The Kampala CAADP Declaration, poised to replace the Malabo Declaration, is set to become a cornerstone of this vision. Ambassador Sacko highlighted that the AU’s readiness to implement the new strategy follows a directive issued by the continent’s heads of state and government during the 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly. This directive came in response to the 4th CAADP Biennial Review Report, which revealed that no member state was on track to meet the Malabo CAADP goals by 2025
By Wakhungu Andanje
In a bold move to tackle the challenges and harness opportunities within Africa’s agrifood systems, the African Union (AU) has unveiled an ambitious 10-year Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Strategic and Action Plan for 2026-2035. This initiative seeks to build resilient and sustainable agrifood systems capable of shielding citizens from hunger while driving prosperity across the continent in alignment with Agenda 2063.
At the African Union Summit on the post-Malabo CAADP Media Launch, held yesterday, December 19, 2024, in Kampala, Uganda, Ambassador Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, emphasized the plan’s transformative goals. These include boosting food production, enhancing value addition, fostering intra-Africa trade, creating employment for youth and women, and building shock-resistant agrifood value chains to secure Africa’s future.
The Kampala CAADP Declaration, poised to replace the Malabo Declaration, is set to become a cornerstone of this vision. Ambassador Sacko highlighted that the AU’s readiness to implement the new strategy follows a directive issued by the continent’s heads of state and government during the 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly. This directive came in response to the 4th CAADP Biennial Review Report, which revealed that no member state was on track to meet the Malabo CAADP goals by 2025.
“This new 10-year CAADP strategic and action plan marks a critical step forward in addressing the successes and shortcomings of the Malabo agenda,” said Ambassador Sacko. “The Kampala CAADP Declaration will serve as a roadmap, ensuring we establish resilient and sustainable agrifood systems that meet the needs of today and tomorrow.”
Key objectives of the CAADP 2026-2035 plan include:
- Sustainable Food Production and Agro-Industrialization: Strengthening food security through enhanced agricultural output and industrialization.
- Inclusive Participation: Engaging youth, women, and marginalized groups for equitable economic advancement.
- Climate Resilience: Addressing climate change challenges and other stressors to bolster system resilience.
- Governance and Investment: Mobilizing public and private sector investments to transform agrifood systems while enhancing governance at national and regional levels.
The upcoming AU summit, organized in collaboration with the Republic of Uganda, is scheduled to begin in three weeks. It aims to finalize the adoption of the 2026-2035 CAADP Strategic Plan and the Kampala Declaration. These documents are expected to shape Africa’s agrifood systems transformation over the next decade.
Ambassador Sacko called on member states to act swiftly in domesticating the Kampala CAADP Declaration into national agrifood investment plans. “Only through effective implementation and adequate resource mobilization will we achieve our goals by 2035,” she concluded.
This landmark initiative underscores the AU’s commitment to driving sustainable agricultural development, fostering economic growth, and ensuring food security for all Africans.
