AFSA Demands Action to Bridge the Gaps in CAADP and Build a Just and resilient Food System
The Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held in Kampala, Uganda, from January 9th to 11th, 2025, marked a historic moment with the adoption of the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035) and the Kampala Declaration. These documents outline a comprehensive framework aimed at transforming Africa’s agrifood systems, with commendable emphasis on inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience.
We at the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), the largest civil society movement advocating for food sovereignty on the continent, recognize the effort reflected in the adoption of these documents. The inclusion of elements such as sustainable agricultural practices, the circular economy, and equitable access to resources demonstrates an encouraging commitment to inclusivity and equity. Similarly, the focus on empowering women and youth, reducing yield gaps, and fostering multi-stakeholder coordination is a step in the right direction for Africa’s agrifood systems.
However, despite these positive steps, AFSA, along with smallholder farmers and civil society organizations across Africa, remains profoundly concerned about critical gaps in the CAADP Strategy and Kampala Declaration. These gaps risk undermining the bold demands and aspirations of millions of smallholder farmers, agroecology advocates, and civil society organizations.
KEY GAPS IDENTIFIED
Marginalization of Agroecology: While the Kampala Declaration references sustainable practices, it fails to explicitly prioritize agroecology as a central strategy. This omission disregards agroecology’s proven potential to enhance crop resilience, promote biodiversity, and align with the realities of smallholder farmers.
Low Representation and Limited Engagement: The summit witnessed low participation by Heads of State and limited opportunities for meaningful engagement by civil society organizations (CSOs), smallholder farmers, and movements. Their contributions received minimal recognition, weakening their influence on key discussions and outcomes.
Weak Accountability Mechanisms: Mechanisms to hold governments accountable for their commitments are underdeveloped. The lack of clear implementation timelines, budgetary frameworks, and legal compliance mechanisms further undermines the credibility of the framework.
Insufficient Budget Allocations: Despite references to sustainable practices, the framework does not commit to allocating significant portions of agricultural budgets—at least 30%—to agroecology initiatives. Increased investments in agroecology are vital for addressing climate resilience and promoting farmer-driven innovations.
Focus on Technologies over Ecological Practices: The emphasis on biotechnologies and digital tools, without explicit safeguards against GMOs and synthetic inputs, risks undermining biodiversity and the autonomy of smallholder farmers.
Opposition to Agroecology from Powerful Actors: Participants in AFSA’s feedback session highlighted concerns about opposition to agroecology from corporate-driven agendas, which threaten to derail Africa’s efforts to build resilient and just food systems.
AFSA’S CALL FOR ACTION
Recognizing the adoption of the CAADP Strategy and Kampala Declaration, AFSA urges African Union member states to demonstrate stronger political commitment to addressing these gaps during the implementation phase. To build a just, resilient, and inclusive food system, AFSA emphasizes the following demands:
Prioritize Agroecology: Explicitly integrate agroecology as a central strategy in national and regional agricultural frameworks. Develop and adopt agroecology-aligned indicators to guide implementation and track progress.
Empower Marginalized Groups: Move beyond token participation by ensuring women, youth, and smallholder farmers have meaningful roles in decision-making processes that directly impact their livelihoods.
Ensure Meaningful Participation: Institutionalize mechanisms that guarantee meaningful participation by civil society, smallholder farmers, and grassroots movements. This includes setting clear guidelines for representation, providing platforms for dialogue, and ensuring their inputs are integrated into key decision-making processes. Only by elevating these voices can Africa’s agrifood systems reflect the aspirations of its people.
Increase Budget Allocations to Agroecology: Dedicate at least 30% of national agricultural budgets to agroecology initiatives. Showcase successful agroecology projects to justify increased investments and build capacity through training programs.
Reject Corporate-Driven Solutions: Safeguard Africa’s genetic resources by rejecting corporate-controlled technologies that undermine biodiversity and smallholder autonomy. Prioritize farmer-led innovations and ecological farming practices.
Strengthen Accountability Mechanisms: Establish robust legal compliance mechanisms to ensure governments deliver on their commitments. Use the CSO-developed CAADP Accountability Mechanism to track indicators during Biennial Review (BR) processes.
Popularize the Kampala Declaration: Disseminate the declaration among grassroots communities, smallholder farmers, and CSOs to foster awareness and advocacy for agroecology.
A CALL FOR COMMITMENT
AFSA calls upon African Union member states, policymakers, and development partners to align the implementation of the CAADP Strategy and Kampala Declaration with the principles of justice, resilience, and inclusivity. The voices of millions of smallholder farmers and civil society organizations must be at the forefront of Africa’s agrifood transformation.
By prioritizing agroecology, empowering marginalized groups, and strengthening accountability, we can build a food system that truly serves Africa’s people, environment, and future generations. AFSA reaffirms its commitment to working alongside all stakeholders to champion agroecology and food sovereignty as pathways to a sustainable future for Africa.
