The African Union Commission Promotes Peer-to-Peer Learning around the Biennial Review Process

Participants in the peer-to-peer learning exchange workshop.

To help kickstart the 4th cycle of the Biennial Review (BR) process, the African Union Commission (AUC) held an information and peer-to-peer learning exchange workshop on February 24-25, 2023, in Kigali, Rwanda. The workshop was designed to update the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) focal points on the latest BR developments and roadmap. It also facilitated the sharing of best practices and lessons learned, with a focus on Rwanda, whose performance in meeting CAADP commitments has been consistently strong. Policy LINK supported the workshop in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AGRA, and the Government of Rwanda.

CAADP works toward food security and economic development in Africa. The BR process is CAADP’s primary mutual accountability mechanism for tracking progress against the 2015 Malabo Declaration, which outlines seven commitments spanning mutual accountability, actions, and results.

Ninety-one people attended the hybrid workshop (50 in person and 41 online). In addition to CAADP focal points from Member States and RECs, the participants included representatives of the AUC’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development, AUDA-NEPAD, RECs, AGRA, AKADEMIYA2063, and Policy LINK.

After opening remarks by Panduleni Elago, the African Union’s Senior CAADP Advisor, the workshop kicked off with updates on the 4th BR cycle, including the timeline for finalizing communication tools and materials, holding regional and country-level BR training, collecting BR data, and developing and submitting the BR report to the Heads of States Summit. The conversation then turned to improving country-level BR engagements. Mobilizing country resources for CAADP activities—especially for the BR— and coordinating CAADP country teams were major topics of discussion. One key takeaway was the importance of securing high-level and broad support for the BR process and CAADP in general. Having a senior government official on the CAADP team can help focal points more consistently secure funds for the BR process and CAADP activities.

The second half of the first day focused on lessons learned from Rwanda’s strong performance implementing CAADP. Among the critical success factors cited were a clear strategy developed through intense stakeholder consultations, the integration of CAADP into the national agriculture agenda, strong cross-sector coordination, and a robust accountability system. For example, Rwanda credits integrating CAADP into the broader agriculture agenda with ensuring that all agriculture sector players are engaged in CAADP implementation at all times—not just during the BR process. These discussions offered practical strategies that CAADP focal points can take back and apply in their own countries.

CAADP focal points left the meeting equipped with improved skills in leading and coordinating CAADP country teams, building partnerships, mobilizing resources for BR and CAADP implementation, and addressing the challenges in BR reporting, especially around collecting data on certain BR indicators. To promote continued learning, meeting participants agreed to set up a community of practice for CAADP focal points. The community of practice would not only provide a platform for learning and support—it would also better position its members to develop strategic partnerships, advocate for technical support, and establish stronger linkages with CAADP Technical Working Groups. Policy LINK also used the opportunity to gauge participants’ interest in a leadership development program for CAADP focal points that would enhance their capacity to manage CAADP processes in their countries.

Policy LINK will continue to support the CAADP focal points—and the AUC more broadly—as they implement the BR according to the 4th BR Cycle Roadmap over the coming months.

Resources

Read about Policy LINK's support for a critical analysis of the third BR.