The importance of the contribution of GIs to sustainable development in Africa was underlined during a two-day round table organised jointly by OAPI, ARIPO and WIPO in Yaoundé, on “Geographical Indications in Africa: Challenges of Territorial Development, Economic Integration and Trade”. Participants recognised the need to put in place national provisions to develop protection and enhancement systems for GIs.
On 29 March 2019, ‘the Consultative Committee for the Continental strategy for Geographical Indications in Africa’ ,during its second meeting in Essaouira, Morocco decided to launch three new initiatives as part of the implementation of the ‘African Union Continental strategy for Geographical Indications (GIs) in Africa 2018-2023’.
On 7 March 2019, the Task force rural Africa, after consultations of its members, presented its first recommendations in the form of a report, submitted as part of the wider Joint Africa EU Strategy (JAES). These recommendations extend to mainly four strategic areas for action:
The ’AU Continental strategy for Geographical Indications in Africa 2018-2023’ was adopted by the African Union in October 2017 and endorsed as a specific deliverable of the AU-EU Summit in November 2017.
Through the development of GIs, this strategy aims to develop rural areas in Africa, preserve heritage and tradition, while helping farmers and producers in Africa to gain added-value for their quality products. It is implemented at the African, regional and national level.