Organic or Green, agriculture is back on the agenda : CTA briefs on Global Food Crisis and Local Food Insecurity

On 9 December, in its well-known series of Brussels Briefings for policy makers, CTA organized a session on food security entitled From Global Food Crisis to Local Food Insecurity, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders.

Including the most important stakeholders: farmers. After having listened to a number of speakers Mr. Bagna of the Platform of Producers' Organizations in Niger concluded he actually had not heard anything new: food insecurity is a serious problem, we need money, we need research and we need capacity development….. everything has been said already, .... yesterday. But where is the real commitment, asked Mr. Bagna? Maybe policy-makers are not altogether honest with themselves, he felt. Despite all the plans there is no funding, no decent financial credit systems. There is no money for capacity development of people and their organizations. And in the end, farmers do their own research, to survive they have to….. Donors and governments could solve all these problems, Mr. Bagna feels, if they really wanted to…..

The exchange at the CTA briefing was very lively. Not everything may be new but it is useful to contrast different approaches and assessments and reaffirm the need for concerted action.

Presentations and background materials on the Global Food Crisis and Local Food Insecurity compiled by CTA can be accessed at the Brussels Briefings blog, also available in French at Bruxelles Briefings

Dr. Hans Herren co-chair of IAASTD, was the keynote speaker at the 9 December briefing. He presented the key findings of "Agriculture at a Crossroads", the report series of the International Assessment of Agricultural knowledge, Science and Technology for Development. The challenges for food security are quite clear according to Herren: climate change, population- and demand growth, and finally shrinking natural resources. In the past, the green revolution has not been a solution, according to Herren, nor will in the future crop-technology development solve the problem. People have benefitted unevenly from the yield increases generated by the green revolution, and the increases have come at a serious cost in terms of degrading natural resources (soils, water). Across regions, agricultural output is now distributed more uneven than ever.

So while the green revolution is not a solution and there is no simple alternative solution. The organic revolution that Dr. Herren calls for has to deal with “the inescapable connectedness of acgriculture's different roles and function”. Agriculture is not one but two words, Herren argues, “agri” and “culture”. It is not about the production of commodities but rooted in society in culture. Consequently, not crop productivity, but farm productivity has to be the subject of research when 75% of the food is produced by family farms. In his view what is needed is another kind of research based on a participatory, systems approach, working with women, training at agricultural colleges practitioners not people that end up behind desks.

Agricultural economist Steve Wiggins (ODI) emphasized that the 2008/09 food price spike made already high levels of under-nutrition more visible. Also the spike provoked awareness of possible future shocks and the challenges on agriculture agenda.

Agriculture is changing and will have to change according to Wiggins:
- From non-renewables to renewables
- Reducing use of water
- Limiting emission of greenhouse gasses (quite a large contribution (17 – or 32% when including expansion - to 13% from transport)
- From usual to altered climates

Information technology is critical for more efficient use of resources, also pricing of scarce resources and taxing the wastefulness and GHG intensity of food are important strategies. There are win-win scenarios according to Wiggins: climate friendly agriculture = less pollution and land degradation…….

Ndiogou Fall of the Network of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organizations of West Africa explained that at micro-level, families and communities develop strategies to address food insecurity. However, so much more can be done in terms of supportive public policies and finance. Fall says support to family agriculture is a priority because they directly suffer food insecurity and there are important multiplier effects of investment in family agriculture. He would like to see that pricing policies favor family agriculture and that support includes various parts in value chain. Also het felt it is very important to support farmers organizations. Maybe not a lot of additional research is needed, said Fall, getting existing knowledge to farming families would already be quite an accomplishment. Finally Fall mentioned that land tenure policies often very negatively affect family farming.

Dr. David Nabarro, Special Representative of UNSG on Food Security, saw with satisfaction that after many years of neglect, agriculture and food security are back on the development agenda. He emphasized that the food crisis is deepening. Food insecurity was already a serious issue before the food price spike of 2008. Now, after the spike, the economic contraction is generating a further negative impact. The crisis is also deepening. Poor people are increasingly susceptible to climate change and systems that do not work.

Global availability of food is not the problem said Mr. Nabarro. The problem is inequitable access and utilization. According to him the question is not “how to feed the world” as the Economist headlined a few weeks ago, but “how to ensure people can exercise their right to the food they need”. Since agriculture is back on the global agenda, Mr. Nabarro is optimistic. He feels major stakeholders are coming together and promising approaches are emerging.

