The Eastern Africa sub- region is among the regions in the world most affected by and vulnerable to climate change and climate related hazards. Rural livelihoods in the region are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to the majority of rural populations being poor and highly dependent on rain- fed agriculture. In Eastern Africa, agriculture is the engine for economic development, poverty eradication and the attainment of food and nutrition security. According to FAO, the agriculture sector in Africa is increasingly being called on to raise food production to meet the food demand for a growing population. This formidable challenge will be further exacerbated by climate change which will have significant impacts on the various dimensions and determinants of food security. This is particularly so given that increasing and sustaining agricultural production and productivity as well as developing the resilience of agricultural systems to adverse weather events and climate change is fundamental to achieving food security in the region.

This two day workshop was organized by the FAO sub- regional office for Eastern Africa and FAO Rwanda and held in Kigali Rwanda. The workshop was attended by participants from seven countries which included, South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Representatives from the RECs, the EAC, IGAD, AfDB and other regional institutions, Private sector, UNECA and representatives from Government ministries.

In the plenary key note address, Dr Johnson Nkem- of the Africa Climate Policy Centre- UNECA, discussed the Paris agreement and implications for agricultural green growth in Eastern Africa and outlook for CoP22 in Morocco.

The Paris Agreement builds upon the Paris Convention on Climate change and for the first time brings all nations into a common cause to undertake take ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort.

The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change. To reach these ambitious goals, appropriate financial flows, a new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework will be put in place, thus supporting action by developing countries and the most vulnerable countries, in line with their own national objectives. The Agreement also provides for enhanced transparency of action and support through a more robust transparency framework. In Africa, only eighteen countries have ratified this agreement.

The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to put forward their best efforts through “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the years ahead. This includes requirements that all Parties report regularly on their emissions and on their implementation efforts.

Discussions on the sub- regional perspectives on enhancing investment in CSA lead by Mr Moses Marwa, the Principal Agricultural Economist at the East African Community highlighted the CSA investment initiatives in the sub region and these included the National Climate change bills in the respective countries, Climate change policies and strategies , the draft framework for regional CSA research and training curriculum for higher Education. National initiatives included the Small holder farmer investment in Kenya and the Rwanda Green Climate Fund.

Other discussants included Mr Alex Mulisa from FONERWA, who discussed the Rwanda’s Green Climate Fund, David Howlett – DFID and Alberto Milan from the World Bank who discussed the various options for Financing Climate Smart agriculture.

Further reading on the Paris Agreement _- http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9444.php