Wednesday 3 September 2014

Time

Activity

15:00-15:10:               

Session 1: Opening ceremony

Welcoming Remarks

H.E. Carlos Lopes, UN Under Secretary-General and UNECA Executive Secretary

Chair:  TBD

Rapporteur: ACPC/ECA

 

15:10-15:20               

Session 2:  Setting event tone

Mr. Jean-Paul Adam, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Seychelles

Chair :

H.E. Carlos Lopes, UN Under Secretary-General and ECA Executive Secretary

Moderator:

Ms. Fatima Denton, Director, Special Initiatives Division, ECA

 

15:20-15:30               

Brief discussion

15:30-15:35               

Chair intervention

15:35-16:05               

Panel Discussion

  • H.E. Mr. Abdou Nassur Madi, Ministre de la Production, de l'Environnement, de l'Energie, de l'Industrie et de l'Artisanat, Iles Comore
  • S.E. Mr. Jose Maria Amado da Fonseca, Secretary of State of Environment,  Sao Tome Principe 
  • S.E. M. Henri Djombo, Ministre du Développement Durable de l’Economie Forestière et de l’Environnement, Brazaville, Rep du Congo 
  • H.E. Hon. Mass Axi Gai, Minister of Fisheries, The Gambia
  • H.E. Embaixador João Soares da Gama, Republic of Guinea Bissau
  • Hon. Devanand Virahsawmy, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development,  Mauritius,

16:05-16:20               

Interventions, Q&A from the floor

16:20-16:25               

Launch of publications

1. Climate Change in the African Small Island Developing States: from vulnerability to resilience - the paradox of the small

2. Unlocking full potentials of the Blue Economy: Are African SIDS ready to embrace the opportunities

16:25-16:30               

Summary and closing

 

Nb. the high level panel will highlight and discuss the opportunities available for transforming peculiar characteristics of SIDS and threats of climate change into development opportunities around following points:

  • How can African SIDS achieve fairness in governance structure for oceans and international trade to enhance their development goals?
  • How can the International community facilitate universal recognition of healthy ocean ecosystems and put in place mechanisms to minimize degradation and ensure maintain economic development of ocean dependent African SIDS?
  • How can Africa bring about synergies in effective utilization and management of natural and marine resources, environment and climate change management policies, strategies and programmes?
  • How can African SIDS redefine the ownership of their oceanic spaces, earn more from the resources found in their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and simultaneously boost exports based on value addition while increasing food security?
  • What kind of innovative partnership for transformational change?