The European Commission, DGDevelopment highlighted aspects of the new EU Framework for support to Food Security and Agriculture. A representative from AIDCO explained how a 3-year funding time frame helps create some continuity in the funding for agricultural research. Several other participants commented on the presentations of the experts.

Rajul Pandya-Lorch - the only women on the panels - of the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington DC, rose at the crack of dawn to contribute her views, but unfortunately technology failed us. Her slides were available on paper and the first one framed the problem nicely: In the late 1950 there were 1 billion people going hungry every day. In 2009 ……. 1 billion people still go hungry every day.

Visit the Brussels Briefings blogs to see all presentations and summaries of presentations.

For more background information on food security check the Euforic newsfeed.

EC invites to comment on Issues Paper on Agriculture and Food Security

Food Security and Agriculture are very much back on the agenda. Building on its Food Security Thematic Strategy Paper 2007-2010, the European Commission is currently developing a new Policy Framework to assist developing countries addressing agriculture and food security challenges. On 9 december 2009, at the CTA organized Brussels Briefing “From Global Food Crisis to Local Food Insecurity”, the Directorate General for Development elaborated on its Issues Paper on food security.




The new policy framework will build on central elements of the past framework:

• The aim remains not simply to deliver food aid but to achieve Food Security for all
• Maintain a link between relief and protecting sustainable livelihoods and crisis prevention
• Address four pillars: availability (1), access (2), quality and utilization (3), and crisis management and prevention (4)

The Issues Paper was published 16 november 2009 and is part of the consultation and policy development process which has to lead to Council Conclusions – an official statement of the ministers of EU members states – on a Policy Framework on Agriculture and Food Security in May 2010.

Until 9 January 2010 you can voice you opinion about the Issues Paper at www.ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations


Several participants at the Brussels Briefing organised by CTA commented on the presentation by the DG-Development representative. ActionAid welcomes the EC initiative but feels the Commission has no long term approach to investment in agriculture and food security. Also, according to ActionAid, the EC approach lacks attention for women’s access to credit, land and services. For example, compared to an earlier version, the chapter on agriculture has been removed from the current version of the EC Gender Action plan, a document stakeholders may comment on next week. ActionAid also warns about the so-called “whole of union approach” that the Commision wishes to explore in connection with issues of Food Security. This approach suggests that members states – besides official development cooperation - use all kinds of other resources to achieve development objectives. However, ActionAid and Concord are concerned that the "whole of the union" approach is more about “counting all resources” as opposed to really “using all resources”.

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Brussels Briefings live on the Internet

The Briefing “From Global Food Crisis to Local Food Insecurity” live on the Internet!. This way, you can easily follow the presentations and debates.

WHEN: December, 9 – 8:30 – 13:00 (Brussels Time)

This service (in English and French) is FREE and requires simply the use of a computer connected to the Internet.

To get access, please click on this link: http://scic.ec.europa.eu/str/index.php?sessionno=401 (use of the Internet Explorer browser is recommended)

For the programme, background note and registration form, please check http://brusselsbriefings.net/.

Sign up for the Brussels Briefing newsfeed; see also the Euforic newsfeeds on rural development, food security and the food crisis

Next Briefing on food crisis and food insecurity

The next Brussels Development Briefing will be held on 9th December and will discuss “From Global Food Crisis to Local Food Insecurity” in the context of the new EC policy on Food security to be released.

The Briefing will be looking at the domino effects of increased speculation in food markets (How has the global food and financial crisis affected food production and distribution and the food security of the poorest? Is global food production at risk in the medium and long term and will national food security and food sovereignty be the priority over global food availability? Is the small-scale farming more effective and resilient in times of crisis in least-developed countries?) and the on what realistic policy options can secure food supply and availability at global and local levels.

For the programme and registration form, please check http://brusselsbriefings.net/.

Earlier Brussels Briefings looked at 'ACP Agricultural and Rural Development: why Media matters?', 'Upgrading to compete in a globalised world: What opportunities and challenges for SMEs in agriculture in ACP countries?','The Role of Livestock for ACP countries: challenges and opportunities ahead', ' Meeting Food Safety Standards: Implications for ACP agricultural exports', 'Fighting against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU): Impacts and challenges for ACP countries', 'Land access and rural development: New challenges, new opportunities', 'How does international migration affect ACP rural development?', 'Rising food prices: an opportunity for change?', 'New drivers, new players in ACP rural development', 'Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development?', 'The climate challenge for ACP agriculture', 'Aid for Trade', 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

Sign up for the Brussels Briefing newsfeed; see also the Euforic newsfeeds on rural development, food security and the food crisis

Brussels Development Briefings: more background information available

The report of the Briefing on “Upgrading to compete in a globalised world: What opportunities and challenges for SMEs in agriculture in ACP countries?” held on 23rd September 2009 is available now. The report presents a detailed account of the presentations and debates, and can be downloaded here.

