The heartbreaking sight of thousands of animals dying during drought in Africa in the recent years, among other issues, has brought to focus the need to address the environmental crises taking place across the world. This year’s continental animal welfare forum – The Africa Animal Welfare Conference (AAWC) – Action 2022 was deliberately themed, ‘Animals, People, and the Environment in a Rapidly Changing 21st Century’ which was able to shine light to the adverse effects of environmental neglect and unconsciousness through the animal welfare perspective, citing best practices in managing the challenges and providing solutions for policy makers across the African continent and beyond.

This year, the 6th Africa Animal Welfare Conference – Action 2022 which was hosted by the government of Botswana, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), The African Union - InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), addressed the issues building up from those discussed in the past conferences. The conference brought together 130 delegates physically and 240 virtually, including government leaders, diplomatic officials and civil society organizations from different countries across the world.

Importantly, the 2022 conference ignited discussions from an array of fields - animal welfare, environment and sustainable development, cage free campaigns in Africa, donkey welfare, animal ethics and research in science, livestock welfare, religion and animal protection, one health one welfare, animal welfare perspectives of women in agribusiness, animal welfare in museum institutions, industrial livestock farming, animal malnutrition, veterinary training, civil society stakeholder engagement with UNEP, factory farming and climate change, Animal Welfare Strategy for Africa (AWSA), and draft guidelines for incorporation of animal welfare in development cooperation projects.

Thabang Botshoma, the Botswana Deputy Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Agriculture delivering the keynote address to the congregants of the conference, he lauded the theme of the conference terming it both timely and captivating. “…Timely because in this 21st Century, we are witnessing rapid and sometimes phenomenal changes globally, and Africa is part of this change, that must be addressed, now.” “Captivating because, in Africa, like in other parts of the world, immense change is being witnessed in the areas of technological advancement, infrastructure development, increased industrialization, changing patterns in food production and consumption, climate change and variation, new health concerns and emergence of pandemics such as Covid-19, and concerns about pollution. This requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders not only in Africa, but globally.” He added.

Mr Botshoma concluded by giving Botswana’s commitment to the aspirations of the conference, “Botswana, as a friend of the conference, through the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant ministries and departments do hereby commit to do all that it is policy wise possible and undertake any necessary actions to accommodate enhanced growth without compromising the integrity of the environment and maintaining good welfare of animals.”

In his welcoming address to the conference, the ANAW Board Chair, Prof James Nkansah opined, “As a network organization, ANAW established the annual conference in 2017 to create a premier African platform for animal welfare stakeholders to address animal welfare-related issues concerning Africa.” He added, “The Africa Animal Welfare Conference is based on the premise that animal welfare practice is the best way of reducing the suffering of animals.”

Lauded as the first and largest animal welfare conference in Africa, Africa Animal Welfare Conference (AAWC), it is an annual convention that brings together representatives of animal welfare, wildlife and environmental conservation organizations, NGOs, government officials and government-affiliated institutions, academics, researchers, media, policy makers, legal practitioners, community members, interest groups, development practitioners to discuss, explain and discern current issues affecting the sector.

Resolutions

After three days of insightful presentations, lengthy deliberations and profound discussions, the conference drafted some recommendations as the outcome of the conference which will become resolutions upon adoption by key stakeholders. These key recommendations (draft resolutions) of the 6th Africa Animal Welfare Conference (AAWC) – Action 2020 are highlighted as follows:

1. THERE’S a need to champion the adoption and implementation of better animal welfare policies at local, national and continental level, lobby for better legislation to tackle the issue of factory farming and animal abuse.
2. THERE’S a need to table a resolution at UNEA that recognizes animal sentience and welfare as an important consideration in developing policies on environment, sustainable development and healthy diets
3. THERE’S a need, through academic institutions to champion and enhance One Health research in Africa. Focus in promoting the establishment of ethical review committees in Africa that will support animal welfare research
4. THERE’S a need to lobby for the formulation of policies and guidelines for animal welfare that are aligned to religious values. Promote the inclusion women in the animal resource industry and push for adoption and incorporation of animal welfare guidelines in development programs and their implementation at national and regional laws for easy follow-up and prosecution of offenders
5. THERE’S a need through continued partnership with UNEP to promote civil society engagement in Africa to encourage the betterment of animals, people and the environment.
6. THERE’S a need to champion the development of policies that promote indigenous wildlife conservation principles promote food systems that embrace a humane and sustainable future as well as channel more funding to animal welfare advocacy in the continent. Develop legislatory and regulatory framework on Animal Welfare, sustainable utilization of shared resources and Environmental Health.
7. THERE’S a need to champion the development of policies and legal frameworks that support animal welfare at national and continental level. Promote evidence-based approach interventions through research and enhance education and awareness on animal welfare to different stakeholders.
8. THERE’S a need to promote partnerships with governments, humanitarian agencies and CSOs in addressing animals in disaster.

It is hoped that the future Africa Animal Welfare Conferences will report the success of implementing the resolutions, as more organizations in animal welfare, wildlife and environmental conservation, and sustainable development will come on board to work with stakeholders in addressing the challenges faced that affect animals, people and the environment across the world.

We would most especially want to relay our gratitude to the Government of Botswana, African Union - InterAfrican Bureau on Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). We would like to thank Animal People, Animal Welfare Institute, A Well Fed World, Compassion In World Farming, Lewis and Clark Law School - Centre for Animal Law Studies (CALS), The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA), World Animal Protection, Welttiershutz-stiftung (WTS), and Well Being International who have made it possible for the conference to take place through financial support.

The report for the 6th Africa Animal Welfare Conference – Action 2023 will be posted soon on the conference website.

The 7th edition of Africa Animal Welfare Conference – Action 2023 will be held in Kigali, Rwanda on the 25th to 27th September 2023. Please find out more on the conference website: https://www.aawconference.org