© 2018 AU-IBAR. Experts at the Meeting for short-listing of institutions for selection as Africa Centres of excellence in fisheries and aquaculture.The Expert Meeting on short-listing for selection of institutions as Africa Centres of Excellence (CoE), following the second call for proposals that was launched between 7^th June and 6^th July 2018, was organized by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) on the 8-9^th August 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The meeting was opened by the Director of AU-IBAR, Professor Ahmed El-Sawalhy. The Director welcomed the experts to AU-IBAR and expressed appreciation for their endeavour to travel and provide technical guidance on the selection process. He recalled the attention of the experts to the decisions of the 2014 Summit of African Heads of States and Governments that requested African Union to establish Africa Centres of Excellence in fisheries and aquaculture. The Director of AU-IBAR admonished the experts that it is therefore crucially important that the selection process is conducted in a professional and credible manner.

The Retired Director of AU-IBAR, Dr. Modibo Traore, chaired the Expert Meeting. In opening remarks, he expressed appreciation to AU-IBAR for the implementation of the recommendations from the Expert Meeting in May 2018 after conclusion of the verifications of short-listed institutions in the first call of expression of interest. He reiterated the critical nature of the process and the potential to promote sustainable fisheries management and responsible aquaculture in Africa. The process, when successfully completed, would address one of the longstanding challenges to evidence based sector governance – the need to strengthen human resources and institutional capacity.

© 2018 AU-IBAR. First Bureau Meeting of Africa Women Fish Processors and Traders Network; Sleep Inn Hotel Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 23rd to 24th July, 2018.Introduction

The first executive bureau meeting of the Africa Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET) was held in Dar es Salaam Tanzania in July, 2018 with support from the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) within the provisions of the EU funded Fisheries Governance project.

The objectives of fist bureau meeting were to:

• Take stock of the AWFISHNET Progress in the implementation of the action plan. Reflect on what has worked, what has not and why, and what can be done to improve. While learning from the one year existence, the bureau will also identify priorities and strategize on the way forward.
• To develop an AWFISHNET’s capacity empowerment program that responds to the needs of the members
• to develop resource mobilization strategy and map potential partners for AWFISHNET.

The meeting was attended by 10 current elected members of the AWFISHNET Executive Bureau who came from countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Benin, Tanzania, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Algeria, and Cameroun. Also present were legal advisor Ms. Mrema from Sia Advocates, Tanzania and website designer Ms. Urio form HMT Media Limited.

The Deputy Chair, Ms. Jeriedayaro Patricia Uweheraka, welcomed participants to the first executive bureau of AWFISHNET on behalf of the network’s Chair. In her opening remarks she expressed her thanks to AU-IBAR for all the support it had given AWFISHNET right from its inception, noting that this was the first time women in fish trade across Africa had their own much needed united forum through which they could discuss, communicate and take action on their concerns. She also expressed gratitude on behalf of the women in AWFISHNET to the Tanzanian Government for hosting AWFISHNET, twice in a row, at its inception and this current meeting. She acknowledged the work undertaken by the legal and website consultants.

Introduction

The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources organized the Pan African Conference for the African Youth in Livestock, Fisheries and Aquaculture Incubators Network (AYL-FAIN) from 25 to 27 July 2018 at Safir Hotel in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt. Prior to the conference, an incubation management Training of Trainers programme was facilitated by the African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN) from 23^rd to 24^th July 2018 as part of the partnership arrangement between AU-IBAR and AAIN. The objectives of the conference were to adopt operating procedures including statutes of AYL-FAIN, develop regional business plans and elect regional, continental executives and to launch AYL-FAIN.

His Excellency Prof Dr. Ezz El Din Abostate, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation for Egypt opened the conference and also launched the following networks/associations:

• Association of Veterinary Education Establishments (2A2E-V)
• Association of African Veterinary Statutory Bodies (2AVSB)
• African youth in livestock, fisheries and aquaculture incubation network (AYL-FAIN)
• African women in animal resources farming and agribusiness network (AWARFA-N)

The Director of AU-IBAR, Prof Ahmed Elsawalhy also read a statement on behalf of the Commissioner of Rural Economy and Agriculture, Her Excellency Josefa Sacko.

The Conference was attended by 70 youth from 44 African Union member states from Eastern, Central, Southern, Western and Northern Africa. The countries present at the conference were (Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Cote d’ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe). There were also representatives from The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Trust Africa, International Business Driving Licence (IBDL).

© 2018 AU-IBAR. Participants of the Pan- African Conference for the African Association of Veterinary Education Establishments, 25th to 27th July 2018, Cairo Egypt.The Pan-African Conference of the African Association of Veterinary Education Establishments (2A2E-V) was held on the 25^th to 27^th July 2018, at Safir Hotel, Cairo Egypt. It was held back to back with the Pan-Africa Conferences on veterinary statutory bodies and agribusiness networks of women and youth in the livestock sector.

The theme of the Conference was "unifying Africa to drive a more dynamic and inclusive animal resources sector for a prosperous future".

The Meeting of the Association of the Veterinary Education Establishments was attended by 77 representatives from 51 Veterinary Faculties, Colleges and Schools from 25 African Union Member States coming from all the 5 Regions of Africa. Representatives from Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Regional Office for Africa, COMESA and World Animal Protection also participated in the Conference.

 The Conference was preceded by a meeting of a Task force comprising of 30 representatives from the VEEs who prepared various documents for consideration by the General Assembly.

The Pan-African conference on veterinary education establishments, veterinary statutory bodies and agribusiness networks of women and youth in the livestock sector was officially opened by the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, H.E. Prof Dr. Ezz El Din Abostate. The Opening Ceremony was also graced by the Director of AU-IBAR, Prof Ahmed Elsawalhy who read a statement on behalf of the Commissioner of Rural Economy and Agriculture, Her Excellency Josefa Sacko.

The Minister thereafter launched the following associations and Networks:

• Association of Veterinary Education Establishments (2A2E-V)
• Association of African Veterinary Statutory Bodies (2AVSB)
• African youth in livestock, fisheries and aquaculture incubation network (AYL-FAIN)
• African women in animal resources farming and agribusiness network (AWARFA-N)