Africa BICs Communication and Outreach Activities By Margaret Karembu ISAAA AfriCenter Singapore, April 4-6, 2011

Outline Areas of responsibility Our Communication Goal (desire) Initiatives & activities in 2010 Updates on changing political landscape Challenges faced Planned Activities for 2011

From R-L: Anthony Nderitu; Faith Nguthi; Brigitte Bitta; Ann Mukuna; Arnold Musanga; Margaret Karembu and David Wafula (PBS staff-hosted) The AfriCenter Team

Africa BICs Strategy 1.Strengthening capacity for crop biotechnology uptake - Knowledge-sharing - Science Communication - Enabling policies - Regional harmonization efforts 2. Promoting strategic alliances and partnerships 3.Facilitating international representation of Africa’s biotechnology agenda

Regions covered Eastern and Central Africa West Africa North Africa Southern Africa (thro’ partnerships) with Africa Bio

Our desire for Africa by 2015 Main Driver – Regulations for enabling, not blocking Innovation and end-user satisfaction 2010 ( 3 countries ) South Africa, Burkina Faso and Egypt 2015 ( up to 10 countries ) South Africa, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Mali, Togo, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi

Knowledge-sharing

Africa Launch of Brief 41 Country Population (Millions) No. of Impressions Burkina Faso13.232,120,000 Egypt ,000,000 Ethiopia8520,000,000 Ghana2364,068,000 Kenya3941,660,006 Malawi1522,000,500 Mali13.52,800,000 South Africa47.41,226,006 Tanzania37.815,000,000 Uganda236,262,500 TOTAL ,137, countries Highlights translated in 9 African languages

Some Africa Launch events

Banaman Mali Translations of Brief 41&42 Highlights Moore and Diula Burkina Faso Amharic Ethiopia Luganda Uganda Kiswahili Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and DR Congo Ewe Spoken in Togo,Benin and Ghana Akan Dominant Local Dialect of Ghana Chichewa and Chitumbuka Malawi

Contributions to Crop Biotech Update Currently >1million subscribers Contributed 18 articles on key Africa biotech developments Honorable Kityo, former member of parliament and the Secretary General of the Uganda National Farmers Federation, challenged Uganda leaders to change their attitude toward GM "to ensure that when Africa is waking up, Uganda is not left behind.” Achieved target subscription of 10,000

Seeing-is-believing study tours in Burkina Faso and Egypt Enhanced understanding of commercialization process Appreciation of benefits

Spain and Burkina farmers sharing the experience with the Egyptians Biovision, Bibliotheca Alexandria, April 2010

COP-MOP5 Preparatory Workshop for Africa Delegates Key outputs: Interactions with one of the co-Chairs (Rene) of L&R working group COMPACT discussed Communiqué outlining Africa fundamental issues Signs of informed contributions at MOP5 -Kenya

Sharing IEC Materials in various fora

Science Communication

Building Capacity in Science/Risk Communication (with PBS) Regulators (National Biosafety Authority Board) Scientists Policy makers Journalists

Strategic Alliances - OFAB with AATF 2-hour lunch meeting every last Thursday of the month -topical issues; local and international Speakers

Member - Bt cotton commercialization taskforce in Kenya Sensitisation and stewardship committee Creating awareness among extension officers in two cotton growing areas-Rift Valley, Coastal region Developing simplified IEC materials Radio programmes Development of video on Bt cotton activities

Regional harmonization efforts

RABESA project under COMESA Biosafety regional harmonization efforts 19 member states Population > 389 million Annual import bill of around US$ 32bn Export bill of US$ 82 billion Africa’s largest trading bloc

Implementing Partners

Challenges Delay in the gazettment of biosafey regulations Delayed multi-locational evaluation trials In Egypt political restlessness may interfere with the commercialization process Strict biosafety regulations in Tz have halted initiation of WEMA trials sending negative signs to product developers Increased activism and gross misinformation even among scientists

Activities for 2011 Target countries- Burkina Faso, Egypt, Malawi, Uganda, Mali, Togo Technology acceptance- sensitization and awareness creation in Universities and educational institutions, study tours Global report launches Activities to facilitate favourable regulatory processes Development and translation of IEC materials into popular local languages Stewardship in commercialization though radio Africa Communications Book

Thank you!