Introduction
1. The regional workshop on the establishment of the Sub-Regional Focal Point for Animal Genetic Resources for North Africa, in the frame of strengthening institutional capacity of the African Union Member States for the conservation and the sustainable utilisation of animal genetic resources was held from 9th to 10th June 2014 in Algiers (Algeria).
2. The global objective of the workshop was to establish the Sub-Regional Focal Point for North Africa, for the management of Animal Genetic Resources. The specific objectives were:
- Share information on the state of animal genetic resources and the current initiatives in the North African countries;
- Set the structure and the institutional arrangements for the Sub-regional focal point for North Africa;
- Select the Institution to host the Secretariat of the Sub-regional focal point;
- Set the priority actions for the Sub-regional focal point.
3. 15 participants from 05 AU Member States attended to the workshop, namely from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania and Tunisia.
4. The workshop held in the premises of INRAA was officially opened by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development represented by Dr. Hemdani Hamid, in the presence of Dr. Chouaki Salah, Assistant Director for INRAA and Dr. Simplice Nouala representing the Director of AU-IBAR.
5. The different sessions were chaired by Algeria, Mauritania and Tunisia and the workshop was facilitated by the project team members, Drs. Edward Nengomasha and Tchangai Pissang.
The Workshop
6. After a presentation on the project "Strengthening the Capacity of African Countries to Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of African Animal Genetic Resources" by the AU-IBAR project team, the national coordinators for animal genetic resources presented the state of animal genetic resources in their respective countries, with the objective of sharing information and experiences on the conservation and sustainable utilisation of animal genetic resources.
7. The presentations made included the roles and responsibilities of the National and Regional Focal Points and the experience in establishing Sub-regional focal points in West and Central Africa, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa.
8. The participants finally discussed in plenary the Structure of the Sub-Regional Focal Point, the Institution to host the Secretariat and the priority actions for the Sub-regional Focal Point.
Results of the workshop
At the end of the debate, the following outcomes were met:
On the structure of the Focal Point
9. The Sub-regional Focal Point for North Africa will be composed of :
- A Steering Comity constituted of representatives of the stakeholders in the Members states (public and private actors, civil society, research and academics, etc....);
- A secretariat to be hosted by a national institution for 5 years, after which elections opened to the outgoing institution will be organised,
- Algeria was designated through INRAA to host the Sub-regional Focal Point,
- A coordinator to be appointed by the General Director of INRAA to play the role of Sub-regional Coordinator.
On the priority actions
10. The following actions were considered as priorities for the Focal Point:
- Creation of a Database and a Web site for the Focal Point ;
- Networking and information sharing,
- Establishing a Steering Committee,
- Inventory and characterization of animal genetic resources in order enhance knowledge on the diversity and the potentials at regional level,
- The socio-economic importance of animal genetic resources at regional level;
- Harmonization of policies and regulations on the management of animal genetic resources;
- Establishment of sub-regional conservation facilities, in particular In Situ and Cryo-conservation ;
- Coordination of research actions, dissemination and information relay ;
- Capacity building of human resources, in particular on the harmonisation of tools and protocols;
- Sensitisation on the importance of animal genetic resources;
- Facilitation of a Steering Committee meeting to be held in October/ November 2014 ;
- Harmonisation of positions by Member States in the North African region, in regard to upcoming events on animal genetic resources.
11. The participants extend their sincere thanks to the Government of Algeria, AU-IBAR and INRAA for the warm welcome and the perfect organisation of the workshop, as well as they congratulate Algeria for its nomination to host the Secretariat of the Sub-Regional Focal Point for North Africa for Animal Genetic Resources.