The reader provides extensive background information on the issue - including online resources - and is also available online.

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CTA’s 14th Brussels Briefing: woman bites dog or why media matter for rural development

At the Brussels Briefing # 14, organised by CTA on 12 October, a lively discussion on media and rural development took place. The debate was fed by contributions of a variety of panelists and a large crowd of participants from ACP countries. Why is there so little reporting done on regular media on issues concerning farmers and rural communities? Why do the media treat the food crisis as an urban issue? Can journalists partner with farmers, politicians, policy advocates and researchers in promoting rural development? What is the role of the new media and do ICTs contribute?

To prepare for this session the organiser CTA hosted a 4 weeks e-discussion. Susana Thorp from WREN gave a brief summary of the outcomes. First and foremost, Mrs. Thorp emphasized that participants hope that discussion actually leads to action. The e-debate focused on constraints faced by media on – conflicting - expectations of various stakeholders on new media and ICTs, and on support for enhancing media activities and building capacities. A summary of the e-debate is available here.

It was interesting to observe that at this Brussels Briefing the majority of panelist and quite a number of participants were female. Mrs. Tumi Makgabo, lead discussant and former CNN anchor stressed that in the world of media women have more barriers to overcome than men. But together with Mrs. Violet Otindo of K24TV in Kenya, winner of the CNN African Journalist Award, and all the other women participating in this debate she showed it can be done.

How do women overcome these barriers? Violet Otindo mentioned the importance of mentoring, but she said it should be used with care. For a journalist mentoring involves risks because it exposes you to political and commercial interests. Lack of resources and equipment are the major barrier according to her. She remarked that when you have no resources, everything takes more time. As a journalist you have to work smart and time management skills are essential. She feels that more recognition for the work of local African journalists is important, the big media houses should make more use of local journalists. Also support initiatives involving training and awards can be helpful.

Tumi Makgabo defined herself as a feminist with three-inch heels. You have to counter the way media portray women as a victim by acting like the opposite. She wants women to have a voice and she feels she can contribute more working as an independent journalist from Africa. She also illustrated how women seek to balance professional and private goals by telling how for her living in Africa as opposed to Atlanta serves both. As for the professional goals: Mrs. Makgabo stressed that with the new technologies Africans can tell stories about Africa: “we can tell our stories from any place now”.

In his keynote address CTA’s director Hansjörg Neun observed that media tend to report on the extraordinary – a man biting a dog is news, the reverse is not. Much of the messages on rural development do not seem to qualify as news. The first panel was lead by Tumi Makgabo of South Africa, a former anchor of CNN Inside Africa, now African Broadcasting and Media, and director of the African Women Development Fund. She introduced the panelists: Mr. Jean-Philippe Rapp who founded in 1985 the International North-South Media Forum, Mrs. Brave Nsidale, Ambassador of Malawi, Mr. Ignatius Jean, Representative of IICA and former minister of Agriculture of St. Lucia, Mr. Thozi Gwanya, Director General of the Department of Land Reform in South Africa and Mrs. Krishendaye Rampershad, media consultant based in Trinidad.

Ms. Rampershad emphasized that it is important to differentiate: are we talking high tech corporate media or low tech community based. She felt the latter to be very powerful in serving development objectives. To those wishing to communicate messages to rural populations Ms. Rampershad had a clear advice: talk normal! Extension people have to be communicators and not talk science. Mr. Gwanya felt that media systematically ignored rural people and their interests. Mr. Jean of IICA observed that technical people in agriculture and media may not understand or like each other but they do need each other. In the Carribean Mr. Jean has observed that ICTs and the participatory information sharing they enable, have dismantled monopolies. He also emphasized that new partnerships emerge; in the oral, musical community of the Carribean the power of songs and the influence of musicians can support our communication for agriculture. Jean-Philippe Rapp commented on Hansjörg Neun’s example but he argued that the current food insecurity and plague of hunger is indeed a case of “man bites dog” and considered quite newsworthy. He observed a sincere interest among media for agriculture, but there is also a shift, he noted: media look for testimonies, there is less interest for the stories of the experts.

