May 5, 2025 – Johannesburg, South Africa

Today, at the Radisson Hotel in Johannesburg, African leaders, stakeholders, and development partners celebrated a significant milestone in the continent’s agricultural journey with the official launch of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035) alongside the Kampala Declaration. The high-profile event was organised by the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).

This continental gathering attracted broad and diverse participation from AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), civil society organisations, farmer groups, parliamentarians, youth and women’s networks, private sector actors, and development partners. Among the notable attendees were leaders of the AARIEI Partnership, including Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA); Prof. Cliff Dlamini, Executive Director of CCARDESA; and Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala, President of the East African Farmers Federation (EAFF) and Board Member of both FARA and the Pan-African Farmers’ Organisation (PAFO). Also present were the African Food Systems Parliamentary Network, Women Farmers’ Associations, representatives of non-state actors, and other senior staff and board members of the AARIEI consortium institutions.

Rallying Commitment: High-Level Remarks

H.E. John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture for the Republic of South Africa

Opening the event, H.E. John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture for the Republic of South Africa, delivered a reassuring welcome address. He applauded the appointment of the new AU Commissioner and urged African leaders to unite behind the six strategic objectives of the new CAADP plan. He emphasized intra-African trade, transformative programming for smallholder farmers, knowledge creation and sharing, data-driven planning, and digital technology adoption as cornerstones for agricultural progress.

H.E. Moses Vilakati, AUC Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE)

H.E. Moses Vilakati, the newly appointed Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the AUC, inspired participants with the metaphor: “Let us all put our hands on deck to get the seed into a bountiful harvest.”

H.E. Nardos Bekele, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD delivering her remarks via Zoom

Additional remarks were delivered by: H.E. Nardos Bekele, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, highlighting the strategic role of partnerships; Hon. Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, Minister of State for Agriculture of Uganda and Chair of the STC Bureau, who called for increased country ownership and alignment; Senior representatives from RECs such as SADC, ECCAS, and UMA; and Odd Eirik Arnesen, Chair of the Development Partners Coordination Group (DPCG), who reaffirmed the commitment of partners to support the strategy’s rollout.

Hon. Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, Minister of State for Agriculture of Uganda and Chair of the STC Bureau

The Strategic Blueprint: CAADP 2026–2035

Odd Eirik Arnesen, Chair of the Development Partners Coordination Group (DPCG)

The new CAADP Strategy and Action Plan was developed in response to the AU Assembly’s 2024 directive for a renewed continental agricultural vision. Building on lessons from Maputo and Malabo, it outlines six strategic objectives designed to address food security, mobilising investment, climate resilience, agro-industrialisation, inclusive growth, and improved governance across Africa’s agri-food systems.

Ms. Panduleni Elago (AUC)

Presented by Dr. Manyewu Mutamba (AUDA-NEPAD) and Ms. Panduleni Elago (AUC), the strategy advocates for evidence-based policies, regional value chain development, social protection, and strong accountability systems. The session featured ministerial interventions and concluded with the formal unveiling of both the Strategy and the Kampala Declaration.

Broader Commitments from Member States and Partners

Further contributions reflected a continental consensus on the necessity for bold, coordinated action. The Minister for Agriculture of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Hon. Jabulani Mabuza, emphasised the importance of removing practical barriers to regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He advocated for reforms such as abolishing travel visa restrictions among African countries, establishing strategic travel hubs to facilitate easier intra-African movement, and developing a common payment platform. He also encouraged the African Union Commission to create an intersectoral forum that would enhance coherence in policy development and implementation at national, regional, and continental levels—bridging the persistent divide between policy and practice.

Babagana Ahmadu, FAO Representative, Pretoria, South Africa

Speaking on behalf of Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, the FAO Representative in Pretoria emphasised the need for the third CAADP to prioritise greater empowerment of youth and women, highlighting that inclusive transformation must be central to the continent’s development strategy.

Additionally, representatives from key stakeholder groups, including the African Food Systems Parliamentary Network, Women Farmers’ Associations, and various non-state actors, publicly reaffirmed their commitment to the successful implementation of the Kampala Declaration. They highlighted the necessity for transparency, inclusive governance, and long-term partnerships to ensure the strategy produces tangible benefits for the people of Africa, particularly its farmers.

