The next Brussels Development Briefing n.40  will be held in Brussels on the 18th February 2015 on “Data: the next revolution for agriculture in ACP countries?” The explosion of digital data offers new technological opportunities for enhancing agricultural development; it has also become a key asset for all economies in the world. By looking at significant trends, approaches and experiences in using open data for food and nutrition security, this Briefing shall shed light on the impacts of the global data revolution for agriculture.

Main events for the Week: 02/02/2015 – 08/02/2015

European Parliament

02 February: Committee on Foreign Affairs

02 February: Committee on Foreign Affairs and Committee on Development - joint exchange of views with UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson

Other

04-08 February: Conference of the Presidents of the European Outmost Regions, Guadeloupe

The CTA Brussels News Service is providing EU-ACP policy news since 2004, on various key thematic areas. In addition to this news service, we also provide news on ACP intra-regional trade, and south-south cooperation (investments of emerging countries' in agriculture in the ACP regions). The main stories for the week are featured in our newsletter and all stories can be found in our Regional Trade and the South-South cooperation sections.

Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zambia and Malawi, Gera Sneller was pleased to announce the forthcoming report on the agriculture sector, commissioned by the Royal Netherlands Embassy. She added that this sector is expected to reap significant investment: "The conditions here are very good for agriculture, the Dutch used to have a strong foothold here." She added, "Investors need to be assured that their investments will be safe in Zimbabwe. We also need to show them the opportunities that are in the country. This is a shared responsibility between the embassy and Government."

Plansto force all Governments to spend 0.7 per cent of the nation’s income on developingcountry aid every year will not help “poor countries and their people”, accordingto former Tory Chancellor, Lord Lawson of Blaby. In his view, the commitment"wrongly" prioritised the amount spent, rather than the resultsachieved. The proposed law has beencriticized by senior peers from both Conservative and Labour parties. There are particular fears following the 2013‘spending spree’ by UK civil servants to reach the 0.7% target that this wouldengender a culture of aid consumerism as opposed to results.