After the contributions of the panelists Ms. Makgabo opened the debate and the floor. She challenged the panelists: if people continue to buy tabloids that pay no attention to issues and needs of rural people, who are we to question these priorities? Ms. Rampershad emphasized that you may see this disconnection in public and corporate media, but in community driven media agendas are set differently. Mr. Rapp emphasized that agriculture is not a difficult or grateful subject but you need to tell the story with passion and in original, authentic language.

In the ensuing debate the focus was on the relations between the various stakeholders. There is often antagonism between politicians and media but participants also commented on how scientists are suspicious of journalists and vice versa. You can remove that suspicion by talking about the differences and the different roles, looking for common ground. Specific, deliberate and focused education initiatives may help to bridge the gap between what media (thinks it) needs and what the industry needs and what both sides can do.

Ms. Protz, the coordinator of CARIMAC, noted that few agriculture ministries actually do have a communication strategy. She observed that the media coverage of the climate change issue was not lead by journalists but by communities, the corporate and public media enlisted later in the process. Maureen Agena of the Women of Uganda Network questioned the role of (urban) journalists: how do you report on something you are not involved in? WOUGNET works with citizen journalists, women reporting on their own problems. Other participants questioned whether these citizen journalists had the skills and ethics to communicate responsibly.

More information on this briefing and earlier editions are available on the website of the Brussels Development Briefings and - in French - Briefings sur le Développement à Bruxelles

To get regular updates subscribe to the Euforic English language newsfeed for the Brussels Briefings or to the French language newsfeed at Briefings à Bruxelles

More on EU cooperation with ACP countries is available in the corresponding Euforic newsfeed on EU-ACP cooperation. Euforic also has a newsfeed on information, knowledge and communication. Visit the CTA website for more on agriculture and rural development in ACP countries.

Next Brussels Briefing on the role of livestock for ACP countries

The next Brussels Development Briefing will be held on 1st July 2009 (8.30 – 13.00) and will deal with 'The Role of Livestock for ACP countries: challenges and opportunities ahead.

This Briefing will discuss key issues on livestock for ACP countries and will review the role of livestock for ACP economies and the drivers of change.

Panel 1 will discuss the key role livestock plays in most of ACP countries in terms of livelihoods, economic development, human nutrition and rural poverty alleviation. It will also identify emerging challenges such as the recent trends on livestock food demand, the accelerated (re)emergence of diseases affecting animals and humans, the climate change impact and the challenges to meet market quality requirements.

Panel 2 will deal with future policy challenges and opportunities for the ACP livestock sector and public and donor’s support to stimulate regional trade in animal products. How can the livestock sector become an effective driving force in strengthening the regional market in animal products? What are the conditions under which ACP exporters can access EU and international markets? How to strengthen the complementarities between commercial and small-scale production?

For the programme and registration form, please check http://brusselsbriefings.net/.

Earlier Brussels Briefings looked at ' Meeting Food Safety Standards: Implications for ACP agricultural exports', 'Fighting against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU): Impacts and challenges for ACP countries', 'Land access and rural development: New challenges, new opportunities', 'How does international migration affect ACP rural development?', 'Rising food prices: an opportunity for change?', 'New drivers, new players in ACP rural development', 'Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development?', 'The climate challenge for ACP agriculture', 'Aid for Trade', 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

Sign up for the Brussels Briefing newsfeed; see also the Euforic newsfeed on agriculture

Next Brussels Development Briefing on food safety standards

The next Brussels Development Briefing will be held on 11th May 2009 (14.00 - 18.30) and will deal with 'Meeting Food Safety Standards: Implications for ACP agricultural exports'.

This Briefing will review the product standards and technical regulations of importance to promoting economic growth and protecting the health and safety of consumers and the challenges posed by rising private and public SPS standards for ACP suppliers. Exchanges will also be held on the lessons we can draw from capacity-building programmes as to better adjust to the needs of the ACP private and public sectors and the need to involve ACP countries in international standard-setting and negotiations over standards and regulations.

For the programme and registration form, please check http://brusselsbriefings.net/.

Earlier Brussels Briefings looked at 'Fighting against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU): Impacts and challenges for ACP countries', 'Land access and rural development: New challenges, new opportunities', 'How does international migration affect ACP rural development?', 'Rising food prices: an opportunity for change?', 'New drivers, new players in ACP rural development', 'Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development?', 'The climate challenge for ACP agriculture', 'Aid for Trade', 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

Sign up for the Brussels Briefing newsfeed; see also the Euforic newsfeed on agriculture

Next Brussels Development Briefing on IUU fishing and ACP countries

The next Brussels Development Briefing will be held on 29th April 2009 (8h30 - 12h30) and will deal with 'Fighting against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU): Impacts and challenges for ACP countries'.

