Like-minded animal welfare organizations and individuals convened in Nairobi in September 21st -22nd 2009 during which they declared to pursue an African Declaration for Animal Welfare (ADAW).

According to resolutions adopted by participants representing eleven countries from across Africa and supported by participants from the UK, India, Switzerland and Mexico, the African Declaration will be an agreement among African People and Nations to recognize that animals are sentient beings and can suffer, to respect their welfare needs, and to end animal cruelty-for good.

The Nairobi animal welfare meeting which was the first of its kind in Africa by focusing on collaboration and networking in tackling animal welfare challenges bestowed the mandate of coordinating the ADAW process to ANAW and WSPA’s Africa regional office.

ANAW and WSPA understand that the ambition feeds into and supports the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) agenda which aims to lobby governments from around the globe to come together at the UN and declare that animals are sentient beings.

To achieve the ADAW and ultimately the UDAW, the two organizations (ANAW and WSPA) have already rolled down the process of identifying an appropriate intergovernmental forum to host such a debate and then through lobbying and advocacy encourage the body and its constituents to make a declaration in support of animal welfare. ANAW Director, Josphat Ngonyo is optimistic about the progress and envisions that the African Declaration would be a key output from the September 2010 scheduled Africa-wide animal welfare conference in Nairobi.

“A venture of this collaborative, networking and partnership nature demands a clear vision since it attracts major challenges that are however surmountable if those involved identify and value the pursuit of a common goal, develop and sustain a working trust amongst themselves, create and maintain harmonious interpersonal relations, develop strategies that overcome obstacles that hinder productive activities, and become involved in all levels that they deserve,” said Ngonyo when commenting on the ambitious target to unify and motivate the disparate animal welfare organizations in Africa through the ADAW process and annual gatherings.

Other major resolutions adopted by participating countries- South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania, DR. Congo, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Kenya included gathering periodically, in any case no less than one year, as partners in animal welfare to share ideas, experiences and best practices in animal welfare.

The participants at the first Pan-African animal welfare workshop also agreed to use all avenues at their disposal, including technology and the media, to reach out to governments, private sector, local communities and the larger international community on matters touching on animal welfare while working in unity, using collective strengths to advocate, educate and promote animal welfare.

They also recognized that animal protection and care was the primary responsibility of governments, but emphasized that as a network of individual Africa animal welfare organizations they needed to support and compliment government efforts to ensure that animals continue to enjoy protection and care.