East African stakeholders assembled in Nairobi since Monday brought to a close today four years of successful efforts for enhancing policy coherence across issues of climate change, food security and trade. “It is such a pleasure for me to see that the seed that we had sowed four years ago is now a growing a plant” said Hon. Flavia Munaaba, Minister of State for Environment, Uganda while concluding the final regional meeting of CUTS International’s PACT EAC project funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
NAIROBI. East African stakeholders assembled in Nairobi since Monday brought to a close today four years of successful efforts for enhancing policy coherence across issues of climate change, food security and trade. “It is such a pleasure for me to see that the seed that we had sowed four years ago is now a growing a plant” said Hon. Flavia Munaaba, Minister of State for Environment, Uganda while concluding the final regional meeting of CUTS International’s PACT EAC project funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
“The child is walking but cannot be left alone to cross the road. The growing plant needs tending”, she also advised in echo to the many voices from the audience who emphasised the need to continue ongoing efforts towards fully holistic approaches. In fact, while efforts towards better linking the three issues have impacted several national policies and trickled down to the local level, stakeholders highlighted sustainability needs that continued support under a possible follow-up project could help them meet.
“We have put in place excellent weather communications systems to inform our farmers, including SMS, which continued support by CUTS would help us sustain”, said Paul Murage, the Director of Meteorological Services in the Kenyan county of Murang’a.
Earlier today, policy makers from all East African Community countries gave an account of the progress made towards a more holistic approach to the three issues. At the national level for instance, several countries now have or plan to mainstream climate change into their national trade agenda, as exemplified by the recent Uganda National Trade Sector Development plan, Kenya’s new Environment Policy or the recent inclusion of climate change officials in Rwanda’s National Trade Policy Forum.
Significant governmental uptake was also reported at the local level, particularly in two Kenyan counties. According to Charles Ndungu, Chair of the Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP) in Makueni County of Kenya, “CUTS’ Farmers – Policy Makers’ Forum under the campaign was a paradigm shift from the usual yearly meetings attended only by heads of departments to a robust and all-inclusive stakeholders’ forum”.