The session will review the main economic, social and environmental challenges that IUU poses at global and regional levels, especially in the ACP context, and the existing global and regional initiatives against IUU. Moreover the 2008 EC regulation which aims to prevent and deter IUU fishing will be discussed, along with the challenges for its implementation in ACP countries and the need for technical assistance to comply with the new requirements.

For the programme and registration form, please check http://brusselsbriefings.net/.

Earlier Brussels Briefings looked at 'Land access and rural development: New challenges, new opportunities', 'How does international migration affect ACP rural development?', 'Rising food prices: an opportunity for change?', 'New drivers, new players in ACP rural development', 'Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development?', 'The climate challenge for ACP agriculture', 'Aid for Trade', 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

Sign up for the Brussels Briefing newsfeed; see also the Euforic newsfeed on ACP fisheries

Ninth Brussels Briefing on land access and rural development

The next Brussels Development Briefing will be held on 25th February 2009 in Brussels (Centre Borschette) on 'Land access and rural development: New challenges, new opportunities' and will discuss the links between property rights, investment and the generation of economic opportunities in rural areas.

It will look at the correlation between inequality in the distribution of land and economic growth. It will also discuss the new challenges of global commercial interest in land and natural resources and the issue of rich countries buying millions of hectares of agricultural land in ACP countries.

For more information please visit the Brussels Briefings website to see the draft programme and to register.

Earlier Brussels Briefings looked at 'How does international migration affect ACP rural development?, 'Rising food prices: an opportunity for change?', 'New drivers, new players in ACP rural development', 'Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development?', 'The climate challenge for ACP agriculture', 'Aid for Trade', 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

Sign up for the Brussels Briefings newsfeed; see also the Euforic newsfeeds on rural development, and agriculture

Eighth Brussels Briefing on migration and rural development

On December 11th, CTA and Euforic - in partnership with the European Commission-DG Development and EuropeAid, the EU Presidency, the ACP Secretariat, Concord and IPS Europe - have organised the eighth in the series of Brussels Development Briefings, entitled 'Does international migration affect ACP rural development?'

This Briefing discussed the benefits and challenges that migration can have on the agricultural and rural development of ACP countries, looking at the effects of remittances in this sector as well as the role of ACP diasporas in the development of their economies.

The programme, the background note, and the presentations are available online.

Earlier Brussels Briefings looked at 'Rising food prices: an opportunity for change?', 'New drivers, new players in ACP rural development', 'Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development?', 'The climate challenge for ACP agriculture', 'Aid for Trade', 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

Sign up for the Brussels Briefing newsfeed ; also Euforic newsfeeds on rural development, agriculture and migration

Seventh Brussels Briefing discussed food prices

On October 16th, CTA, Euforic, and other partners organised the seventh in the series of Brussels Development Briefings, entitled 'Rising food prices: an opportunity for change?'

This Briefing addressed the causes and consequences of the rise of the food prices from a development perspective. It looked at the urgent actions that need to be taken, as well as at the best options and political measures on the middle and long term to safeguard the food security situation of the poorest households and market stability of ACP economies.

The programme, presentations, speaker information, video interviews, and further readings are online.

Earlier Brussels Briefings looked at 'New drivers, new players in ACP rural development', 'Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development?', 'The climate challenge for ACP agriculture', 'Aid for Trade', 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

The Briefing will be held at the Centre Borschette of the European Commission, rue Froissart 36, Brussels. For registration, please contact Romano Purro or Isolina Boto

Sign up for the Brussels Briefing newsfeed ; also Euforic newsfeeds on rural development, agriculture and food security

Sixth Brussels Development Briefing focused on the new aid architecture

On July 2nd, CTA, Euforic, and other partners organised the sixth in the series of Brussels Development Briefings, entitled 'New drivers, new players in ACP rural development.'

This Briefing addressed the agricultural and rural development sector in the context of ACP countries, the role of private foundations (Gates, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Rockefeller Foundation etc) and the role of emerging donors (China, India, Brazil, Japan) in ACP countries. The discussions looked towards the upcoming Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness being held in Accra on 2-4 September 2008.

The programme, presentations, speaker information, video interviews, and further readings are available on the Brussels Briefings website.