FARA and the Role of the AARIEI Partnership

Representing the Knowledge Institutions within the AARIEI Partnership—including FARA, CCARDESA, CORAF, ASARECA, AFAAS, and RUFORUM—as well as the CGIAR, FARA reaffirmed its leadership in supporting evidence-based planning, enhancing agricultural knowledge systems, and driving innovation to transform Africa’s agri-food systems.

Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director of FARA

Speaking at the launch, FARA’s Executive Director, Dr. Aggrey Agumya, emphasised the institution’s readiness to align its strategies and business plans with the aspirations of the Kampala Declaration. He highlighted the significance of science, innovation, education, and capacity development in facilitating implementation. Dr. Agumya assured the African Union Commission of the consortium’s unwavering commitment to delivery.

Prof. Cliff Dlamini, Executive Director of CCARDESA

In addition, Prof. Cliff Dlamini, Executive Director of CCARDESA, urged all stakeholders to make the third CAADP a decade of scaling innovation, both scaling up and scaling deep, to catalyze accelerated and inclusive growth.

From the farmers’ perspective, Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala, a Board Member of FARA and PAFO and President of the EAFF, spoke on behalf of over 80 million farmers across 50 African countries. She expressed gratitude to the AUC for involving farmers throughout the development of the Kampala Declaration and reaffirmed their commitment to its execution. She urged a supportive policy environment, enhanced investment flows, stronger extension systems, and deeper farmer engagement at the national level.

“We don’t wish to be summoned to eat when the food is already ready,” she emphasised. “We request all partners to be truthful, commit to transparency, and concentrate on what is achievable.”

A Decade of Transformation Begins

The launch of the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035, along with the Kampala Declaration, signifies a crucial turning point in Africa’s pursuit of agricultural transformation. With the full support of member states, technical institutions, development partners, parliamentarians, women and youth networks, and non-state actors, Africa is set to enter a new era of inclusive, resilient, and knowledge-driven agricultural development.

For More Information:

The CAADP Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035 and the Kampala Declaration are available in the following languages in the AARIEIspace:

Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035: English | French | Portuguese | Arabic | Swahili

Kampala Declaration: English | French | Portuguese | Arabic | Swahili

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The high-level launch brought together ministers of agriculture, development partners, regional economic communities, civil society, farmer organisations, women and youth networks, and private sector representatives.

Key highlights:

• New strategic blueprint: The CAADP 2026–2035 strategy focuses on six strategic objectives, including food security, climate resilience, inclusive growth, and agro-industrialisation.
• Unified commitment: Officials from AU Member States and development partners called for bold reforms, improved intra-African trade, and increased investments in smallholder farmers.
• Voices from the field: Farmer leaders, including Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala (EAFF), emphasized the importance of meaningful farmer inclusion, transparency, and local ownership in policy implementation.
• Science and innovation front and centre: The AARIEI Knowledge Institutions, led by FARA, pledged continued support for evidence-based planning, technology adoption, and scaling of innovations.

The launch signals the start of a transformative decade for African agriculture, driven by collective leadership, shared accountability, and a firm commitment to inclusive development.

The full CAADP Strategy and the Kampala Declaration will soon be available in English, French, Portuguese, Arabic, and Swahili.

Media Contact:

Benjamin Abugri (FARA) – babugri@faraafrica.org

Daniel Obloni Kweistu (FARA) – dkweitsu@faraafrica.org

Bridget Kakuwa (CCARDESA) – bkakuwa@ccardesa.org

Alida Nadinga (CORAF) – a.nadinga@coraf.org

Ben Ilakut (ASARECA) – b.ilakut@asareca.org

Grace Musimami (AFAAS) – Gmusimami@afaas-africa.org

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October 15 – Sally, Senegal—The vibrant discussions of the CAADP-XP4 Consortium echoed through the halls of the Rhino Resort Hotels & Spa as representatives from across Africa gathered for a crucial Joint Portfolio Review and Planning Meeting from October 13 to 15, 2024. The air was charged with anticipation as stakeholders aimed to finalize strategies for the project’s final year, focusing on sustainable agricultural development and the integration of pressing issues such as agroecology and digitalization.

In opening remarks, Mr. Amine Belhamissi, IFAD Technical Advisor, set the tone for the meeting by stressing the need for clarity in communication. “We need to know the SROs’ priorities. It appears that you know what your priorities are, but you have not clearly communicated what we need to know,” he stated. His call for establishing robust communication channels resonated with the audience, underscoring the importance of collaboration for collective success.

