3rd Regional technical committee meeting set for Namibia

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations announced early this week that it will be holding the 3rd Regional technical committee meeting (RPTC) on Africa Solidarity Trust Fund (ASTF) from 30 to 31 May in Swakopmund.
The project which is funded by the fund is being implemented and managed by the FAO in collaboration with the relevant agencies and ministerial departments in SADC member states.
The project aims to reduce the incidences and occurrence of food contamination, animal and plant pests and diseases and their impact on the productivity of food crops, livestock, fisheries and forest resources. A secondary goal is to enhance safe intra-regional trade to contribute to improved food and nutritional security in the SADC region.
The FAO said the specific objectives of the 3rd Regional Project Technical Committee meeting are to review project progress during the six months from December last year to May this year. This review is to be done against targets in the work plan and budget with a focus on the achievements, challenges and issues needing the Committee’s attention and decision.
According to the FAO the meeting will discuss regional issues pertaining to the implementation of the project and the expected impact. It will further look at best strategies to harness the project benefits for its duration as well as to review the plans per sector for the next 6 months from June to November 2016. After conclusion of the meeting, it will advise on the most effective and appropriate approaches to enhance the impact of activities at national and regional level.
Another focal point of the meeting will be to address challenges and constraints identified at country level in the implementation process of the project. The Committee will obtain input from the stakeholders on the project implementation, direction and process, and establish synergistic linkages with other relevant ongoing initiatives.
Currently the project covers eight countries in southern Africa, Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa and participants at this years event will be drawn from the seven participating countries. The meeting will be held over two days with presentations on regional and country activities and input from the stakeholders.