The African Union has adopted a groundbreaking agricultural strategy that prioritizes nutrition as a core objective within the continent’s food systems framework. During the Extraordinary Summit held in Kampala, Uganda, in January 2025, Heads of State and Government endorsed the Kampala Declaration and the updated Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035). This marks a strategic shift toward nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
CAADP explicitly emphasizes nutrition security for the first time, signaling a holistic approach to addressing Africa’s intertwined challenges of food insecurity, malnutrition, and agricultural development. This change is urgently needed: over one billion people across Africa cannot afford a healthy diet, while food systems face pressures from climate change, conflict, and rapid population growth.
The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement has collaborated closely with the African Union and partners to develop a methodology for setting domestic investment targets for nutrition. By engaging stakeholders across governments, civil society, businesses, and academia, SUN aims to implement nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs in alignment with CAADP initiatives, ensuring resources are used effectively for measurable outcomes.
Prominent leaders, including H.E. Ambassador Josefa Sacko, Dr. David Nabarro, Hon. Neema Lugangira, and Kefilwe Roba Moalosi, highlighted this strategy’s transformative potential during strategic dialogues and media engagements at the summit.
“Africa’s agricultural development, including food and nutrition security, is a collective endeavor. The post-Malabo CAADP strategy relies on all actors within the agrifood system to contribute,” stated Hon. Neema Lugangira, MP, Tanzania.
This renewed focus on nutrition within the CAADP framework represents a major advancement in Africa’s quest for sustainable food systems and better nutritional outcomes. The strategy recognizes that investing in nutrition is essential for combating stunting, wasting, and obesity, while also boosting productivity and safeguarding long-term human capital.
“The post-Malabo strategy adopts a comprehensive approach, acknowledging that increasing agricultural productivity alone is insufficient to combat malnutrition. Member states recognize the need to transform every stage of the food system—from crop production to processing and consumer guidance,” explained Kefilwe Moalosi, Senior Nutrition and Food Safety Programme Officer at the African Union Development Agency.
“Nutrition is not merely an outcome of food systems but a critical determinant. Africa’s agricultural development must sustainably address the nutritional needs of all demographics. Otherwise, we risk farming for its own sake,” Moalosi added.
As Africa advances this ambitious agenda, the SUN Movement will support countries in developing cost-effective, multisectoral strategies, strengthening food governance structures, and exploring innovative financing mechanisms to achieve these vital objectives.
