Day 2: Session One (I): Water Management Presentations

F O U N D A T I O N F O R D E M O R A C C Y

A F R I C A N D O 2 0 0 4

W Y N D H A M G R A N D B A Y , M I A M I F L

DAY TWO 09/17 T H /2004

RECAP OF THE 2nd DAY EVENTS AND SESSION

DAY 2: SESSION ONE (I): WATER MANAGEMENT PRESENTATIONS

Opening statement by Michael Okomo: Coordinator Kenya Diaspora Network: Brief remarks were made to the guest on the agenda for the day which included 2 separate field trips a) Everglades with the US Army Corps of Engineers and b) Water Irrigation Systems with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture. Then a recap was given of the previous days session so us to enable everyone to be on the same page.

Chair: David Dunlop: Assistant Secretary of Army ( Civil Engineers)

Presenters:

Dennis Duke: US Army Corp of Engineers: Program Manager Everglades Water System. Dr. Jeffy Burnam: Special Advisor for Environment and Development in Bureau of African Affairs US State

David Dunlop: Water Resources Management and the US Army Corps of Engineers Water resources management requirement will be different based on users need. So disagreement and debate on water policy issue should be expected. The critical item is to understand that all parties need to be involved since the resource is one and the management of this resource will require all parties to chip in one way or another. As Mark Twain said “Whisky is for drinking, water is for ,……_. Currently the US Corps of Engineers are in 190 countries world wide supporting either US Agencies, as Private consultants or in support of the Army. The Corps could be hired as consultant to other government or private entities. Access is at www.usace.army.mil or www.sai.usace.army.mil

Dennis Duke: Program Manager Restoration of Water System Management in South Florida It is challenging to manage the everglades project since as an oversight body you are looking to manage the sustainable human development while maintaining the environmental aspects. There are 68 threatened species in the everglades, uneven water levels, Mother Nature in the form of hurricanes, the natural flow of water and not forgetting human consumption. Reference to www.evergladesplan.org

Dr Burnam: Partnership for Development Partnerships is the way to build energy to mobilize for development. Partnership is the watchword in this state department under Secretary Powell. The US has provided $2 billion in bilateral trade assistance to African outside the Millennium Project. In quoting Benjamin Franklin “Everyone knows the value of water when the well runs dry”. Dr Burnum looked at the 3 major partnership in African on water: a) Congo Basin : Water management and Forestry; (b) West Africa Water Management: 3 Countries Ghana, Mail and Niger; (c) Global Water Partnership which was initiated by the Scandinavian countries but partners can join in if they are contributing something to the group. Reference on these projects should be looked for at www.sdp.gov

1) Desalination process for clean water: Answer: In Florida there is limited use of desalination due to its exorbitant cost. This is due to the high costs involved in the mechanical process of desalination i.e. electricity cost.

2) What about Solar power driven desalination? Answer: No answer to this one since no one had looked at it

3) Of the 190 countries that US Corp pf Engineers are working which one are African countries? Answer: The African desk point of contact will provide specific answer.

DAY 2 SESSION TWO (II): AREAS OF INVESTMENT AND COOPERATION WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR

Panel Chair: Mrs. Becky Norton Dunlop: Vice President External Relations The Heritage Foundation

Presenters: Dr. Robert Horsch; Vice President Product and Technology Monsanto Company Dr. Peter Hartman; Director General International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Mr. Woodrow Anderson; Chairman National Cotton Council of America

Mrs. Becky N. Dunlop: Citizen and farmer right to property Instituting of legal procedure that enable property rights will improve economic conditions for all. When the Private sector legally recognized rights, people will be able to enroll for business licenses.

Dr. Robert Horsch; Private Sector development in Africa Transgenetic / biotechnology solution be they in Africa, China or India will offer complimentary strategies for new technology development. This will stimulate commercial business development, Transitional market development and Humanitarian Partnership.

Dr Peter Hartman; An approach to hunger and Poverty in Africa Poverty leads to bad outcomes which results into hunger and more poverty. In this instance Poor Agricultural production will lead to cheap food, poor nutrition, poor health and more bad things. With good and proper agricultural production the reverse will happen, leading to economic activities.

Mr Woodrow Anderson: Ways to move forward with the DOHA Development Progress –addressing Cotton Issues No speech ??? No PPT

1. US cotton growers Partnership opportunities in technology and research? Answer: Western African Biotechnology Center will be formed. In addition the Burkina Faso MoU allows for the sharing of information between USDA and member states and communication between farmers and local USDA resources.

2. What is the challenge of globalization as it regards to investments? What is the global approach to this problem in particular in the field of production? Answer: Several approaches to reach millions of customer are in place. All have adopted local means of approach in grouping regions that have common issues ie climate, political etc. On the 2nd questions: ECOWAS gives movement of people between regions so the taxation systems need to be looked at. Africa also needs to look into ways at how others in particular the US has made use of technology and system in agriculture.

2 DAY 2 LUNCH SESSION : EVERGALDES AND SOUTH FLORIDA ECOSYSTEMS

Chair: Mr. Dwayne Wynn: Chair Miami Dade County Mayor’s African Trade Task Force

Presenter:

Dennis Duke: Program Manager Ecosystem Restoration South Florida

The session went into more details on Dennis Dukes’ earlier presentation on the Everglades ecosystem and how all the various parties the Federal ( US Govt), State (FL), local municipalities ( County and City), local civil societies groups( Citizen Committees), elected representatives both ( local, state and federal) and the US Corp of Engineers are working together to cover this large ecosystem which is actually three river system entwined into one large one with a very low slope to the ocean.

1. NONE

3 DAY 2: SESSION THREE (IV): AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND INIATIVES ON THE GROUND IN AFRICA

Panel Chair: Ambassador Mattie R. Sharpless: Special Adviser to the Deputy Under Secretary, Farm and Agriculture Services USDA

Presenters: Ms. Diane Collingwood; Instructional Supervisor, Agriscience, Marketing and Public Services Education Dade Ms Jacqueline E. Shafer; Deputy Assistant Administrator, Economy Growth and Trade Bureau USAID Dr. Siphiwe F. Mkhize, Minister (Agriculture), Embassy of South Africa

Ms Collingwood: Teaching Educators Agriculture and Conservation Holistically (TEACH) Program from an Educators perspective: We can make a difference by virtually any little step or thing we do. African is waiting, seeking and willing to get the needed information.

Ms. Jacqueline E Schafer: Agriculture Strategies and President Bushs’ Initiative to end Hunger. African is a continent of challenge and promise. Mr Schafer believes that basic growth and prosperity in African will have similar impact on the rest of the world. US gave $850 million on food aid to African. Ms Schaffer in looking back at a conversation on Ethiopia stated the US should seek a proper balance between food aid and support for agricultural development, to enable Africa be efficient in developing its agriculture and not rely on food aid.

Dr. Siphiwe F. Mkhize; Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program AU Declared this to be the decade as the challenge for water and hunger eradication.,

1) Could future meeting like Burkina Faso include AU as a participant? Answer: AU should have been invited and this was not a slight by the US but the US thought the regional bodies will do the invitation and also relay the message back to AU.

2) Any future meeting like Burkina Faso in the pipeline? Answer: Not at the moment since next steps are currently unknown due to budget constraints

3) Did anyone talk about the water resource management issue in relations to a constructive effort by Africa at national or regional level to support irrigation? Answer: Yes, Hon Ann Veneman and also Hon Mkhize.