The African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) was established to build regulatory capacity for safe modern biotechnology in Africa. ABNE provides training, technical support, and information resources to help countries develop functional biosafety systems and informed decision-making on agricultural biotechnology. Its goals are to establish workable laws and enable access to beneficial biotechnology products while ensuring safety. ABNE supports over 30 countries and has trained over 800 regulators and policymakers. It aims to consolidate its role as the leading organization supporting biosafety systems and emerging technologies across Africa.

1. Overview of the work and
achievements of the ABNE
African Biosafety Network
of Expertise (ABNE)

2. African Ministerial Conference on
Science and Technology (AMCOST)
[now merged with education as (STC-EST)]
identified
modern
biotechnology
as a
developmental
tool
stated modern
biotechnology
must be
harnessed safely
advocates for a
comprehensive
approach to
modern
biotechnology
ABNE, an emanation of the NEPAD Agency
Continental decision

3. • Recommendation by AU-
NEPAD’s High-Level
African Panel on modern
biotechnology
“biotechnology and
biosafety should co-
evolve so that
technology and
regulations together
can help promote
innovations”
Co-evolutionary Approach

4. NEPAD’s strategies for food security and improved
livelihoods in Africa include…
• Building regulatory capacity
• Having a critical mass of highly competent
personnel at all levels
• Harmonizing regulations
• Effectively communicating with stakeholders
The African Agenda

5. ABNE Mandate: Building Functional
Biosafety Regulatory Systems in Africa
The goal of ABNE is to build regulatory capacity
in member states for informed decision-making
on the safe use and management of agricultural
biotechnology to enable them to make
informed decisions.

6. ABNE’s Identity & Mandate
ABNE’s unique brand
– Africa-led, Africa-owned, Africa-based initiative
for regulators, policy and decision makers
Cardinal principles
– neutrality, trust, accessibility & relevance
Ultimate goal
– provide evidence-based factual information
– assist enact workable laws and establish
functional biosafety systems for an adequate level
of safety and access to new beneficial products 6

7. Environmental
Safety Food Safety
Biosafety
Communication
Socio-Economic
aspects of Biosafety
Legal
aspects of
Biosafety
Biosafety
related issues
ABNE’s capacity building areas
ABNE’s Niche

8. Information
Resources
Training &
Education
Technical
Support &
Consultations
Networking
& Linkages
ABNE’s Service Delivery Platform

9. Functional Biosafety Systems -
Good and functional
administrative system
 Human Capacities
for Inspection, Risk
Assessment,
Decision- Making
Trained and confident
technical experts.
 Workable legislations
 Policy and Law
 Implementing Regulations
DECISIONS

10. Despite the progress
made, 33 countries
still have to develop
biosafety regulatory
systems.
Biosafety landscape
in Africa (2017)

11. ABNE training programs, 2017
• Regulators, policy makers and decision-makers
trained/sensitized: 814
• Total number of programs offered: 21
• Number of Females trained: 251 (31%)

12. Cultivate and nurture high level advocacy
meetings
• Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cameroon and
Senegal.
Signing an MoU with Minister of Science &
Technology of Mozambique
Senegalese Minister of Environment and
CEO biosafety authority
Recognition letters/notes received from
Ministers and CEOs (Uganda, Moz, Nigeria)

13. Cultivate and nurture
networking and consultations
(Up) – CEO of NEPAD Agency laureate of
African Agriculture Leadership Award 2017
(Down) WFP the 2017 Laureate, Adesina
Akinwumi, President of AfDB (middle).
ABNE was visible at very
important Intl Meetings
• OECD (Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development)
• ISBGMO (International Symposium
On The Biosafety Of Genetically Modified
Organisms),
• ABCI (African Biosafety
Coordination Initiative),
• ABBC (Africa Biotec/Biosafety
Communication conference)
• WFP (World Food Prize)

14. Africa’s Preparedness for International Biosafety
Negotiations – Lessons from COP-MOP
• CPB is a legally binding international agreement
negotiated, concluded and adopted within the
framework of the CBD
• Article 19(3) of the CBD provides basis for the
negotiations of the Cartagena Protocol
• Eight meetings of the Conference of the Parties
serving as the meeting of the Parties to the
Cartagena Protocol (COP MOP) had been held
since the Protocol entered into force in 2003

15. credit: tandemcc.co
Political decision
AMCOST Decision for policy
and implementation coherence

16. A unique feature of the last negotiations was that
COP-MOP 8 was held concurrently with COP 13 and
COP-MOP 2
• Overall, a marked improvement in the African Region’s participation in the negotiations
was observed
• The Arab Republic of Egypt is to host the next Conference of Parties (COP 14) in 2018
• Continued technical backstopping for the African group as useful both in-country and
regionally;
• Training on International Negotiations planned for the African group members

17. Networks of Experts for African countries
1. Environment Safety
2. Food safety
3. Lawyers
4. Socio-economic
5. Communication
6. African National Biosafety Authorities
Association

18. Generic services open to all AU member states through
ABNE’s website (http://nepad-abne.net)
Information Resources

19. NEPAD-ABNE intend to ….
• Consolidate ABNE as a “GO-TO-Organisation”
for Biosafety issues in the continent.
• Continue broadening its scope to provide
expertise in areas such regulating Utilization
of emerging technologies as recommended by
the Assembly/AU/Dec.649(XXIX) in July 2017.