Countries adopt Marrakesh Declaration, to reduce vulnerability to climate change

Twenty-seven African countries have confirmed their commitment to placing the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) at the heart of COP22 negotiations, by adopting the AAA Initiative Marrakesh Declaration.

The decision was made at the high-level meeting just concluded in Marrakesh, Morocco, on the effect of climate change on Agriculture and Food Production in Africa on September 30, 2016, around the initiative for the AAA, where 20 ministers and 27 delegations adopted the Marrakesh Declaration, which consolidates the countries’ commitment.

Launched in April 2016 in Morocco, the triple a initiative declaration seeks to reduce Africa’s agriculture vulnerability to climate change, with the aim of promoting and fostering the implementation of concrete projects that will help improve land and agricultural water management, food security, as well as, the management of the effects of climate change on agriculture and food production.

The initiative seeks to consciously place the Adaptation of the African Agriculture at the centre of all debates and negotiations on climate and to obtain a substantial part of the climate funds for Africa.

After two days of discussions among politicians, scientists, academics, private-sector leaders, and representatives from international organisations, the meeting concluded with the adoption of the Marrakesh Declaration.

By this declaration, the AAA coalition is determined to respond to the high expectations pinned on COP22 – which will run from November 7 to 18 in Marrakesh – so as to make it the “COP of Action” and the “COP of Africa.”

The actions and objectives of the Triple Initiative declaration among other things include: endorsement of the principle of a larger, more effective and efficient public and private funding, as well as, the principle of monitoring the funds disbursed for the AAA, with an easier access to climate funds for African projects.