Earlier Brussels Briefings looked at 'Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development?', 'The climate challenge for ACP agriculture', 'Aid for Trade', 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

Sign up for the Brussels Briefing newsfeed ; also Euforic newsfeeds on rural development and aid effectiveness

Fifth Brussels Development Briefing debated fair trade

On 16 April, CTA, Euforic, and other partners organised the fifth in the series of Brussels Development Briefings, in collaboration with the Fair Trade Advocacy Office.

Several key issues involved in fair trade initiatives were discussed: the benefits of fair trade for development and poverty reduction with special reference to the ACP countries; challenges for market access for ACP producers; the role of the supermarkets in standard-setting and labelling (including food miles issues); and awareness and information campaigns to educate consumers. The programme, presentations and video materials, speaker information, video interviews, and further readings are available at the Brussels Briefings website.

Earlier Brussels Briefings looked at 'The climate challenge for ACP agriculture', 'Aid for Trade', 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

See also Euforic newsfeeds on fair trade and ACP trade

The climate challenge and ACP responses the focus of the fourth Brussels briefing

On 13 February, CTA, Euforic, and other partners organised the fourth in the series of Brussels Development Briefings.

The briefing hosted two panels: the first discussing 'Climate change and Development - Overview of some key and emerging issues'; the second focussing on the 'Impacts of climate change on rural development'.

Speakers included the EC, ODI, ACP Secretariat, ENDA, Development Commmittee of the European Paliament, Concord, African farmers organisations (SACAU), the Joint ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly. The programme, presentations and video materials, speaker information, video interviews, and further readings are available at the Brussels Briefings website.

Climate change and agriculture was also the topic of a CTA-Euforic side session at the EU Development Days.

Earlier Brussels Briefings looked at 'Aid for Trade', 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

See also Euforic news on rural development and climate change.

Aid for trade the focus of the third Brussels briefing

On 5 December, CTA, Euforic, and other partners held the third in the series of Brussels Development Briefings.

The briefing focussed on the theme: Can aid fix trade? The new Aid for Trade Agenda in the context of ACP countries. It consisted of two panels: the first reviewing Aid for Trade (AfT) multilateral and EU initiatives; the second looking at the financial resources mobilized for the AfT agenda, along with their scope and impacts.

The programme, presentations and video materials, speaker information, video interviews, and further readings are available at the Brussels Briefings website.

Earlier briefings looked at 'Advancing African Agriculture' and 'Challenges to rural development in ACP countries.'

See also Euforic news on rural development and aid for trade.

Advancing African Agriculture the focus of the second Brussels Briefing

On 17 october, CTA, Euforic, and other partners held the second in the series of Brussels Development Briefings. The first, on 4 July, looked at Rural development challenges in ACP countries.

The October briefing looked at issues associated with the recently-adopted EC Communication on "Advancing African Agriculture".

The briefing consisted of two panels: the first looking at the key areas underlined in the EC Communication; the second looking forward to issues of implementation.

More than 100 participants between ACP-EU policy makers, representatives of EU Member States, civil society groups, European research networks, researchers and development practitioners and international organisations attended the event.

The programme, presentations and video materials, speaker information, video interviews, and further readings are available at the Brussels Briefing website.

CTA, Euforic, launch Brussels Development Briefings

The ACP-EU technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), the European Commission, the EU Presidency, the ACP Group, Euforic, Concord, and other partners plan to organise regular development briefing sessions in Brussels on key issues and challenges for rural development in the context of EU/ACP cooperation.

A growing number of challenges have an impact on the agricultural and rural sector of the ACP countries, including climate change, migration, low interest and funding of the agriculture sector and low priority to rural development, impact of globalization on small-scale producers, opportunities and challenges posed by biofuels...

These are other issues are being tackled by a range of development organizations (international, governmental, NGOs, networks) at national and regional levels in ACP and developing countries and in Europe. However, we believe that a more structured exchange of information and experience amongst the development community in Brussels would greatly strengthen these dispersed efforts, by enhancing communication, promoting coherence, and increasing collaboration and partnerships.

The target group of such briefings is the wider 'development' community in Brussels (EC services, European Parliament, NGOs and networks, ACP group, EU Member States representatives...)

The first briefing was held in Brussels on 4 July 2007. It focussed on key challenges to rural development: (1) the macro-economic environment and its impact on the rural poor in ACP countries; (2) the policy context, especially African regional integration processes, and (3) aid effectiveness and the harmonization of donor support directed towards rural issues in ACP countries.