Joint Media Advisory- WFP and AU launch The Africa Risk Capacity at COP17

Joint Media Advisory- WFP and AU launch The Africa Risk Capacity at COP17 / Presenting the African risk capacity Wednesday 7 December, 11:30-13:00 Desert room, Africa Pavilion, COP17 Durban


DURBAN, South Africa, December 5, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Risk Capacity (ARC) – an innovative drought insurance initiative for African governments – is being launched on Wednesday at COP17, the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban. African Union Commission Chairperson Dr. Jean Ping will announce the project.


UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has been invited to attend, along with a

number of dignitaries from AU-member states and international

organizations. Martine Dennis of the BBC will moderate a discussion on the topic. Media representatives are welcome to attend the launch and conduct interviews afterwards with the AU Commission Chairperson and Richard Wilcox, ARC’s Managing Director ad interim.


In a year when the Horn of Africa has experienced one of the worst droughts in recent times, ARC represents a unique response and means of recovery from the recurrent extreme weather events that threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of people on the continent.

The AU is Africa’s premier institution for policy harmonization, partnership building, resource mobilization and advocacy for Pan-African cases. For more details: www.au.int


WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.

Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries. www.wfp.org


SOURCE

World Food Program (WFP)