By Hakim B. Mufumbiro, CCAFRICA Coordinator, Uganda

As part of the transition of the CCAFRICA coordination role from Uganda to the Gambia, a benchmarking and mentorship session for The Gambia Codex Secretariat to understudy the Codex structures and functioning in Uganda was held in Kampala 2–5 September 2025 at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Headquarters (Codex Contact Point for Uganda). The delegation from The Gambia was led by Mr Mamodou Bah, Director-General of Food Safety and Quality Authority of The Gambia as well as representation from Office of the Vice-President.

The main objectives of the activity included deliberation on effective regional coordination roles and responsibilities as provided in the Codex Procedural Manual, sharing experiences of effective management of Codex Africa initiatives and review and plan upcoming activities outlined in the transition workplan.

During the session, both countries shared the structures and functioning of their National Food Control Systems highlighting the institutional arrangements, legal frameworks, coordination mechanisms and current initiatives supporting food safety and Codex participation. There was strong emphasis made on the significance of multisectoral coordination and the integration of food safety within the broader One Health approach for both countries.

The role of the CCAFRICA Coordinator as described in the Codex Procedural Manual was highlighted, especially in terms of the role serving as the focal point for communication between the Codex Secretariat and Member Countries, and representing the region’s interest in the Executive Committee (CCEXEC). Additionally, the Coordinator supports Members in contributing to Codex standards-setting processes by coordinating comments, identifying regional priorities, and facilitating the preparation of draft standards, guidelines, and recommendations of interest to Africa.

The mentorship event also provided an opportunity to walk through the sequence of events and activities for effective hosting of Codex meetings, as The Gambia will be expected to host the 26th session of CCAFRICA, to be held in early 2027. The hands-on practical experiences shared by Uganda were critical in empowering The Gambia as they prepare to host that session. Emphasis was placed on the need to incorporate sufficient resources for hosting a CCAFRICA session into the institutional budget as well as establish a dedicated local national organizing committee with clear terms of reference and roles to undertake the arrangements.

There was strong reflection on the modalities for engagement, communication and effective participation of Members in Codex activities as informed by the results of the CCAFRICA scorecard on participation in Codex that indicates up to 11 Countries that did not participate in any of the 13 Codex meetings held in 2024. The incoming Coordinator was urged to enhance engagement and communication with the Members in order to improve participation and promote the uptake of the Codex e-Learning course by the stakeholders and experts in the different Countries.

Following this successful benchmarking and mentorship session it was recommended that CCAFRICA should consider developing a guideline or principles to guide the transition process of regional coordinators to ensure effective succession and foster continuity and sustainability of the gains.

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Photo © Awath Aburu