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

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

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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. Knowledge-sharing

8. Africa Launch of Brief 41 Country Population (Millions) No. of Impressions Burkina Faso13.232,120,000 Egypt78.8126,000,000 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 TOTAL375.7321,137,012 10 countries Highlights translated in 9 African languages

9. Some Africa Launch events

10. 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

11. 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

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

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

14. 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

15. Sharing IEC Materials in various fora

16. Science Communication

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

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

19. 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

20. Regional harmonization efforts

21. 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

22. Implementing Partners

23. 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

24. 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

25. Thank you!