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Regional Livestock Forum
Niamey (Niger), 29 January – 4 February 2009
Organised by the SWAC Secretariat and ECOWAS, the Forum’s aim was to share the results of the initiative “and Challenges for Strengthening the Regional Market” and adopt measures to better optimise the livestock’s potential in the region. Discussions enabled participants to prepare draft guidelines which were adopted by ECOWAS ministers. Recommendations shall be transformed into an Action Plan by 2010 in the framework of the ECOWAS Common Agricultural Policy. In particular, these proposals intend to promote and intensify intra-regional trade, improve food security and strengthen the organisation of the livestock chain. > learn more
Regional Cocoa Initiative
OECD Headquarters, 9 February 2009
The SWAC Secretariat hosted the first Task Force meeting of the regional initiative on “Combating the worst forms of child labour on West African cocoa farms”. The Task Force members discussed the conclusions of a preparatory desk study (French) taking stock on all existing programmes. On this basis, an outline for a complementary regional initiative was developed involving all stakeholders. > read the conclusions
Climate Change in the Sahel Region
At the initiative of France and the UK, the SWAC Secretariat will be launching a study on the possible security implications of climate change on the Sahel region. This study will be conducted between April and December 2009. It will describe the Sahel region (past climatic evolutions, settlement patterns, natural resources, impact of human actions, historic issues, etc.) and analyse the linkages between climate evolutions and “tensions, crisis and conflicts” witnessed in this area over the past decades. Findings of this preliminary analysis and policy implications will be discussed at a scientific workshop which will be organised in a Sahelian country with the participation of key stakeholders. The final study will be presented at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.
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