Ernest Reuben Aubee, a Gambian-born aspirant for the position of commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable development (ARBE) with the African Union (AU), is seeking support from the union’s member countries while making his vision for the continental body known.
With over 30 years of experience in food and agriculture at the grassroots, national, regional and continental levels, Aubee has pledged his commitment to ensuring food and nutrition security, harnessing the potential of the blue economy and providing a safe and sustainable environment for Africa if elected.
The African Union is a body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the African continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity, which operated from 1963 to 1999.
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The commissioner for ARBE is responsible for driving the implementation of ARBE policies, programs and strategies in such a way as to align with the aspirations of Agenda 2063, any associated medium-term plans and other key continental legal and policy frameworks.
Aubee promised to ensure better coordination and implementation of continental agriculture and nutrition policies and programs among key African institutions.
“My vision is to contribute to the realization of the seven aspirations of Agenda 2063 in which food and nutrition security is guaranteed,” he added.
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To achieve this, Aubee proposed an assessment of AU agricultural institutions to ensure efficient service delivery, the establishment of an African food safety authority to serve as a hub for all food safety matters and resource mobilization to boost agricultural development.
Other tactics he discussed for achieving his goals include institutionalizing strong and strategic leadership in the department with synergistic efforts between AU member states, regional economic communities, development partners and all stakeholders across the various agricultural value chains.
