The African Union Commission (AUC) and NEPAD Agency have launched the AU Implementation Strategy and Roadmap to achieve the 2014 Malabo Declaration, for agricultural growth and shared prosperity. The Strategy was launched Tuesday night at a high-level dinner on the fringes of the 24th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In his statement to 300 senior officials, NEPAD Agency Chief Executive Officer Dr Ibrahim Mayaki said that the Strategy is a celebration of leadership, partnership and regional integration since the commitment made by African leaders in 2003 to give Agriculture-led development a priority and which resulted in the adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Dr Mayaki said that African leaders have realised that “most of Africa’s national problems do not have optimum national solutions, but regional solutions”.
AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Mrs Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, emphasised that the Strategy would transform agriculture for more inclusive growth, by focusing on increased agricultural production, intra-African trade, resilience of livelihoods, and strengthening the governance of land, water and other natural resources.
Rhoda Peace urged that the 2014 Malabo Declaration expresses a firm commitment toward attaining an agriculture revolution in Africa. African leaders and all stakeholders involved must be accountable to actions and results, she said.
The event brought together Members of the AU Executive Council (Ministers of Foreign Affairs), the Permanent Representative Committee (Ambassadors), AU Senior Officials, Regional Economic Communities (RECs); Chief Executives from the private sector, farmer organisations; CSOs, Youth and Women organisations, and Development Partners.
The roadmap will guide African member states and development partners to accelerate agricultural growth so as to achieve the 2025 vision for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods. Key to the process is the CAADP Results Framework to track progress and ensure accountability of governments starting 2017.
The high-level event brought together Members of the AU Executive Council (Ministers of Foreign Affairs), the Permanent Representative Committee (Ambassadors), AU Senior Officials, Regional Economic Communities (RECs); Chief Executives from the private sector, farmer organisations; CSOs, Youth and Women organisations, and Development Partners.
It also marked the formal closure of the 2014 AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security, and officially commenced actions taken towards the Malabo Declaration which was adopted by African Heads of State and Government at the 23rd AU Assembly in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in June 2014.
The Strategy was formally launched by the Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, Ms Fatma Vall Mint Soueinae.
The 2014 Malabo Declaration emphasises on seven key commitments. These are:
- Recommitment to the Principles and Values of the CAADP Process
- Commitment to Enhancing Investment Finance in Agriculture
- Commitment to Ending Hunger in Africa by the year 2025
- Commitment to agriculture contributing to poverty reduction at least by half by the year 2025, through Inclusive Agricultural Growth and Transformation
- Commitment to tripling Intra-African Trade in Agricultural commodities and services, by the year 2025
- Commitment to Enhancing Resilience of Livelihoods and Production Systems to Climate Variability and other related risks
- Commitment to Mutual Accountability to Actions and Results
