CM/Res. 413 (XXIV)
RESOLUTION ON THE AFRICAN INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE TO SERVE AS A REGIONAL ARM OF THE WORLD FOOD
COUNCIL
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Twenty- Fourth Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa from 13 to 21 February, 1975,
Recognizing than an assurance of adequate food supply for the African region is a matter of utmost importance for the African populations,
Recognizing the need to increase food production in Member States and to ensure that prompt action is taken to meet the threat of acute food shortage or famine in the region,
Considering the shortage of food in the region which has been aggravated by recent droughts, natural disasters and uncontrolled environment,
Noting that the activities and programmes undertaken by the different United Nations Specialized Agencies in the African region have not resulted in much improvement in agriculture and food production,
Noting that the FAO African Regional Conference of Ministers of Agriculture which meets biennially is not an operational body,
Considering document E/CONF/65/C.2/L.16 (Part 1), of Rome World Food Conference, relating to the feasibility and necessity of establishing World Food Council with operational regional institutions to deal with the problems of food production in each region,
RECOMMENDS the establishment of African Inter-Ministerial Committee composed of National Ministers of Agriculture sponsored by the OAU, to by jointly serviced by the General Secretariat of the OAU, ECA and FAO and other International Organizations as appropriate to serve as and operational arm of the World Food Council;
RECOMMENDS the establishment of a Working Party made-up of representatives form each sub-region (constituted of the following Member States
Nigeria, Senegal, Upper Volta, Ghana, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Swaziland, Uganda, Egypt, Morocco, Libya, Algeria, Rwanda, Congo and Zaire) and assisted by the ECA, FAO, UNDP, WFP and UNICEF to undertake the following assignments;
to make all necessary governmental and other contacts including liaison with regional and international institutions located in Africa.
to carry out studies on the scope and functions of the proposed Inter - Ministerial Committee including its terms of reference and to submit a comprehensive report on its studies to the Administrative Secretary-General of the OAU by October 1975.
REQUESTS the OAU Administrative Secretary-General to convene, in consultation with the Working Party, ECA and FAO, a conference of National Ministers of Agriculture before the end of 1975 for the formal launching of the African Inter-Ministerial Committee;
REQUESTS the OAU Administrative Secretary-General to submit a full report about the Working Party and the Inter-Ministerial Committee to the Council of Ministers meeting in February 1976.