African Nations Reflect on CAADP Progress and Challenges at the Malabo Policy Learning Event

Harare, October 29, 2024 – The recent Malabo Policy Learning Event (MAPLE) in Harare, Zimbabwe, highlighted ongoing efforts and challenges in achieving the ambitious goals of the Malabo Declaration, which commits African countries to eradicate hunger, reduce malnutrition, and triple intra-African trade by 2025. The event focused on the results of the Biennial Review (BR), the main reporting and accountability mechanism for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). MAPLE brought together close to 300 participants, including African Union (AU) Member State governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), nongovernmental organizations,  Members of Parliament, farmers’ organizations, civil society groups, women’s and youth organizations, financial and development institutions, research organizations, the private sector, and development partners.  

Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, the Director of Agriculture and Rural Development at the  African Union Commission (AUC), opened the event. He noted MAPLE was created to give stakeholders space to “…discuss and review what is working and what is not, so we can improve” in advance of the CAADP Partnership Platform meeting, the AU’s main agricultural platform for policy dialogue, lessons sharing, and accountability among CAADP stakeholders. Honorable Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos of Zimbabwe also spoke, highlighting the need for resilient agri-food systems and strong partnerships. He noted, “The dynamic environment in which the agriculture sector operates calls upon the development of resilient agri-food systems with extensive capacities to stimulate economic growth whilst making Africa the breadbasket of the world.” 

The first MAPLE session explored AU Member States’ performance implementing CAADP, as measured through eight years of BR results. The session opened with a presentation by Dr. John Ulimwengu, who said, “The continent has made progress, but the gaps compared to global averages are still significant, particularly in areas such as undernourishment, crop and livestock yields, and food supply variability.”  

Then, stakeholders discussed strategies for enhancing the dissemination of the BR results. Proposals included encouraging continuous engagement with national CAADP focal points and stakeholders, building stakeholder capacity, and collaborating with academic institutions. Stakeholders also said greater coordination among RECs, the AUC, and experts was essential for increasing the use of the BR results.  

Next, REC representatives reflected on their efforts to strengthen the BR process and align their regional policies with the Malabo Declaration commitments. Mr. Joel Okwir from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) acknowledged significant performance improvements across BR cycles, despite challenges in securing and sustaining interest at the national and regional levels. Mr. Duncan Samikwa, of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), noted that SADC’s strategic alignment of its regional agricultural policy with the Malabo commitments had enabled it to mobilize resources for CAADP implementation. Professor Olawale Emmanuel Olayade, a CAADP expert from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said his region had created a policy document aligned with Malabo commitments that had facilitated the effective domestication of the Malabo Declaration at both the national and regional levels. Ms. Constance Okeke noted the role of non-state actors as watchdogs, promoting transparency and holding governments accountable for communicating and fulfilling their commitments. These leaders’ insights underscore the need for continued alignment, accountability, and innovation to drive agricultural progress across Africa. 

Next, Dr. Greenwell Matchaya offered a presentation on the importance of using the BR results to drive changes in agricultural policy and program implementation. He stressed that enhanced data collection and reporting were prerequisites for increasing the use of the BR results. To this end, Dr. Matchaya urged stakeholders to establish robust data coordination structures, allocate adequate resources to national technical groups, to ensure comprehensive data collection and reporting  

Stakeholders echoed Dr. Matchaya’s sentiments about using the BR results to inform agricultural policy and program adaptations. Ms. Chikondi Chabvuta from the CAADP Non-State Actor Coalition Group said the BR report should not be relegated to a shelf but actively used to inform policy adjustments at every level. Dr. Moraka Makhura, a Regional CAADP Expert from SADC, agreed, saying the BR Report’s valuable insights could significantly enhance agricultural policies and practices if applied effectively. Hon. Michelo Kasauta, a Member of Parliament in Zambia, highlighted the essential role of parliamentarians in applying the BR recommendations. In closing remarks, Dr. Hamady Diop, the Post-Malabo Process Coordinator, encouraged stakeholders to build on the lessons learned from the BR process in the post-Malabo era to sustain progress toward agricultural development goals. Together, these leaders reinforced the call for action-oriented engagement with the BR Report to advance agricultural development across the continent. 

The event concluded with stakeholders agreeing on several action items, including raising awareness of and facilitating dialogue on the BR results, assessing the implementation of the 4th BR recommendations, capturing and sharing lessons from specific interventions, and preparing for the 5th BR process and the rollout of the 2026-2035 CAADP Strategy and Action Plan.