The creation of the so-called “African Initiative” which provides the mandate to strengthen capacity for waterbird and habitat conservation throughout Africa can be seen as one of the major outcomes of MOP4. Resolution 4.9 on the African Initiative especially requests the development of an Action Plan for Africa and the establishment of a post for an Officer to coordinate AEWA activities in Africa.

The African Initiative was a reaction to the outcomes of seven international reviews presented at this meeting, which underpinned the need for increased conservation action, especially in Africa. The idea for the African Initiative was developed out of the original proposal to focus on the conservation of the Great Rift Valley and in the intention to extend this mandate to the whole of Africa.

The negotiation process leading to this new Initiative strongly benefited from the "Pre-MOP Negotiations Training Workshop", attended by many of the African delegates, who - for the first time in the history of AEWA meetings - coordinated their positions in daily consultation meetings during MOP4, thus giving their region a stronger representation during MOP4 plenary and working group sessions.

The importance given to the African Initiative and the strong wish of Parties from all regions throughout the AEWA area to make this a major success were also reflected in the budget discussions where activities related to the implementation of the Initiative were included into the core budget for 2009-2012. In order to cover the lacking funds for the full implementation of Resolution 4.9, Parties were moreover requested to provide - by means of voluntary contributions - the financial resources or in-kind human resources to establish a post for an Officer to coordinate AEWA activities in Africa within the AEWA Secretariat. Range States, international organisations, development agencies, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other potential donors were, moreover, invited to support this African Initiative.

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