Founding
The founding of African Organic Agriculture Network (AfrONET) dates back to April 2008 in Dar es salaam, Tanzania at a meeting of three East African National Organic Agriculture Movement (NOAMs) and reverberated in August same year at a meeting of four NOAMs including one from southern Africa.
In 2009, the African meeting of NOAMs reiterated the need for formation of an umbrella body to steer organic agriculture networking in Africa.
On May 2012, 38 participants representing 16 African Countries had pre-conference resolved to establish AfrONet as the umbrella organization uniting and representing African organic stakeholders. Later was approved by the 300 participants from over 40 countries as presented in the lusaka Declaration on Mainstreaming Organic Agriculture into the African Development Agenda.
Vision:
A united and Vibrant African Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) that transforms and empowers communities for sustainable livelihoods
Mission:
To spur a uniquely EOA sector that transforms smallholder agriculture into ecological, social-cultural, affordable, productive, efficient and competitive farming systems that guarantee food security and sovereignty, income growth and equity
AfrONet considers EOA "a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, bio-diversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than use of inputs which has adverse effects". It is in line with principles of Organic agriculture as stipulated by IFOAM.
Purpose:
To develop a unique ecological organic agriculture sector based on the principles of health, ecology, fairness and care to guarantee food security, food soveeignty, employment and incomes.
Goals
. To have 40 percent African governments investing in research and capacity in promoting EOA.
. Adoption of EOA technologies and practices increased by 70% and contributes to improved health, climate change mitigation and environmental conservation.
. Increase food security and sovereignty of African smallholders farmers by 50 percent increase in share of trade in organic produce and products by 70 percent.
Key Functions:
i. Unite and network EOA actors and stakeholders across the continent, regions and countries
ii. Engage and undertake advocacy at high levels with members and partners at- AUC, RECs, National and Development patners
iii. Capacity building for in EOA across the continent
iv. Programming and resources mobilization for its endeavours in promoting EOA on the continent
v. Spearhead EOA Research, extension, training and value chains and market development
vi. Provide management and administrative consultancy to like minded programmes and partners
Partnerships:
The AfrONet envisages effective partnership with IFOAM, Public Sector Institutions, African Union Commission, UN Agencies, Regional Bodies i.e. RECs, Development Partners, International Organizations and alike. In the workshop "Building stategies for Africa: Adding-value through organic agriculture (Workshop on organic farmingf, Brussels, 11-12/07/2011)" representatives of NOAMs who participated in, reiterated the need for the formation of an umbrella body to steer organic agriculture networking in Africa.
What is done
. Co organized capacity building with AUC on Organic Standards and Certification to the EAC, SADC, COMESA and ECOWAS
. Organic Dinner, Exhibition and presentation to the conference of African Ministers of Trade and Agriculture held in Ethiopia November 2012 Participated in the West African Organic Agriculture Conference in Nigeria, 2015.
. Assist clusters in developing the EOA programmes and share resource mobilization opportunities
. Represented in the continental EOa Steering Commitee and ProEco Research Programme
. Collaborates with FARA in implementing the R4D. Innovative platforms for EOA are prioritised and supported by FARA
. Linked and facilitated partnerships and networking among actors in continent
Membeship:
Natural person or legal personality of good and ethical standing in the organic sector resident within Africa or abroad may become a member of AfrONet, provided they are prepared and able to support the objectives of the organization directly or indirectly.
For more information go to www.africanorganicnetwork.net
