Bonn, 28 September 2018 – AEWA National Focal Points from 21 African Contracting Parties met from 12 to 14 September 2018 in the Ezulwini Valley, in the Kingdom of Eswatini, for their preparatory meeting (Pre-MOP7) in advance of the 7^th Session of the AEWA Meeting of the Parties (MOP7). The meeting was jointly organized by the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat and the Eswatini National Trust Commission, and kindly hosted by the Government of Eswatini.

The Pre-MOP7 meeting aimed to familiarize the AEWA African National Focal Points in advance of the MOP7, with the key documents and issues to be addressed the conference and to permit them to deliberate on common regional positions in relation to key issues.  

Through a rich variety of methods and tools including quizzes, brief illustrative and interactive presentations, role plays and interactive discussions both in plenary and during group exercises, information and understanding of key MOP7 documents and topics was conveyed to the meeting participants, while ensuring the full and active involvement of both new and long-standing National Focal Points.

Among the key issues addressed during the three-day meeting were the draft documents on the Strategic Plan and Plan of Action for Africa for the period of 2019-2027, waterbird monitoring in the AEWA region, species action and management planning under AEWA, climate change resilience for migratory waterbirds and their sites, National Reporting, the institutional, financial and administrative management of the Agreement including a number of budget scenarios to be considered for the future financing of the Agreement, as well as the associated draft resolutions. The AEWA African National Focal Points further deliberated on issues of regional and sub-regional importance during closed discussion sessions. This provided them with the opportunity to establish regional positions on issues to be discussed at MOP7.

Participants’ knowledge and skills to prepare for AEWA-related meetings and for effective negotiation under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, was also enhanced using the CMS Family National Focal Point Manual. The AEWA African Pre-MOP7 meeting was equally an excellent opportunity for the Focal Points to get to know each other and strengthen collaboration both for the AEWA MOP7 and to enhance the future implementation of the Agreement in the African region.

A field excursion to the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, coupled with visits to the Mantenga Cultural Village, the Eswatini National Museum and the King Sobhuza Memorial Park enabled participants to enjoy the rich ecological, cultural and historical beauty and uniqueness of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The AEWA African National Focal Points indicated great satisfaction with the meeting and are confidently facing the AEWA MOP7 in Durban, South Africa, from 4 to 8 December 2018.

The AEWA African Pre-MOP7 was made possible thanks to the generous financial and in-kind contributions from the Governments of Switzerland (through the Federal Office for the Environment), Germany (through the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety) and Eswatini (through the Eswatini National Trust Commission).