Workshop Aims to Strengthen Household Resilience Measurement in Africa
Opening of the Workshop
A significant workshop focused on assessing household resilience to climate and socioeconomic challenges commenced in Addis Ababa. This gathering has convened statisticians and technical specialists from 27 African nations, marking a vital step in enhancing resilience analysis across the continent. Jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this three-day event is tailored to ensure uniform reporting on resilience metrics in light of the upcoming biennial review of the Malabo Declaration.
Goals and Expectations
Koffi Amegbeto, a Senior Policy Officer at FAO, emphasized the importance of this workshop as a landmark moment in improving resilience measures across Africa. He stated, “By enhancing skills and systems for measuring resilience, we are empowering countries to create better policies and monitor progress over time.” This proactive approach aims to build the foundation necessary for long-term, effective resilience strategies within African nations.
Transitioning to the Kampala Declaration Era
Dr. Janet Edeme, who leads the Rural Economy Division at the AUC, highlighted the critical next steps as Africa moves towards the Kampala Declaration. She noted that institutionalizing existing tools and methodologies, including the Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis (RIMA) framework, is essential. This institutionalization allows countries to independently monitor resilience, setting them up for sustainable development in the future.
Focus on Resilience Indicators
The training sessions during the workshop specifically target the measurement of Indicator 6.1.i of the Malabo Declaration. This indicator assesses the percentage of farmers, pastoralists, and fisherfolk who have enhanced their resilience against climate change and other shocks. This focus aligns with Commitment 6 of the Malabo Declaration, which emphasizes the importance of improving resilience to climate variability.
Participants will engage in technical sessions covering data cleaning, validation, and indicator estimation. Additionally, hands-on exercises will utilize the RIMA methodology, which the FAO developed to gauge resilience over time, allowing for adaptive interventions and refined program designs.
The Role of RIMA in Tracking Resilience
Since its introduction in 2008, the RIMA framework has become a valuable tool for several African nations and is recognized globally. The FAO has actively collaborated with government entities, regional organizations, and international bodies to strengthen capabilities in employing the RIMA toolset effectively. This partnership has facilitated measurable changes in resilience metrics across the continent.
Meeting Malabo Declaration Targets
The collaboration among FAO, AUC, and various partners has yielded significant advancements in resilience reporting. In 2017, not a single country successfully reported on Indicator 6.1.i, primarily due to challenges in capacity and data availability. By 2023, however, 34 countries had reported their progress, allowing for the inclusion of this critical indicator in Commitment 6 scoring.
Following a targeted sub-regional workshop last year, 11 countries achieved the successful calculation and validation of their resilience indicators. This year’s workshop builds upon that progress, focusing on fortifying the capacity of all participating nations in preparation for the 2025 Biennial Review of the Malabo Declaration.
The Malabo Declaration’s Impact
Adopted in 2014 by African Heads of State and Government, the Malabo Declaration outlined ambitious goals for agricultural transformation by 2025. These targets encompass halving poverty, ending hunger, and enhancing resilience across the continent. The Biennial Review process serves to track advancements against these seven commitments.
The workshop in Addis Ababa represents a concerted push to ensure that all countries are equipped to report on resilience metrics for the fifth and final review. This effort lays the groundwork for ongoing monitoring and evaluation in alignment with the post-Malabo agenda.
This initiative highlights the significant strides being made in assessing and improving resilience across African nations, equipping them with the tools necessary for sustainable progress and development.
