Stakeholders Consult on the Roadmap for a Post-Malabo Agenda
Participants in the one-day meeting in Addis Ababa pose for a group photo.
With technical support from Policy LINK, the African Union Commission (AUC) held a one-day meeting at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to foster a collaborative approach to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Post-Malabo Agenda development process. The November 10 consultative meeting introduced the Post-Malabo Agenda Concept Note and Roadmap.
CAADP has been a pivotal framework in catalyzing agricultural transformation across Africa over the last 20 years. Despite significant efforts over the past two decades, Africa has not fully met the ambitions goals outlined in both the Maputo (2003) and Malabo (2014) Agendas. The commitment outlined in the Malabo Declaration prompted an extensive preparatory process by the AUC and the AU Development Agency’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), resulting in the launch of first, second, and third CAADP-Malabo Biennial Reviews in 2017, 2019, and 2021. These reviews revealed limited progress toward advancing the Malabo goals and targets, with the 2021 Biennial Review report highlighting that only one country had made substantial headway toward achieving the composite indicator of agricultural transformation by 2025.
While global challenges, including climate change, conflicts, epidemics, and economic downturns have impeded progress, the consistent adherence by African leaders to CAADP principles, values, and key commitments has been a strength over the two decades. After two decades of implementation, preserving CAADP's strengths while adapting it to address emerging challenges is crucial. The Concept Note and Roadmap suggests that a Post-Malabo Agenda should focus on sustainable food systems transformation, particularly in the face of accelerating climate crises and risks from multiple sources. Achieving this goal builds on previous successes while addressing new and ongoing and challenges.
In her opening address, H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko, AUC Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment stressed the urgency of the situation. With only two years left to fulfil the Malabo Declaration’s commitments and member states falling short, she emphasized the critical need for robust interventions. She highlighted the necessity of supporting member states to improve their agricultural performance, create evidence-based solutions, and draw valuable lessons to shape a robust Post-Malabo Agenda. Highlighting the importance of the discussion, the Commissioner urged for dialogue marked by critical analysis, constructive contributions, bold yet realistic ideas, an open-mind approach, and awareness of existing challenges in shaping the roadmap for the post-Malabo Agenda.
The meeting also featured remarks by Hon. El-Sayed El Quseir, Minister of Agriculture and Reclamation, Arab Republic of Egypt, and Chair of the Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (STC-ARDWE) Bureau. El-Sayed expressed Egypt's dedication to eradicating hunger and malnutrition in Africa through the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development in Agenda 2063. He posed fundamental questions for CAADP, including the need for a comprehensive theory of change for how agriculture can lead the transformation of African economies. Success, he stressed, requires thorough analysis and collaborative engagement to derive valuable lessons for the post-Malabo Agenda.
The Post-Malabo Agenda Concept Note and Roadmap, presented at the meeting, is a foundational document that sets the stage for comprehensive discussions and feedback on the various proposed steps. Participants in the consultative meeting included: representatives from Regional Economic Communities (RECs) such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Union du Maghreb Arabe (UMA), and STC-ARDWE from the republic of South Africa; representatives from AU member states such as the Republic of Rwanda and Republic of the Gambia; participants from AUC, AUDA NEPAD; and technical implementing partners. The meeting facilitated dialogue and recommendations to refine the final roadmap. The delegates engaged in discussions to define how the final roadmap should be structured, agreeing on roles and coordination strategies among AUC, AUDA NEPAD, and RECS for the post-Malabo Agenda implementation. The decisions and conclusions reached on the roadmap during the meeting were advanced to the STC for approval. The approved roadmap will be the guiding framework for the design and implementation of the Post-Malabo Agenda.
Policy LINK will collaborate with the AUC and its partners to design and facilitate the Post-Malabo Agenda development process, ensuring well-designed, coordinated, and consultative processes.
Resources
Members of Parliament Key to Reaching Malabo Targets