Dr. Emmanuel Njukwe, Director of Research, CORAF.

Dr. Emmanuel Njukwe, Director of Research of CORAF expressed gratitude to the consortium members for their contributions, celebrating the shared commitment to impactful agricultural initiatives.“By fostering partnerships and focusing on emerging issues like agroecology and digitalization, the CAADP-XP4 consortium is ensuring Africa’s agricultural future remains resilient and adaptable to global challenges,” said Dr Njukwe Emmanuel, Director of Research and Innovation of CORAF. “The no-cost extension will give us the time and resources needed to maximize the project’s impact and prepare for a successful transition beyond 2025.

Prof. Oluwole Fatunbi, Acting Director of Research and Innovation. FARA

Adding to the spirit of collaboration, Prof. Oluwole Fatunbi, Acting Research and Innovation Director at FARA reflected on the power of joint efforts. “Our collective work must push us to engage more actively in continental frameworks, ” he said.

Dr. Lillian Lihasi, AFAAS

The meeting also provided a platform for Dr. Lilian Lihasi of AFAAS to advocate for unity in purpose. “If you want to go far, you must move with others,” she remarked. “We believe we can only be as strong as our weakest link. Mobilizing resources together is essential as CAADP-XP4 ends; our deliverables will speak for us and pave the way for our next steps.”

Dr. Baitsi Podisi, CCARDESA

Dr. Baitsi Podisi from CCARDESA emphasized the importance of inclusivity, acknowledging the significant strides made despite challenges. “CCARDESA is committed to the CAADP-XP4 mandate,” he stated. “We have learned immensely from our interactions with regional partners. Gender is a key area for us, and I applaud the Gender Technical Working Group for its achievements. We must push for deliberate recruitment of women and affirmative action.” Dr. Podisi also said, “We are excited to launch the soil initiative in the CCARDESA region, and we have also reinforced our alignment with the post-Malabo agendas, ensuring that our work translates into real benefits for SADC Member states.”

Mr. Benjamin Abugri, speaking on behalf of FARA’s Director of Research and Innovation as part of closing remarks, highlighted the necessity of visibility for the consortium’s efforts. “As we approach the final year, it’s essential that we prioritize all key deliverables,” he urged. “Aligning our strategies with agroecology and digitization is crucial. Our achievements must be visible—they serve as proof of our existence for future projects.” Said Mr Abugri.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Moses Odeke, Acting Programme Director from ASARECA, reinforced his commitment to the meeting’s decisions. “Failure is not an option; we must succeed in this venture,” he asserted, thanking CORAF for its role in the gathering. His playful invitation to a “revenge visit” to his country added a lighthearted note, exemplifying the camaraderie developed during the meeting.

The meeting yielded a strong collective resolve to enhance resource mobilization and strategic partnerships. The path forward for the CAADP-XP4 Consortium appeared bright, with members expressing optimism about leveraging their collaborative successes to drive innovation and sustainable agricultural practices across the continent.

As the meeting came to a close, the CAADP-XP4 Consortium emerged with a set of pivotal outcomes that will shape its final year and ensure the sustainability of its initiatives. Participants reached a consensus on the strategic need for a one-year no-cost extension, allowing more time to finalize essential tasks and incorporate emerging priorities such as agroecology and digitalization into the project framework.

The consortium collectively agreed on a detailed final work plan that integrates both existing and new priority areas, ensuring that the project remains relevant to current agricultural needs. Additionally, a structured approach for project closure was outlined, complete with timelines for report submissions and preparations for the European Commission audit, all in alignment with the latest guidelines.

The discussions culminated in the formulation of a forward-looking sustainability strategy that emphasizes resource mobilization and strengthens partnerships with key stakeholders, particularly One-CGIAR.

This strategy aims to enhance synergies among consortium members and formalize working arrangements under the AARIEIs framework. Furthermore, a comprehensive joint program plan was established to guarantee that all deliverables are met before project closure, ensuring the consortium’s efforts leave a lasting impact on agricultural research and development across Africa. With these outcomes, the CAADP-XP4 Consortium is well-equipped to advance its mission and foster continued collaboration in the years to come.

