From January 9th to 11th, 2025, leaders and policymakers from across Africa gathered in Kampala, Uganda, for an extraordinary summit on the post-Malabo CAADP (Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme) agenda.
The post-Malabo meeting was pivotal as it aimed to chart the continent’s agricultural future for the next decade, strengthen it, and address persistent challenges such as food security, climate change, and economic growth.
The summit culminated in two significant outcomes: delegates adopted the CAADP 2026-2035 Strategy and Action Plan, a comprehensive roadmap designed to promote sustainable and inclusive agricultural development. This adoption is a plan that emphasizes food security, improved nutrition, and economic growth while tackling pressing issues like trade barriers and the impacts of climate change.
The second outstanding outcome was the gathering produced the Kampala Declaration, a unifying pledge to implement the new strategy and transform Africa’s agri-food systems over the next ten years. The declaration is an emphasis of the Kampla Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change(KDMECC) with a focus on nutrition is crucial to effecting the solutions sought.
Among some of the key themes that dominated the discussions were climate change, environment, and human mobility. Leaders stressed the urgent need to move from planning to action, particularly in removing trade barriers that hinder agricultural growth and market access across the continent. Frank Tumwebaze, a prominent AU official, called for swift execution of the CAADP agenda, highlighting the critical role of eliminating trade obstacles.
The forum had a focus on Africa’s future which has to be food secure hence an emphasis on the importance of technology in modernizing agriculture, while calling for greater involvement of women and youth to address food crises and foster inclusive development.
Similarly, Josefa Sacko, AU Agriculture Commissioner, voiced concerns over the slow progress towards the Malabo Declaration targets, with no African country on track to end hunger by 2025 as it stands. Her remarks fortified the necessity of the newly adopted strategy during the meeting.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda delivered a keynote address, urging member states to prioritize regional cooperation and remove barriers impeding agricultural trade. His message resonated with the broader call for actionable solutions to Africa’s agricultural challenges in a stride to move away from talk and promises.
The summit’s outcomes mark a turning point in Africa’s agricultural agenda showing recognition of the need to fully embrace technology, inclusivity, and collaboration signals hope for a transformed agricultural landscape that benefits all. By uniting under a shared vision and committing to implementation, African leaders aim to build a future of sustainable growth, empowered communities, and resilient food systems.
