OCP Group’s Post

The FAO and African Development Bank Group's #collaboration to enhance investment in food and #agriculture across Africa is a crucial step toward achieving #sustainable #development on the continent. By joining forces, these organizations are leveraging their combined expertise and resources to address the challenges in the agricultural sector. This partnership promises to unlock significant opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses, promoting innovation, food security, and economic growth. Such initiatives are vital in ensuring that Africa's agricultural potential is fully realized, benefiting millions across the continent. https://lnkd.in/d2EFGuaB

Driving Agricultural Transformation in Africa through the CAADP Strategy In my book, "Poverty and Food Insecurity in Africa," I delved into the urgent need for sustainable solutions to tackle food insecurity and poverty. I emphasized the importance of innovation, community-driven efforts, and capacity-building to create lasting change across the continent. Today, the adoption of the Kampala Declaration and the 10-Year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan by the African Union is a historic milestone. This visionary plan, set to run from 2026 to 2035, is designed to transform agriculture into a cornerstone for economic growth, food security, and environmental sustainability across Africa. By focusing on empowering smallholder farmers, promoting climate-resilient agriculture, and enhancing value addition, the strategy is set to address the continent’s most pressing challenges. What excites me most is its commitment to inclusivity—ensuring women, youth, and marginalized communities actively participate in building resilient food systems. As we move forward, let’s champion this initiative by fostering partnerships, investing in innovation, and leveraging Africa’s rich agricultural potential. Together, we can drive the change Africa needs to feed itself and thrive. 🌍🌱 #CAADPKampala25 #AgricultureTransformation #SustainableDevelopment #FoodSecurity #LeadershipInAction

🟡 As Uganda's Minister of Agriculture, Hon. frank tumwebaze rightly points out, Africa's food systems are at the heart of #Agenda2063. A well-nourished population is essential for achieving not just the sustainable development goals but unlocking the continent's potential in all other spheres of life. To make this vision a reality, it's critical that countries prioritize the implementation of the new Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme strategy, ensuring a unified approach to food security and nutrition across #Africa. Read more about it here: https://bit.ly/42njDc6 🌍 #GoodFood4All | #CAADP | #FoodSecurity | #AfricaDevelopment #SDG2 | African Development Bank Group | African Union

On the sidelines of the Extraordinary African Union Summit in Kampala, Uganda, Minister John Steenhuisen engaged in fruitful discussions with his Zimbabwean counterpart. These talks focused on enhancing collaboration between South Africa and Zimbabwe, emphasising shared agricultural priorities and fostering stronger bilateral ties. As AU member states unite under the post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), these partnerships are critical to equipping Africa to sustainably feed herself. South Africa is proud to have received a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) from Zimbabwe, marking a significant milestone in strengthening agricultural processing and advancing our shared vision of a resilient and prosperous agricultural sector. Through collaboration, innovation, and commitment, we are building a future where Africa’s agriculture thrives sustainably. #CAADPKampala25 #LetsGrowTogether

👩🏾🌾 Moving from Policy to Action for young African agripreneurs 🧑🏿🌾 In her address to the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), H.E. Ambassador Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, highlighted the powerful Call to Action that was developed by young agripreneus following the African Youth in Agribusiness Forum (AYAF) held in Addis Ababa, November 2024. The Call to Action expresses critical commitments and requests for support from young agripreneurs across the African continent. The Call is a testament to the collective power and commitment of young African agripreneurs, and a strong invitation for leaders and other stakeholders to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient agricultural sector. Not only does the Call urge for action, it also provides innovative solutions for improved enabling environments and accountability. 🌱An absolute must-read (and must do!) for anyone interested in advancing the African agrifood systems transformation agenda 🌱 #YouthEmpowerment #Agriculture #Africa #FoodSecurity #AfricanYouth #Agribusiness #SustainableDevelopment #CallToAction #AYAF2024

I finally found my tribe! Even though the Summit of the Future was discussing the gaps that must be closed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals #SDGs, we saw very little on the rural areas, their people and livelihoods particularly of farmers. This is despite that fact that 8️⃣ 0️⃣ per cent of the people who live in multidimensional poverty are in the rural areas.    Thankfully, the Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions (ATLAS) and the Paris Peace Forum organized a session to discuss the importance of financing for African Agriculture. This is perhaps the only place that discussed rural issues at #UNGA. Compellingly, the discussion looked at the rural dimension of development from a continental perspective which painted a truly stark picture. For instance, taking a continental lens reveals that 50% of the world’s poor people are in the rural areas in Africa.   As such, investing in Africa’s agriculture was identified as the surest way to address the #SDGs shortfalls: 🔹 A dollar invested in African agriculture is the best dollar invested towards achieving #SDGs. 🔹 30-60% of the #SDGs gaps can be solved by investment in African agriculture.   Despite this understanding, agriculture investments have been a declining priority since the 80s. The discussion issued a loud wake-up call to all of us involved in this issues make every effort to reverse this trend ensuring the investments are made along the entire agricultural value chain right from inputs as stated by Leonardus Vergütz of OCP Group all the way through to value added processing as called for by Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli of The ONE Campaign.   As the busy week came to a close, I am delighted there was some focus on this critical issue that I believe should be front and center of our efforts to accelerate progress towards the #SDGs. I look forward to continue engaging on this topic as we all work to unlock the necessary investments.

