JOÃO MAGALHÃES Regional SPS Frameworks and Strategies in Africa.
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JOÃO MAGALHÃES Regional SPS Frameworks and Strategies in Africa
Transcript of JOÃO MAGALHÃES Regional SPS Frameworks and Strategies in Africa.
JOÃO MAGALHÃES
Regional SPS Frameworks and
Strategies in Africa
APPROACH: A SCOPING STUDY
Objective: Inform and assess necessity of further SPS action
at AUC’s and RECs’ levels.
Actions: Assessment of RECs existing SPS frameworks,
strategies, and action plans was carried out.
Current tasks and responsibilities of the AUC and the RECs were evaluated.
HOW WAS IT PREPARED?
Collected: SPS frameworks, protocols, strategies, action plans Relevant information published/provided by key
multilateral/bilateral donor organizations, collected by e-mail/telephone /web/different sources
Questionnaire developed and sent to RECs & AUC Replies received were used in the draft study.
CHALLENGES FOR RECs
National problems:
Absence of national strategies
Weak or inexistent legal SPS frameworks
Faltering national coordination in many African countries
Inadequate or highly fragmented national SPS measures
Harsh reduction of export capacity Countries’ ability to control imports severely affected
CHALLENGES FOR RECs
Regional problems:
RECs mandated to develop legal and technical instruments to help Member States
RECs highly politicized nature implies slow decision-making and low visibility at grass-roots level
Fairly limited SPS-dedicated human resources Reduced high level political awareness Limited sense of “ownership” among Member
States.
REGIONAL FRAMEWORKS: THE RIGHT ANSWER?
RECs SPS policy frameworks tend to “mirror” WTO SPS Agreement Duplication risks Utility can be questioned
Concerns overlap different SPS regional policy frameworks, especially when the same country in more than one REC.
No evidence frameworks in force achieved aimRECs’ no capacity to monitor RF
implementationThe AUC: yet another SPS framework?
STRATEGIES & ACTION PLANS
Limited information on RECs & AUC SPS strategies Scattered activities. Are there strategies?
IF strategy is regional policy frameworks Implementation of frameworks?
Some elements of strategies regional harmonization capacity building establishment of Regional SPS Committees
No clear plans of action were identified Are there plans of action?
MOVING AHEAD
Recent interest of RECs for WTO SPS
Committee Several requests for observer status Exposure to the work of the Committee beneficial
for RECs and Member States Involvement in the Committee’s work will avoid
duplication of work (e.g. transparency, equivalence, regionalization)
Where is the AUC?
MOVING AHEAD
Development regional standards, guidelines and recommendations serious concerns risks overlap and/or duplication
with international standardsGreater participation in ISSOs work better
use of scarce human resources Right person at the right place, please!
Participation of AUC officials also strongly encouraged
MOVING AHEAD
Capacity building and technical assistance activities are the fields of election of the RECs and the AUC
Comparative advantage in their regions as partner organizations of international and foreign donors’ organizations
Coordination efforts with regard to capacity building and technical assistance improving
Approach increasingly “demand-driven” and oriented to “hands-on” aspects
MOVING AHEAD
Need of strong SPS management mechanisms Animal health: AU/IBAR (Inter-African Bureau for
Animal Resource) Plant protection: AU/IAPSC (Inter-African
Ohytosanitary Council) Food Safety: no management body
AU/DREA (Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture) Role to play? Overall coordination?
MEETING HIGH LEVEL AMBITIONS
RECs and AUC need to address their weaknesses
Identify weaknesses (needs) Establish priorities Set clear objectives Establish plans of action Establish visible strategies
MEETING HIGH LEVEL AMBITIONS
New more participative attitudes on capacity building incl. new partnership models Need for organized and efficient response Need for continued and strengthened private
sector involvement Need for strengthened leadership(s) and
individual responsibility
AUC & RECs logical & privileged partners
HOW TO MAKE IT WORK?
RECs and AUC need to work on: High level awareness Sense of ownership
At high level… And at technical level!
Individuals make the difference… together they make a BIGGER diference!
AUC+RECs+Countries have to work together!
