Kigali, Rwanda — The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has reiterated its strong commitment to working with African governments and institutions to accelerate agricultural transformation as the continent enters a decisive phase of food systems reforms.
Speaking during the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform (CAADP-PP) held in Kigali and co-organised by the African Union Commission (AUC) and AUDA-NEPAD, AGRA underscored the need to shift from policy commitments to coordinated delivery—anchored in African priorities, leadership, and accountability.
This year’s CAADP-PP brought together governments, development partners, and private sector actors to align on key priorities shaping tangible progress across Africa’s agri-food systems. During the forum, AGRA presented the Africa Food Systems Report (AFSR) 2025, which features new indicators for tracking performance across agricultural supply chains, food environments, diets, and systemic enablers.
“The CAADP Partnership Platform is where partners align on what we will deliver together,” said Jonathan Said, Vice President for Technical Expertise at AGRA. “Our role is to support the AUC and AUDA-NEPAD in securing coherence among partners and focusing on transformative priorities such as food corridors, value chain integration, and seed system commercialisation. This will help countries implement their National Agriculture Investment Plans (NAIPs) more efficiently, attract private investment, and expand access to finance for farmers and SMEs.”
Strengthening Delivery and Regional Integration
The shared commitments at the forum centred on practical support to African governments in coordinating and executing flagship agricultural programs that advance food systems transformation. Participants also agreed on the need to strengthen regional trade integration, promote value addition, and create an enabling environment for private sector investment.
“AGRA’s initiatives aim to connect smallholder farmers to regional markets, de-risk investment in agro-processing, and mobilise innovative financing models that drive growth across entire value chains,” Mr Said added. “These actions are essential for achieving Africa’s food self-sufficiency and inclusive agricultural growth.”
Advancing Soil Health and Fertiliser Reforms
Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to fast-track the African Soil Health and Fertiliser Agenda, recognising soil degradation as a major constraint to food security. Efforts are underway to promote integrated soil fertility management, efficient fertiliser use, and the development of farmer-centred extension systems that improve access to knowledge, technologies, and quality inputs.
Accelerating Seed and Biotechnology Innovation
The forum also emphasised speeding up the implementation of the AU Seed and Biotechnology Action Plan, with a focus on the commercialisation and adoption of climate-smart, high-yielding, and nutrient-rich seed varieties.
Through its Centre of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa (CESSA), AGRA showcased a tripartite collaboration linking AGRA, One CGIAR, and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) to develop and scale up climate-resilient and nutrient-dense varieties across the continent.
Empowering Youth and Women in Agri-Food Systems
Recognising that women and young people are central to Africa’s agricultural economy, AGRA and its partners renewed their commitment to advancing their inclusion in food systems transformation.
AGRA is supporting programs that expand access to finance, land, and practical skills for youth and women agripreneurs.
The AUC also convened a side event focused on tracking youth entrepreneurship and employment in agri-food systems, noting that countries currently lack consistent metrics to assess progress. Organisers emphasised that better data will help governments and partners channel finance and capacity-building efforts toward viable youth-led enterprises.