Overview

COMBIP focuses on enhancing biotechnology and biosafety awareness within the COMESA region through capacity building, policy support, and stakeholder engagement. The programme aims to create an enabling environment for responsible biotechnology research, development, and application while ensuring robust biosafety regulatory frameworks.

Target Countries

COMESA Member States

Key Stakeholders

Governments, Research Institutions, Media

Focus Areas

Biotechnology & Biosafety

Strategic Objectives

Strengthen awareness and communication on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety in line with COMBIP's aim of enhancing biotechnology and biosafety awareness within the COMESA region.

Facilitate public engagements on biotechnology and biosafety discourse through various convening platforms and study tours for experiential learning.

Build the capacity of media practitioners to effectively and objectively communicate about biotechnology and biosafety issues for informed policy and choices.

Support biosafety regulatory capacity and biotechnology development in COMESA Member States through assessing and upgrading policies and frameworks.

Key Activities

Awareness and Communication Enhancement

Strengthening awareness and communication on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety through targeted campaigns, workshops, and educational materials designed to inform policymakers and the public.

Public Engagement and Study Tours

Facilitating public engagements on biotechnology and biosafety discourse through various convening platforms and organizing study tours for experiential learning and knowledge exchange.

Media Capacity Building

Building the capacity of media practitioners to effectively and objectively communicate about biotechnology and biosafety issues, enabling informed public discourse and policy decisions.

Regulatory Framework Support

Supporting member states in assessing, upgrading, and implementing biotechnology development policies and biosafety regulatory frameworks to meet international standards.

Regional Risk Assessment

Facilitating the testing of regional risk assessment processes through appropriate case studies and documenting the economic impacts of a regional approach based on data transportability.

New Breeding Innovations Database

Supporting the creation of a database of new breeding innovations such as genome editing applications in Africa to serve as a reference resource for policy makers and stakeholders.

Regulatory Approaches Identification

Identifying and spotlighting opportunities and regulatory approaches that may impact the application of new breeding innovations in COMESA Member States.

Communication Strategy Development

Developing a data-driven model communication strategy on new breeding innovations across COMESA Member States to ensure consistent and accurate information dissemination.

Private Sector Linkages

Supporting establishment of linkages between the private sector and the research community to spur investment and trade with agricultural biotechnology products.

Expected Outcomes

Enhanced awareness and understanding of biotechnology and biosafety among stakeholders

Strengthened biosafety regulatory frameworks across member states

Improved media coverage and public discourse on biotechnology

Increased capacity for biotechnology research and product development

Established regional approach to risk assessment for biotechnology products

Comprehensive database of new breeding innovations in Africa

Strengthened public-private partnerships in agricultural biotechnology

Informed policy decisions based on scientific evidence and data

Programme Structure

COMBIP operates through partnerships with national governments, research institutions, regulatory authorities, and international organizations. The programme coordinates activities through national focal points and technical working groups, ensuring alignment with national biosafety frameworks while promoting regional harmonization and knowledge sharing.

COMESA Biosafety and Biotechnology Implementation Plan

Overview

Strategic Objectives

Key Activities

Expected Outcomes

Programme Structure