Membership categories

The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa has four membership categories.

1. Core Members of the Alliance are regional food producer organisations (e.g. farmers, fishers, pastoralists), regional indigenous peoples’ organisations, regional consumer movements and regional NGO networks. (In this context, ‘regional’ means operating in more than one African country.)
2. Associate Members include specialist NGOs and national networks that cannot be core members of AFSA through a regional network.
3. Friends of AFSA include organisations outside Africa that support what AFSA stands for and are keen to work with AFSA.
4. Honorary Members are former chairpersons and distinguished African individuals who can add value to AFSA’s work. Members identify and suggest potential names to the Board for recommendation to the General Assembly.

Please note: Organisations that are already members of an existing AFSA member network cannot apply to be an AFSA member in their own right.

Membership criteria

Members must be existing, viable, active organisations working for food sovereignty in Africa, having a good track record, believing in what AFSA stands for, and subscribing to AFSA’s principles.

AFSA stands for food sovereignty and agroecology. We promote the rights of agroecological food producers that include indigenous peoples and local communities, small-scale farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, and hunter-gatherers. AFSA believes in resisting the corporate takeover of African food systems.

AFSA’s principles

1. Championing small African family farming/production systems based on agroecological and indigenous approaches that sustain communities’ food sovereignty, health, nutrition, and livelihoods.
2. Resisting industrialisation and commodification of African agriculture and food systems, land grabbing, destruction of biodiversity and ecosystems, displacement of indigenous peoples and suppression of their livelihoods and cultures.
3. Emphasising African-driven solutions to African problems and a belief in the richness of our diversity.
4. Being a strong voice to shape African policy on community rights, family farming, traditional knowledge, the environment, and natural resource management.
5. Emphasising women and youth as key players in food sovereignty.
6. Contributing to land ownership and control in the hands of communities.
7. Rejecting the genetic engineering and privatisation of living organisms.
8. Ensuring and communicating a clear understanding and continual analysis of the political dimension of agroecology and food sovereignty.
9. Working in synergy with all actors who empower what we as AFSA are doing.
10. Mobilising farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, hunter-gatherers, consumers, and other grassroots voices to speak about agroecology, food sovereignty and the work of AFSA.
11. Ensuring cross-learning and collaboration among members.
12. Working to promote the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities to control their natural resources.

Roles and obligations of members

Members contribute to the operations and activities of AFSA. This includes support in deliberations, planning, advice, financial issues, and expertise. Members must be willing to share information at all levels and participate actively in annual meetings.

Core and associate members pay a membership fee and an annual subscription fee as determined by the General Assembly from time to time. Friends of AFSA may contribute in cash or kind.

Benefits of membership

By belonging to AFSA, members will have a continental voice to advocate for food sovereignty. They will benefit from learning exchange both within and between regions. Members will gain access to data and information and receive publications, flyers, and other materials.

Termination of membership

Members will cease to be members of AFSA if they:

• Violate any of the binding principles of AFSA
• Voluntarily terminate their membership,
• Wind up as a network or organisation.

Members who fail to pay the annual subscription three consecutive times will be considered dormant and will not be treated as full members until they pay their subscriptions.

How to become a member

Organisations wishing to become AFSA members must submit an application form (below).

Applications will be circulated to AFSA members for reflection and comment. The Board of Directors will review applications and recommend approval or rejection to the General Assembly for a final decision.

Please complete and submit the application form below.