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Abuja, Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu yesterday promised a new era in the country’s agricultural sector, vowing that it would no longer be business as usual as his administration seeks to boost food security as well as diversify the economy from over-reluance on petroleum.

Speaking at the opening of the 6th Africa – Wide Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW), with the Theme: “Harnessing Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services in Scaling Regenerative Agriculture and Nature-Based Solutions for Food System Transformation in Africa”, the president emphasised the huge potential of agriculture as a key driver of the economy.

Represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Tinubu also maintained that agriculture remained a potent tool to fight unemployment, hunger and poverty.

He said it was against this background that his present administration unveiled an 8-point agenda which include food security; poverty eradication; growth, job creation and access to capital among others.

The president reiterated his commitment to restructuring the economy from unnecessary borrowing to finance government programmes as well as create jobs, achieve economic growth, end poverty and ensure prosperity for all Nigerians.

He said going forward, agriculture must now be market-oriented, and move away from the subsistence farming culture currently been practiced by smallholder farmers.

To achieve this, he stated that the government came up with programmes including the National Agriculture Growth Scheme-Agro-pocket, where millions of farmers are supported through training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), certified inputs such as improved seeds and organic and inorganic fertilizers and irrigation equipment at highly subsidised prices to enhance their production, increase productivity and ultimately higher incomes to farmers.

The president specifically noted that agricultural extension plays a critical role in bringing relevant and improved technologies developed by National Agricultural Research Institutions (NARIs), inputs suppliers and marketers to farmers.

He said to strengthen agricultural extension delivery services in the country, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has put together the first ever Harmonised Extension Manual in Nigeria and National Agricultural Extension Policy – both of which he also launched during the event.

He explained that the harmonised extension manual focuses on how to effectively disseminate and deploy agricultural innovations/technologies to end-users using appropriate extension methods.

He said the document would be of great benefit to extension administrators, subject matter specialists, extension agents as well as farmers along the agricultural value chains.

Similarly, the agricultural extension policy seeks to provide a pragmatic, effective and efficient demand driven plurastic, ICT-enabled and market-oriented extension service to all stakeholders including youths, women, and people with special needs to optimally use resources to promote sustainable agriculture and socio-economic development of the country.

Tinubu, also reassured Nigerians of his government’s renewed commitments towards attaining food security in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said, “Our resolve is to develop the agricultural sector towards the attainment of the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially those of zero hunger and to improve agriculture and rural productivity.

“Nigeria’s current plan is to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and reduce dependency on food imports.”

He added that the present administration remained open to suggestions that could, “enhance our efficiency and effectiveness in repositioning Nigeria agriculture and I hope this conference will  come up with actionable solutions to agricultural challenges in Nigeria.”

He hailed the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services, (AFAAS) for coming up with the conference as well as development partners including USAID, GIZ, IFPRI, among others for their support to creating a platform where African countries interact to channel the best course of action aimed at agricultural extension service delivery for agricultural prosperity.

He also commended their efforts that culminated in the production of Harmonised extension services manual and policy framework.

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Lusaka, Zambia

THE Common African Agro-Parks Programme (CAAPs) prospects to externalize about US$50 billion per year from imported food commodities from outside the continent, it has been revealed.

CAAPs was established in 2019 as on of the initiatives of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) and given the mandate to boost local processing and regional trade for agricultural commodities and their value chains.

However, the trend is about to change owing to the promotion of intra-trade in Africa.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) assistant secretary general in charge of the programme Mohammed Kadah said CAAPs seeks to reverse externalization of funds by promoting cross-border agriculture value chains and attracting investments in agro-industrialization.

Dr. Kadah was speaking during the opening of a coordination meeting of CAAPs recently.

“Over the last five years, African countries have collectively spent approximately US$50 billion annually to import food products. Shockingly, this figure is expected to rise to US$110 billion per year by 2025…” he said.

He said with the projected increase in Africa’s population by 2050, there will be need for significant increase in agricultural production to ensure sufficient, affordable, healthy and nutritious food for all Africans.

Dr. Kadah said Africa should draw lessons from the disruption of supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the continent’s vulnerability to external shocks.

He said the crisis in Ukraine also highlighted Africa’s dependence on external sources for food products and agricultural inputs.

Dr. Kadah said the two episodes demonstrate the need to break free from dependence on international food markets.

“It is clear that Africa’s inability to claim its food market, which is currently outsourced from the rest of the world, is a significant source of concern for African countries and international partners” he said.

