The National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) in partnership with the Joint Food and Agricultural Organization - International Atomic Energy Agency (FAO-IAEA) Centre and the African Food Safety Network (AFoSaN), facilitated a virtual Africa Food Safety Workshop for further learning while engaging with representatives from the public and private food safety testing laboratories, regulators, and quality infrastructure institutions.
This workshop brought together world-leading African scientists and experts with the aim to promote standards, reliable testing and international cooperation for better public health and trade. The discussion panels included representatives from mandated food monitoring laboratories from across Africa’s Regional Economic Communities. The workshop incorporated presentations and discussions on:
1. Download AFSI and food safety tracking in the BR_AFSC 2021 - Wezi Chunga-Sambo.pdf
3. Download CFS AFSW 2021 - Prof Pieter Gouws.pdf
4. Download PPPs and SMEs - Dr Chris Muyunda.pdf
5. Download NMISA Handout 1.pdf
6. Download NMISA Handout 2.pdf
7. Download NMISA Handout 3.pdf
* Further presentations to be made available soon *
Mr Ndwakhulu MukhufhiNMISA Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Ndwakhulu Mukhufhi is a South African with extensive experience in renewable energies; biodiesel production; essential oils; biotechnology research; laboratory Management; agro-processing; Enterprise development and Business development; Technology commercialisation in line with Technology Business Incubation practices; as well as experience in the management of high tech-based institutions. Ndwakhulu holds a MSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a post-graduate diploma in project management. In addition to English, he speaks 5 South African indigenous languages. Ndwakhulu became the CEO of The National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) in 2013. In 2019, in response to a national and regional call for NMISA to provide more services directly to the public, he started the Regional Reference Institute (RRI) as part of a new Applied Metrology division. In addition to the mandate of NMISA to maintain the national measurement standards in line with the International System of Units (SI), the RRI provides reference analysis in the case of measurement disputes, maintains and develops primary methods for chemical analysis to certify reference materials for the region (SADC and African specific commodities and food), conduct proficiency testing schemes and provides an internationally accepted analytical service. Internationally Ndwakhulu is a member of the CEC, the Committee for the Election of the CIPM (the International Committee for Weights and Measures) and actively participates in the activities of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and the Regional Metrology organisations AFRIMETS and APMP. |
Dr. Godfrey BahiigwaDirector of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE)DARBE works with AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other partners to boost rural economic development and agricultural sector development by supporting the adoption of strategies, policies and programmes on agriculture, environment and natural resources. Before joining the African Union, Dr. Bahiigwa was the Head of IFPRI’s Eastern and Southern Africa Office (ESAO) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was the founding coordinator of Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS) node for Eastern and Central Africa based at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi and later as the ReSAKSS Africawide Coordinator at International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Prior to joining IFPRI he was the Director of Uganda’s Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA) Secretariat. He also worked with Uganda’s Economic Policy Research Center for eight years as a Senior Research Fellow, focusing on agricultural policy research and linking it to government policy and strategy formulation. Dr. Bahiigwa holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia (USA); a Master’s degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota (USA); and a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Makerere University, Uganda. |
Diana AkulloSenior Policy Officer – Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) – African Union CommissionMs Akullo facilitates policy harmonisation, partnership building, and resource mobilization to implement programs for causing Africa’s positive transformation within the context of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme. She coordinates Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) activities and has experience in agricultural policy and strategy analysis and trade negotiations and has been instrumental in supporting the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) processes relating to Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures. She has previously worked with the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central African (ASARECA) and the National Research Organization (NARO) of Uganda. She is a PhD fellow with Walden University, USA and holds a Masters Degree in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom and a Bachelors Degree from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. She has attained professional qualifications from the World Trade Organization (WTO) Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation on international trade; the International Agricultural training Centre, Galilee College (Israel) diploma in Agribusiness: Marketing and Export Management; Gender Mainstreaming, Champions for Change Leadership, Procurement, Financial Management, Environmental and Social Safeguard for World Bank and European Union Projects, Project Management Training, Leadership and Team Management. |
Dr Chinyera Ikechukwu-EnehAssistant Chief Veterinary Officer/Deputy Director
|
Mufumbiro Hakim BaligeyaPrincipal Standards Officer
Mr Hakim Baligeya Mufumbiro is the Head of Food and Agriculture Standards at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) where he is responsible for the coordination of the development, harmonization and promotion of standards in the area of Food and Agriculture at the national, regional and international level. He holds a Bachelor's and Master of Science in Food Science and Technology from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Prior to joining UNBS in 2009, he worked in the food industry in Uganda for 4 years especially in the soft drinks and beverages, fruit juices, fats and oils and confectionery sectors. He has also trained extensively and implemented quality and food safety management systems. He has over 15 years’ experience in key areas in Quality Infrastructure especially industrial development, trade competitiveness in global markets and food safety.His key competencies include policy formulation, legislation and standardization; food and nutrition safety and quality management; food control systems development, product regulation and market access; organizational leadership and project planning and management.He currently serves as Chairperson of several national and regional Committees including the EAC Standards Management Committee, ARSO Standards Management Committee as well as Coordinator for the EAC Codex Forum and the Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA). |
Chris MuyundaChairman, Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP)
|
Prof Pieter GouwsDepartment of Food Science, Faculty of AgriSciences Centre for Food Safety,
|
Matlou SetatiExecutive Head: Food Safety Initiative (FSI)
|
Wezi Chunga-SamboProgram Officer, Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA)
Wezi Chunga-Sambo is a Program Officer for the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA) at the African Union Commission. Wezi coordinates the implementation of regional and country PACA activities in the COMESA, EAC and SADC regions. In PACA focus countries, she supports the development of multi-stakeholder, multi-faceted national strategic plans, their implementation as well as providing technical support among others. Wezi has contributed to the continental work of the African Union such as the development of the Africa Food Safety Index (AFSI) and continues to support its implementation in AU Member States. Prior to joining AUC-PACA, Wezi was a Regional CAADP Consultant working for CAADP Pillar III at the Africa Centre for Food Security (AFS) at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Wezi’ s background is in contemporary food studies and she holds a Master’s Degree in Food Policy from City University in London, UK. |
The event also featured interesting panel discussions on a wide variety of food safety matters as detailed in the program below.
Download the workshop program: Download Programme_AFSW_ 2021.pdf