Kampala Declaration on Resilient Agrifood Systems Officially Launched in Johannesburg

Johannesburg, South Africa | May 5, 2025 — The Kampala Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa has been officially launched in Johannesburg, South Africa, alongside the unveiling of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035.

The launch marks a pivotal moment in Africa’s agricultural transformation, coming just months after its adoption by African Union Heads of State in Kampala, Uganda, in January 2025.

Delivering the opening remarks, H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) at the African Union Commission (AUC), described the moment as “a seed of hope planted in the fertile soil of Africa’s agricultural landscape.”

“Today, we gather to nurture this seed into a bountiful harvest, symbolising the transformation of our agriculture sector and the prosperity of our people,” said Vilakati. “Let us build windmills, harnessing the power of agrifood systems transformation to drive our development and prosperity.”

The Kampala Declaration and the CAADP Strategy aim to transition African agriculture from basic food production to an integrated agrifood system that includes processing, distribution, and consumption—all while ensuring sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity.

In his remarks, H.E. John Steenhuisen, South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, emphasised the role of data in achieving food security and nutrition goals.

“Achieving transformation in agri-food systems will necessitate extensive data from various sectors to make informed decisions regarding food security and nutrition,” he said. “This requires addressing data deficiencies, particularly concerning diets, micronutrient levels and food composition.”

Uganda was represented by Hon. Kyakulaga Fred Bwino, Minister of State for Agriculture, standing in for Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Uganda’s Minister for Agriculture and current Chair of the African Union’s Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water, and Environment.

Also present were Hon. Mandela Tshawuka, Minister of Agriculture of the Kingdom of Eswatini; Mme. Nardos Bekele, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD; representatives of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AU Member States, development partners, and civil society actors.

The CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035) represents a significant policy evolution from the Maputo and Malabo Declarations, with a renewed emphasis on climate-smart agriculture, gender equity, digital transformation, and inclusive financing.

“This strategy, if fully implemented, will address persistent challenges such as food and nutritional insecurity, biodiversity loss, gender inequality, unemployment, and economic instability,” Vilakati affirmed.

In a strong appeal to African governments and partners, Vilakati called for increased budgetary allocations, effective domestication of the new strategy, and stronger collaboration across sectors.

“I urge all stakeholders to work together. Let us harness the power of agrifood systems transformation to feed our people, create jobs, and drive economic growth. Together, we can make Africa’s agriculture a beacon of hope and prosperity for generations to come.”

The Government of South Africa was commended for hosting the milestone event, which aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 vision: “The Africa We Want.”