© 2019 AU-IBAR. Participants at the 5th General Assembly of the Sub-Regional Focal Point (S-RFP) for the management of AnGR for Eastern Africa at Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya (17-19 December 2018).Introduction

The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA) and the African Union-Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) jointly organized the fifth Steering Committee meeting (SC) and General Assembly (GA) for the Sub-Regional Focal Point (S-RFP) for Animal Genetic Resource (AnGR) for Eastern Africa. The SC and GA were organized under the framework of implementation of the AI-IBAR Project “Strengthening the Capacity of African Countries to Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of African Animal Genetic Resources”.

The meeting was held at Azure Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya and brought together National Coordinators for AnGR, Directors of Animal Production from 11 Member States (MS) (Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda), representatives from AU-IBAR; Regional Economic Communities (RECs) East African Community (EAC) and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) represented by the Center for Pastoral Areas & Livestock Development (ICPALD); Regional Universities Forum for Research on Agriculture (RUFORUM), representing Universities and training institutions; Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA) and Kenya Livestock Producers Association (KLPA), representing farmers organisations; and Heifer International (HI) representing NGOs and Civic Societies and ASARECA as the Secretariat of the S-RFP. A total of 35 participants attended the meetings.

The objectives of the General Assembly were to:

1. Strengthen collaboration and coordination between EAC, IGAD, the Sub-Regional Focal Point Secretariat (ASARECA) and AU-IBAR for the conservation and sustainable utilization of AnGR;
2. Review progress of implementation of the S-RFP action plan;
3. Evaluate the projects supported by AU-IBAR in Eastern Africa;
4. Discuss and agree on how to fast-track the implementation of supported initiatives especially those on transboundary breeds, as well as National Strategies & Action Plans in the Eastern Africa region;
5. Receive an update on the current status of the regional gene bank;
6. Discuss the sustainability of the Sub-regional Focal Point, Gene Bank, NSAPs, supported initiatives.

© 2019 AU-IBAR. Participants at the 5th General Assembly of the Sub-Regional Focal Point (S-RFP) for the management of AnGR in Southern Africa at Oasis Motel, Gaborone, Botswana (26-29 November 2018).Introduction

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) jointly with the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) organised the 5^th General Assembly and the Steering Committee of the Sub-Regional Focal Point (S-RFP) for the management of Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) in Southern Africa from 26 - 29 November 2018, in Gaborone, Botswana. This workshop was convened under the framework of the implementation of the AU-IBAR Project “Strengthening the Capacity of African Countries to Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of African Animal Genetic Resources” which is funded by the European Union.

The overall objective of convening of the 5^th General Assembly and the Steering Committee meetings on AnGR in the SADC region was to strengthen regional efforts in the implementation of the Global Plan of Action on AnGR for food and agriculture.

The specific objectives were to:

1. Strengthen collaboration and coordination among the SADC AnGR stakeholders on the conservation and sustainable utilization of AnGR
2. Formulate joint interventions for the conservation and sustainable utilization of AnGR in Southern Africa.
3. Discuss the proposed development of a regional strategy on AnGR in the SADC region
4. Identify ways to fast-track the implementation of supported initiatives especially those on transboundary breeds;
5. Discuss the modalities (technical and administrative) of operating of the regional gene bank
6. Discuss and agree on regional priorities.

The meeting was attended by 35 participants drawn from SADC stakeholders involved in AnGR management, comprising mainly National Coordinators from Botswana, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe; representatives of: the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), AU-IBAR and CCARDESA, Private Sector (Kalahari Donkey Milk Industries),Civil Society and Non-State Organizations (Heifer International), Livestock Registrar (Botswana) and Studbooks (South Africa), Breeder Associations (the Tuli Cattle Breeders Society of Zimbabwe) and representatives of higher learning Institutions (University of Stellenbosch and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources).

© 2018 AU-IBAR. Participants to the 5th Project Steering Committee meeting for the Genetics Project.The 3^rd Technical and 5^th Steering Committee meetings of the project "Strengthening the capacity of African countries to conservation and sustainable utilisation of African animal genetic resources" popularly known as the "Genetics Project" were held in Nairobi Kenya at the African Union-Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Offices from the 6^th to the 8^th of August 2018. The meetings were attended by 28 participants from selected Member States (MS) (Morocco, Guinea), Regional Economic Communities (RECs) (COMESA, EAC, IGAD, SADC, UMA), implementing partners (CIRDES, ILRI), Sub-Regional Focal Points (S-RFPs) for AnGR (ASARECA, CEBEVIRHA, CORAF, INRAA), representatives of farmers’ organizations (National Federation of Professionals of the Livestock and Meat Sector of Togo); sub-regional research and development organizations (WALIC), representatives of non- governmental organizations (Heifer International); the developmental partner/donor (EU) and AU-IBAR.

The Technical meeting (6^th to 7^th August 2018) was chaired by a representative of COMESA and officially opened by the Director of AU-IBAR, Prof. Ahmed El-Sawalhy who welcomed the participants and thanked them for their roles in the implementation of project activities for the sustainable development and management of African animal genetic resources (AnGR). He informed the meeting that the project had run its 5-year course. However, AU-IBAR had requested for a "no-cost extension" from the the EU. The project team and implementing partners reported on the project activities in the previous year (July 2017 to June 2018), highlighting the achievements and the challenges. The S-RFPs presented the status of AnGR in their respective regions. The technical meeting identified some key issues to be brought to the attention of the Project Steering Committee meeting. The meeting also reviewed and finalized the Exit Strategy for the project.