Date: 23 May 2007
Time: 15.00-17.30
Venue: IFAD - Room 201 (Executive Board room)

The seminar will be followed by a cocktail at 17.30

The seminar will share the experience developed by IFAD, FAO and the EuropAfrica campaign in support of farmer organizations (FOs) involvement in Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). It will present EPA negotiating process between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and its implications for agriculture, with a focus on smallholder farmers.  

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) constitute the trade pillar of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement between Europe and 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The agreements will be negotiated before 1 January 2008.

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Background and rationale: IFAD, FAO and the EuropAfrica campaign jointly support Farmer Organizations in their participation in the EPAs Mid-Term Review. This initiative derives from a specific request made by farmers’ leaders during the Farmers' Forum organized by IFAD and at a EuropAfrica campaign seminar held in February 2006.

IFAD’s support is in line with its Strategic Framework: to strengthen Farmer Organizations' capacities to enable them to negotiate more favourable terms of engagement as well as improving their access to information. It is also in line with IFAD's engagement on policy dialogue at regional and global level.

Objective: The seminar will share the experience developed by IFAD, FAO and the EuropAfrica campaign in support of farmer organizations (FOs) involvement in Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). This partnership represents a unique experience to draw lessons for future endeavours.

The seminar aims to present the EPAs negotiating process between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and its implications for agriculture, with a focus on smallholder farmers. A representative of Farmers' Organizations will present FOs view of EPAs' impact on family agriculture.

Participants: the seminar is open to all IFAD and FAO staff. IFAD Executive Board Directors and FAO representatives are welcomed. Civil society organisations representatives are also invited to attend.

Working languages: English and French. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided.