Western Africa Regional Consultations Move Toward a New Post-Malabo Declaration

Representatives from the AU, ECOWAS, and AUDA-NEPAD offer opening remarks during the June 2024 meeting.

As the lifespan of the Malabo Declaration, a 10-year plan to expand and refine the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) comes to a close, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gathered in Abuja, Nigeria in June to reflect on the 2014 declaration and craft recommendations for the next new agenda.

Stakeholders, including the private sector, youth, non-state actors, technical experts, and development partners contributed insights to steer the next decade’s agricultural transformation.

Stakeholders, including the private sector, youth, non-state actors, technical experts, and development partners contributed insights to steer the next decade’s agricultural transformation.

In welcoming participants on behalf of the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Madam Massandjé Toure-Litse, Dr. Sy Alian Traore, ECOWAS Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, highlighted significant agricultural growth in West Africa, driven by the implementation of National Agriculture Investment Plans, improved budget allocations, and monitoring and evaluation in all 15 member states. Despite these advancements, issues including climate change, COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, banditry, and insecurity continue to challenge food security in the region.

Dr. Traore emphasized the need for collective action to address these issues, noting the pressure from population growth and urbanization. He called for more effective and efficient measures, supported by political will, to develop agriculture and ensure food security for all citizens.

The Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by the Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, Mr. Ibrahim Tanimu, emphasized that food security is a top priority for the Nigerian government. This focus is part of broader economic reforms aimed at achieving sustainable growth in infrastructure, social investment, the digital economy, and industrialization. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing recommendations from the last Biennial Review, a CAADP mutual accountability tool, particularly in increasing farmers’ access to agricultural advisory services.

Dr. Clement Adjorlolo, Head of Agriculture and Rural Transformation at AUDA-NEPAD, urged participants to reflect on their collective achievements and identify recommendations for the post-Malabo agenda. He emphasized that these consultations are crucial for developing new strategies to enhance Africa’s agrifood systems and promote sustainable growth and development across the continent.

Ms. Panduleni Elago, Senior CAADP Advisor, highlighted Africa’s progress in agricultural and economic transformation over the CAADP’s 20 years, on behalf of Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development of the African Union Commission.

Ms. Elago emphasized the importance of addressing the entire agricultural value chain and the multifaceted challenges involved. She noted the successes of CAADP, including the power of a coordinated approach and the significance of investing in small-scale farmers, who are crucial to the agricultural sector.

Further contributing to the context and direction of the post-Malabo agenda, the new ECOWAS Agriculture Policy (ECOWAP) on agricultural growth and transformation defines the principles, orientation, and objectives of agricultural development, calls for adequate remuneration for agricultural workers, and envisions the expansion of trade on a sustainable basis within the region as well as with the rest of the world.

ECOWAP’s three axes of intervention, through which the sub-region ensures its potential to assure sustainable food security in the member states, are: 1) Increasing the productivity and competitiveness of West African agriculture; 2) Implementing a trade regime within West Africa; and 3) Adapting the trade regime vis-à-vis countries outside the region that mirror the next ten years post-Malabo.

As well as looking forward, the member states were also recognized during the meeting for their exemplary performance in the 4th Biennial Review. ECOWAS was awarded the best regional economic community in the Biennial Review consecutively in 2021 and 2023.

Resources:

Press Release: ECOWAS Holds Consultations with Member States for a Post Malabo Agenda