
Peter Eceru
On January 11 2025, the Extra Ordinary African Union summit on the Post-Malabo Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) ended in Kampala with adoption of the 10-year CAADP strategy and action plan.
The CAADP is an initiative by the African Union aimed at transforming agriculture across the continent. Launched in 2003, CAADP aims to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty by promoting agricultural growth and development.
This initiative was developed due to low farm productivity, food insecurity, and low foreign and domestic investment in Africa’s agriculture. The Kampala declaration was adopted by the heads of state and government.
It called for, among others, an increase in Agrifood output by 45 percent, reduce post-harvest losses by 50 percent, allocation of at least 10 percent of public expenditure to agriculture annually, and empower women, youth, and vulnerable groups in the value chain.
The AU extraordinary summit offered an opportunity to reflect on the last 10 years of the post-Malabo CAADP agenda with the view of reflecting on the extent to which its objectives have been met.
The assessment over the past decade has been sobering, with most countries falling short of the commitment to invest at least 10 percent of national budgets in agriculture and rural development.
The limited progress toward meeting similar previous goals and targets set out in Malabo almost 10 years ago is consistent with the findings of the 2024 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report. With 20.4 percent of Africa's population experiencing hunger and 58 percent facing food insecurity, the continent still struggles to meet basic food and nutrition security needs.
The rising food costs have made healthy diets unaffordable for 924.8 million people, worsening food insecurity and malnutrition on the continent.
Despite some progress in reducing stunting rates, malnutrition, which leads to higher rates of morbidity and mortality and reduces human capital development is still a severe issue. These statistics clearly show that without intensified efforts, Africa will not meet its objective of ending hunger and malnutrition by 2025 or 2030.
The post-Malabo CAADP agenda presents an opportunity to address key areas where progress has fallen short over the years. The 10-year CAADP strategy emphasises the importance of strong leadership, effective governance, and robust systemic capacities for planning and implementation across Africa.
In 2024, during the review of the implementation of the CAADP, only three countries out of the 49 had achieved the target of allocation of 10 percent of their budgets to agriculture.
Enhancing investment in agriculture, especially public resources in agriculture is a fundamental instrument for the African governments to achieve agricultural and food systems transformation and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The continental target of lowering the prevalence of stunting in children under five years to 10 percent or less, has not yet been achieved as of 2023.
Out of the 40 member states that submitted reports on stunting, only seven are on-track while stunting remains remarkably high in 25 percent of member states, Uganda inclusive.To achieve the goals of the new CAADP strategy, action plan, and the Kampala Declaration, a significant shift is necessary.
First, it is essential to ensure political will that promotes the allocation of adequate financial resources to the agriculture sector, as well as to develop the required technical and institutional capacities.
It is also important to ensure multi-stakeholder collaboration including the active involvement of the Ministry of Finance and strengthening of accountability mechanisms.
Equally important are the engagement and empowerment of the private sector and women, marginalised groups, and youth in agriculture. The implementation of Gender Equitable Nutrition in Tanzania and Uganda demonstrates the importance of integrating gender in nutrition-related interventions.
Lastly, reaffirming the commitment to allocate at least 10 percent of national expenditure to agriculture.
Mr Peter Eceru works with Action against Hunger