Twenty-seven African countries have adopted the Marrakesh Declaration, which consolidates these countries’ commitment to placing the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) at the heart of 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) negotiations.

The decision was reached at the conclusion of a High-Level Meeting held in Marrakesh attended by 300 participants. The Declaration also endows the initiative with a concrete action plan.

The AAA coalition is determined to respond to the high expectations pinned on COP22 – which will run from November 7 to 18 in Marrakesh – so as to make it the “COP of Action” and the “COP of Africa.”

The Marrakesh Declaration outlines the actions and objectives that the countries are committed to endorsing the principle of a larger, more effective and efficient public and private funding.

It also looks at the principle of monitoring the funds disbursed for the Adaptation of African Agriculture, with an easier access to climate funds for African projects.

Countries would be expected to contribute to actions and solutions through the Global Climate Action Agenda and any other related framework, highlighting African projects and good practices in such fields as soil management (including carbon storage in soils), agricultural water control, climate-risk management, and funding small farmers, who constitute one of the most vulnerable groups, thereby facilitating access to research in agriculture.

They would also place agriculture at the heart of climate negotiations by emphasising a sustainable increase in productivity and agricultural earnings while adapting and developing resilience to climate change.

“Work towards building African capacities in terms of agricultural policies and programmes, and setting up and managing sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural projects”, a statement said.

The High-Level Meeting also marks the starting point of the “#WEAAARE” communications campaign, which aims to raise civil society awareness and to mobilise the international community around the AAA initiative ahead of COP22.