriculture. The advocacy, funding and implementation of EWA is designed around appointment of Champions who include Heads of State and Government known for their commitment to women empowerment and leadership on women empowerment in their countries.  Other Champions include eminent personalities and institutions that have demonstrated commitment to supporting Africa’s development agenda, particularly women empowerment. One such champion is H.E Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of the Republic of Nigeria.

Building on the momentum generated so far, the EWA partners have organized this meeting bringing together EWA Champions and other stakeholders to update and brief them on the Regional Program Document which is based on eight (8) pilot countries national program documents. The EWA partners will provide an update on the EWA activities undertaken so far in a bid to garner support and firm commitment for the Initiative moving forward, thereby enhancing women’s participation in this critical sector. 

The aim of the event is to provide increased stakeholder awareness on EWA; have increased high-level political and stakeholders’ commitment to the implementation of the First Phase of the Regional Program as well as pinpointing financial commitments for the start-up program.

The EWA initiative, of which Liberian President Madam Sirleaf and Rwandan President Paul Kagame are co-Chairs, was officially launched at the 19th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2012. 

Thomas Kwesi Quartey

ACBF has been granted the status of a specialized agency because of the potential to transform Africa through capacity development.


H.E. Thomas Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson, AU Commission
Erastus Mwencha

The recognition of ACBF as the African Union’s Specialized Agency for Capacity Development launches the beginning of a new era for capacity building by ACBF, which will require an appropriate level of political commitment and financial support from all stakeholders.


H.E. Erastus Mwencha, Chair, ACBF Executive Board
Lamin Momodou

The remarkable achievements ACBF has registered over the past 26 years is not by accident in our opinion. They have come through hard work, dedication, commitment, purposeful leadership, support from the member countries as well as productive partnership building.


Mr. Lamin Momodou MANNEH, Director, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa
Goodall Gondwe

Africa needs ACBF as much, probably more now, than at the time it was created in 1991.


Hon. Goodall Gondwe, former Chair of the ACBF Board of Governors and Minister of Finance – Malawi
Ken Ofori Atta

Ghana’s partnership with ACBF is a tremendous blessing for us and therefore the opportunity for Ghana to host the 26th ACBF Board of Governors Meeting is something that we treasure.


Hon Ken Ofori Atta, Chair of the ACBF Board of Governors and Minister of Finance - Ghana
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