EU-AFRICA PARTNERSHIP ON COTTON

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1 EU-AFRICA PARTNERSHIP ON Objectives A more equitable trading system within the Doha Development Agenda. The competitiveness of African cotton and a decrease in stakeholder vulnerability. Support Programme for the consolidation of the Action Framework under the EU-Africa on Cotton

2 THE CONTEXT Under the service contract EuropeAid/133123/D/SER/Multi, support is requested to assist the ACP Secretariat in implementing the Action Framework of the EU-Africa on Cotton. The EU-Africa on Cotton emerged as a response to the historical drop in cotton prices at the beginning of the 21st century and the concerns about the poverty impacts on cotton producers and cotton sectors in Africa. In early 2004, the European Commission produced two Communications, one on agricultural commodities in general, and one specifically on cotton, which were adopted by the EU Council in April of that year. The Cotton Communication called upon the Commission and Member States to take all necessary measures to implement an Action Plan, based on principles of national participation and effective coordination, and covering trade and development aspects. Subsequently, at a seminar in Paris, in July 2004, the EU-Africa on cotton was discussed and endorsed. The Paris meeting, which was attended by EU Members States and by African cotton producing countries, adopted an Action Plan which became an Action Framework in February The Action Framework covers 6 key areas : national & regional strategies, policies & institutions, competitiveness, reduction of vulnerability, increase in added value and coordination. A Steering and Monitoring Committee of the, the COS-coton, was established in September The objective proposed by the are the following A sustainable improvement in competitiveness, An improved added value and viability of the African cotton value chains, so as to maximise the impact on the income of producers, A mobilization of the countries concerned and the EU, An improved coordination between donors, An improved dialogue between stakeholders, And a better monitoring of actions.

3 Content of the A divided into 2 aspects: For the «Trade» aspect, focus on a more equitable trading system within the Doha Development Agenda For the «Development» aspect, focus on the competitiveness of African cotton and a decrease in stakeholder vulnerability Six main strategic areas of interventions of the Action Framework: 1. Improvement of the capacities to develop, monitor, assess and update national and regional cotton strategies 2. Improvement of the institutional environment, internal organisation and efficiency of cotton value chains 3. Improvement of the competitiveness of the cotton value chains of Africa 4. Reduction in the vulnerability of cotton value chains 5. Increase in value addition generated by the cotton value chains 6. Strengthening, efficiency and effectiveness of coordination at international, regional and national levels Financial inputs investedsincethe implementation of the : 327 million were mobilised by the EU (European Communityand MemberStates) between2004 and 2012, which roughly represents 70% of the overall estimated funding spentto support the Africain cottonsectorsover this period

4 Actorsand Governanceof the Joint ACP-EU cotton steering committee (COS-coton): Semi-annual Steering committee Objectives: Coordination and monitoring of the implementationof the Action Framework of the EU-Africa Handling of the needsof the different stakeholders of the African cotton sectors Coherence and appropriation of the cotton Action Framework as well as the associated programs Coordination on three levels: 1. National (interprofessional, public-private partnership, government, donors, ) 2. Regional(regionalproducerassociations, regional initiatives ) 3. International (COS-coton, Cotton Club) Composition : 5 categories of players ACP States EU Regional African Integration Organisations EU-ACP Organisations (CDE, CTA) PrivateSector(AProCA for the producers, A.C.A, for the ginners and ACTIF, for the cottontextile indutries) Regional Focal Points (RCFP) Regional representatives Connection withthe players in Africa, atthe regional and the national levels ACP Secretariat: Objective: Implementationof the Action frameworkof the EU-Africa on cotton Technical support Contracting authority Programme Management Unit: Support Programme for the consolidation of the Action Framework under the EU-Africa on Cotton Expected Results: Regional cotton strategies are operational at national level and coordinated under a continental approach The capacities of professional cotton associations are strengthened in terms of planning and monitoring of strategy implementation Internal competitiveness and profitability of African cotton sectors are strengthened Technical support Coordination Exchanges of information FAO : Technical Dissemination of good agricultural practices ITC : Technical Connection with the RCS Operationalization of the RCFP Promotionof quality standards of cotton Opening of new markets

5 «The cottonecosystem» Regional, pan-african and international levels