Dr. Kadah also said lack of Industrial capacity to process and add value to raw agricultural products results in post-harvest losses and meagre revenues for farmers.

He thanked the African Union (AU) for the initiative to establish five common agro-industrial zones in the five geographical regions of the continent.

And African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) head of Environmental sustainability division Mamadou Diakhite said full implementation of CAAPs strategies will promote regional agro-forestry industrialization in Africa.

The CAAPs programme was ratified as a flagship initiative of the AU Agenda 2063 during its 36^th Summit in February 2023 to create transboundary mega agro-industrial hubs across Africa.

This falls within the CAADP framework and the AU Agenda 2063.

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AFRICA is spending about US$50 billion every year importing food from other parts of the world. This situation poses an opportunity for African countries to reposition themselves in a bid to make the continent food secure.

This led the African Union Commission to conceptualise the Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) aimed at attracting private investments to establish transboundary mega agro industrial hub on the continent.

The Common African Agro-Parks is a mega initiative of the African Union to create regional agro-industrial hubs aimed at responding to the continent’s demand for interventions at boosting local processing and regional trade for agricultural commodities and their value chains.

To come up with innovative solutions to drive the CAAPs, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) hosted member states who convened in Lusaka recently to share ideas and experiences to better address the intra and regional trade meant to enhance agricultural commodities and value chains.

The CAAPs will help the agro-allied sector of the Africa economy to deliver on the AU Agenda 2063 aspirations within the framework of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Initiated in 2019, CAAPs is one of the initiatives of Comprehensive African Agricultural Programme (CAADP) to be implemented within the framework of the African Union (AU) agenda 2063 to achieve the CAADP Malabo commitments, particularly the commitment to “triple intra-African trade in agricultural commodities and services.”

The programme seeks to promote and facilitate local and regional as well as food production. In this way, achieving self-sufficiency of key agriculture commodities in Africa remains a critical milestone.

CAAPs Programme Coordinator, FARA Anselme Vodounhessi explains that CAAPs aspires to stimulate local and regional private sector investment in agriculture.

Mr. Vodounhessi says Africa has abundant resources but need to actualise economic opportunities by aggressively engaging in value chains in the agriculture sector which are viable and profitable.

He reaffirms Africa has lots of arable and abundant land which needs to be exploited in order to create and build a desired Africa.

Generally, Africa has good strategies but the major bottleneck is the implementation. According to Chief, Regional Division for Africa, UNIDO Victor Djemba explains that coordination of key actors in the implementation process of value chains in the agriculture sector remains problematic.

Mr. Djemba acknowledges that the private sector does a lot work but in isolation, hence the need for them to work in a concerted manner with sector players. This, he argues requires the proposed industrial parks to work effectively, needs inclusivity of private sector participation from project inception within the existing structures.

“It’s not the work of one entity but all entities need to be involved for a successful development of key players in the establishment and development of industrial parks,” he said.

Mr. Djemba said key players need to be involved in the whole process of implementation.

“Involving investors from inception requires embracing the laws and rules of both countries to provide an enabling environment for industrial parks to thrive,” he said.

Rural Development, Agro-Industries Agro-Industrial Parks Unit, UNIDO Project Officer Andrew Goodwin explains that everything which is set-up in agro-processing zones is business focused and has to be a long-term approach. Therefore, there must be commitment to develop agro-processing zones in industrial parks. It is obvious this approach needs an enabling environment to succeed.

Mr. Goodwin further says industrial parks are able to flourish through leases and services offered to the public.

For instance, industrial parks in Ethiopia and Senegal have been successful because they make their revenue from generation developers as they have invested in building sheds, installed power, water and other necessities within the parks.

These processing companies provide services such as commercial services, resource centres, among others which enable them to broaden resource base and maximise on their  profits. Its also imperative to take cognizant of the prevailing climate change conditions. This should inform sector players to build climate resilience.

Mr Goodwin said these integrated agro-food parks refers to central processing hubs which strive to reach out to rural areas from world transformation centres. For example, breeding, storing, collection centres at farmer level and cooperatives would also have these centres for processing.

He further said it was impressive that farmers in Ethiopia and Senegal are developed with cooperative unions, which closely work with the Ministry of Agriculture and also have bidding bilateral agreements.

