Following the training organized last November 3 and 4, a capacity building workshop for Gabonese parliamentarians on responsible investments in agriculture and food systems was held from March 2 to 4, 2022.The meeting that brought together MPs and senators was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), under the aegis of the Gabonese Parliamentary Alliance for Food and Nutritional Security (APGSAN).

In his opening speech, the 5th Vice President of the National Assembly, the Honorable Jean-Pierre Oyiba, stressed the importance of this training workshop. "Faced with the challenges of sustainable development, particularly Goal 2, the role of parliamentarians is a catalyst, we must justify a high level of capacity in terms of knowledge of laws or public policies relating to responsible investment in agriculture.

The FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Central Africa and FAO Representative in Gabon, Hélder Muteia, in his speech reiterated the essential role of parliamentarians in food and nutrition security "The 2030 Agenda recognizes the essential role played by national parliaments through their legislative and budgetary functions and the oversight they exercise over the effective implementation of commitments. Parliamentarians are the custodians of their country's commitments to sustainable development, as they are mandated to transform these commitments into legislative instruments and long-term public policies.

These training activities focused on the Practical Guide for Parliamentarians and Parliamentary Advisors on Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems developed by FAO and IISD. This guide provides guidance to parliamentarians on their role in creating reliable, coherent and transparent "enabling policy environments" for sustainable and responsible investments in agriculture and food systems.

Based on the priorities identified at the training needs analysis workshop held in November, the training focused on three themes: assessing the adequacy of the national legislative framework for responsible investment in agriculture and food systems, advocating for reforms to existing laws and/or the adoption of new laws, and ensuring effective parliamentary oversight to ensure the implementation of laws and regulations.

The stimulation of investments by and for young people through specific measures to encourage vocations in agriculture and the protection of the environment and natural resources in connection with agricultural investments were also discussed in depth.
Closing the work, the Venerable Marie Julie Bilogo-Bi-Nzendong, 3rd Vice President of the Senate, said "to you my parliamentary colleagues, it is the place to congratulate you, but especially to urge you to make good use of the prescriptions coming out of this meeting of giving and receiving for the well-being of our people.

At the end of the workshop, parliamentarians adopted a declaration in which they committed to accelerate the implementation of priority actions identified during the workshop to promote responsible investment in agriculture and food systems in Gabon.
 
Related links
Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems
Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Growth and Transformation of Agriculture in Africa for Shared Prosperity and Better Livelihoods