African Stakeholders Urge Action on Enhancing Food and Nutrition Security at the 20th Partnership Platform

Harare, October 30 - November 1, 2024 – Held to coincide with and commemorate the 15th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS), the 20th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform Meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, highlighted the urgent need to tackle Africa’s food security challenges and engage youth and women in transforming the continent’s agri-food systems. 

The event opened with remarks from several African heads of state, who conveyed their commitments to ensuring food security and access to nutritious, healthy, and safe food across the continent. Other attendees included 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.  

Thanks to the diversity of the participants, the event featured lively discussions, robust knowledge exchange, and the development of recommendations for achieving resilient agri-food systems across Africa. Participants stressed the need for actionable strategies to enhance food security, substantial political commitments, a re-invigorated collaborative spirit, and greater roles for women and youth in transforming food systems. Participants proposed the following actions to increase political commitments and youth engagement:  

1. Holding African heads of state accountable for the commitments made during the CAADP Partnership Platform/ADFNS event. 

2. Developing collaborative solutions and actionable recommendations that draw on the ideas proposed by the event’s diverse participants, including AU Member State governments, RECs, youth organizations, and other key actors. 

3. Leveraging the Malabo Policy Learning Event (MAPLE) sessions to identify policy improvements and implementation strategies that can drive progress on food security goals across Member States and RECs. 

4. Actively engaging youth and women in transforming food systems through initiatives that integrate technology and education into the process. 

5. Ensuring sustained political commitment and resource allocation to implement the strategies and recommendations that emerged from the CAADP Partnership Platform. 

Africa’s agricultural future holds immense promise, driven by a strategic agri-food system approach that leverages the continent’s natural resources for economic growth and climate resilience. Inclusive engagement from civil society organizations ensures that diverse community voices shape policies while urgent efforts are needed to boost food production and productivity. Strong governance and accountability attract investment, and enhanced data coordination supports effective monitoring of agricultural commitments. The transition to a post-Malabo accountability framework, regional cooperation, and leveraging local knowledge are pivotal. Increased budget allocations for rural farmers, women, and youth, along with a focus on nutrition, underscore a commitment to inclusive food security. The Nairobi Declaration and a 10-year action plan mark a renewed dedication to agricultural transformation, with successful implementation of the Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan requiring collaboration among all stakeholders

These reflections and recommendations will guide the Post-Malabo strategy and roadmap development. They will also inform the redesign and adaptation of key CAADP processes, structures, and platforms, such as the CAADP Partnership Platform, MAPLE, the Biennial Review process, National Agricultural Investment Plans, and Joint Sector Reviews, following the adoption of the Kampala Declaration by Heads of State in January 2025.