With the success model of Ethiopia and Senegal, it is clear agriculture is the answer to creating prosperity and will always be the most economically viable sector to focus on for generations to come.

CAAPs aspirations is for member states to mobilise domestic resources to invest these into agro-parks and ensure a food secure continent. It is imperative to take into account the success of this programme needs a lot of resource mobilisation. The member states can co-create and unlock opportunities for the transboundary setting to enable Africa flourish. – National Agricultural Information Services.  

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In a bid to reinforce the African Union’s comprehensive commitment to agricultural development in Africa, the first-ever meeting since the formation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Communication and Knowledge Management Thematic Working Group took place at the Movenpick Hotel, Nairobi, from 3-4 August.

Some Participants at the AU CAADP KM & Comms Workshop

The main objective of the meeting was to propel the CAADP agenda forward through meticulous communication, advocacy, and knowledge management. The meeting also aimed to assess the strides made, design a concrete work plan, and establish a coordinated mechanism to bolster CAADP and forge a coordination blueprint for the CAADP Communication group following recommendations from Yaounde’s engagement, from 1-5 August 2022.

The desired outcomes of this coordination meeting were manifold, from highlighting the progress made in communication, knowledge management and advocacy at all levels to defining coordination tools for the CAADP Communication group. This will help improve awareness of the CAADP Malabo declaration, and support the implementation of the CAADP Business Plan 2022-2025 and the Jointly developed CAADP work plan.

Ms Panduleni Elago – Senior CAADP Advisor – African Union Commission

The meeting was officially opened by Ms Panduleni Elago, the CAADP Advisor, who emphasized the African Union’s anticipation towards the thematic working group to expedite the AU agenda. “The AU looks forward to the Key Performance Indicators that will emerge from this group that will address the knowledge and information gap in the Biannual Review Process,”.

Ms Peace Mutuwa the Communication and Knowledge Management expert, echoing the sentiments of the African Union Commission (AUC), emphasized how pivotal this group would be in propelling the AU’s goals forward. “As we commence this mammoth task, we need to develop Terms of Reference (TORs) that will govern our modus operandi. We should also not forget the critical role of the media in disseminating information to the communities on the CAADP process.

A palpable sense of duty settled in the room as the discussions pivoted to the 4th Biannual Review (4BR) of the CAADP. Two decades after the inception of Malabo, a gap remains; farmers are still in the dark about its potential. The need of the hour is curating content specifically tailored for small-scale farmers, ensuring it’s digestible and beneficial.

The African Union envisions this esteemed assembly to be the foundation of a robust CAADP Communication strategy. Policy LINK, a global Feed the Future program to advance leadership and collaboration for better policy systems implemented by DAI and working with the AUC, voiced the importance of technical and financial backing. They stressed, “It’s time we lay down tangible recommendations, lighting our path forward.”

CCARDESA, through its Information, Communication, and Knowledge Management Officer, Mrs Bridget Kakuwa-Kasongamulilo, joined the chorus, recognizing the CAADP as Africa’s agricultural cornerstone, she urged the assembly to prioritize the seven commitments, though it demands perseverance.

Mr Benjamin Abugri, FARA’s Knowledge Management and Communication Cluster Lead, urged the Working Group to be forward-thinking in using existing knowledge services and tools such as the FARA Africa Community (Dgroups) to discuss BR processes as they also act as interactive tools that allow information exchange and knowledge co-creation.

The meeting’s purpose shone clear: addressing the gaping communication void, ensuring synchronization with technical processes, advocating for CAADP, and strategizing its communication. The dialogue flowed, touching upon the support communications provided to the Biannual Review reporting and the Malabo. The ensemble also considered the potential of leveraging annual events like the CAADP Meetings, the AASW, the KM4AgD Conference, the Fertiliser Summit, and others, ensuring these platforms spread the right message.

Delving deep into recommendations from the Critical BR Analysis Report, the group proposed developing a protocol for the Biannual Review mechanism and a review of the toolkit for communication and knowledge management.

In attendance were participants from AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, AU-IASPC, RECs, Policy Link, FAO, ILRI, TASAI, CCARDESA, FARA, AU-IBAR, and other esteemed organizations. With two days of productive discourse, this meeting in Nairobi, from 3-4 August 2023, was not just a gathering, but a revolution in the making.

Originally published by CCARDESA 

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