The 2020 IPPC Regional Workshop for Africa successfully concluded

Rome, 10 September 2020 - The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Regional Workshop for Africa convened virtually from 8 to 10 September 2020. The meeting, co-chaired by Mr David Kamangira, Standard Committee Representative and Ms Faith Ndunge, Implementation and Capacity Development Committee Representative, was attended by over sixty participants representing forty-seven countries of the Africa region. The objectives of the workshop were to review and discuss draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) and recommendations, share experiences on plant health issues and related challenges, and draw recommendations for future engagement.

In the opening remarks, Mr Jean Gérard Mezui M’Ella, Director of the African Union Inter-Africa Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC), stressed the importance of cooperation between IAPSC and FAO regional and sub-regional offices in addressing plant health issues in Africa, while Mr Abebe Haile Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General, Regional Representative for Africa emphasized the negative impacts of plant health issues on achievement of FAO strategic objectives and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular those aimed at eliminating hunger and malnutrition. In conclusion, Mr Arop Deng, IPPC Integration and Support Team Lead and chair of the Organizing Committee of the 2020 Regional Workshop-Africa also highlighted the importance of creating awareness on plant health issues during the current International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) and urged the region to support Zambia in proclamation of the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH).

The first day of the three-day workshop consisted of an official opening where participants updated on governance and strategic issues, as well as discussed and shared views on draft ISPMs and Commission for Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) recommendations. On the second and third days, participants discussed regional and national phytosanitary issues, which comprised presentations on topics of interest to the region, including updates on key plant pests and diseases threatening livelihood in Africa. Other relevant topics included, the IPPC guide on pest free areas, the IPPC ePhyto solution and IYPH and

its anticipated legacy. The third day ended by the official closure of the workshop by the Director of IAPSC, which also ushered in the regional National Reporting Obligations Workshop.

The report of the 2020 IPPC Regional Workshop for Africa will be published at the following link: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/capacity-development/regional-ippc-workshops/

Presentations from the 2020 IPPC Regional Workshop are available at the following link: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/capacity-development/regional-ippc-workshops/2020-ippcregional-workshop/