The upcoming Extraordinary Summit on the Post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in Kampala holds great promise for charting the future trajectory of Africa's agricultural transformation. As we look toward the drafting of the 2026-2035 strategy and action plan, it is important to reflect on the lessons learned from past experiences, particularly in relation to the challenges of funding and resource mobilization. The ambitious goals set by CAADP—to drive economic growth, enhance food security, improve livelihoods, and address climate change—can only be realized if African countries adopt innovative approaches to financing these initiatives. The post-Malabo era provides an opportunity to reassess and refine funding models, ensuring that investments are not only sustainable but also equitably distributed, especially to empower vulnerable smallholders who are the backbone of the continent’s agriculture. The theme "One Voice, One Land" speaks to the urgency of unity and collaboration in tackling the shared challenges faced by African nations. By fostering strong partnerships and pooling resources at both continental and global levels, we can unlock the potential of agriculture to transform economies, reduce poverty, and ultimately build resilience against the impacts of climate change. It is essential that this summit not only provides strategic direction but also sets the groundwork for practical, actionable steps that will ensure the long-term sustainability of Africa's agricultural development agenda. Moving forward, the focus must be on transparency, accountability, and leveraging the private sector, development partners, and African governments to make this vision a reality. As the world watches, the post-Malabo period represents a critical juncture for Africa. The decisions made in Kampala will shape the future of agriculture across the continent, and it is crucial that the outcomes strategically align with the aspirations of the people it is meant to serve. #CAADP #AgricultureTransformation #EconomicGrowth #FoodSecurity #AfricaRising #ClimateChange #SustainableDevelopment #InvestmentInAgriculture

Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs): Pioneering Agricultural Transformation in Africa The CAAPs are transforming agriculture in Africa by enhancing local processing, promoting food self-sufficiency, and attracting private sector investment. This initiative is supported by key partners like the AU, AFREXIMBANK, AfCFTA, AfDB, FAO, FARA and other prominent institutions. Together, we are working towards "The Africa We Want" by building agro-industrial zones that will reduce reliance on imports and revolutionize food systems. Join us in supporting this innovative initiative and help shape a brighter, more prosperous agricultural landscape for Africa! Join the discussion on Common African Agro-Parks Programme - CAAPs #CAAPs via LinkedIn and/or join the CAAPs Community of Practice at https://lnkd.in/daJ3u3CS ______ #CAAPs #AgroParksAfrica #TransformingAgriculture #AfricaRising #FoodSecurity African Union African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) FAO AUDA NEPAD African Business Chamber (AfBC) UNIDO International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa - FARA Josefa Sacko #UNECA #PAFO Pan African Farmers Organization #AATB/ITFC

Fifteen months after the #AfricaFoodSummitDakar2, where $72 billion was mobilised for #agriculture development and transformation across Africa, significant progress has been made. Six African countries – #Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, #Nigeria, Sierra Leone and #Zambia – have established Presidential Delivery Councils to drive the implementation of their Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts. Another twelve countries, comprising Benin, Burundi, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, #Ethiopia, Egypt, #Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, #Senegal, Malawi, and Togo, are in the process of operationalising their councils. The African Development Bank Group has committed to investing $2.9 billion to support these Compacts and has appointed two Special Envoys to coordinate and support the councils. The Bank's president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, reiterated the institution's commitment to investing $25 billion over a ten-year period to increase food production and bolster the continent's agricultural resilience. Read more about the progress made since the Dakar 2 Summit and the African Development Bank's efforts to transform agriculture and ensure #foodsecurity across the continent: https://bit.ly/3Vm9gla #AfDBAM2024

The Extraordinary Summit on the Post Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) will be held from 9th to 11th January 2025 in Kampala, Uganda, under the theme One Voice, One Land. The Kampala CAADP Summit is expected to result in the adoption of a 10-year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035), and the draft Kampala CAADP Declaration. The plan seeks to leverage resources for driving economic growth, enhancing food security, and improving livelihoods while addressing the impacts of climate change, in alignment with the CAADP principles. It aims to achieve this by stimulating investment, fostering partnerships, and empowering vulnerable smallholders. CAADP is an African Union Agenda 2063 continental initiative that aims to raise agricultural productivity, increase public investment in agriculture and stimulate economic growth through agriculture-led development, thus helping African countries eliminate hunger and reduce poverty. Read more about the extraordinary summit, the programme of events, concept note, and the strategy and action plan here Join the conversation at  #CAADPKampala2025 #OneVoiceOneLand