New Kampala Declaration to Transform Agriculture in Africa

After two decades, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program transitions from a limited concentration on agriculture-led growth to a more comprehensive agri-food systems strategy.

The African Union Summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program concluded in Kampala, Uganda, on January 11, 2025, with the acceptance of the revolutionary Kampala Declaration for Africa's agri-food systems from 2026 to 2035. The new declaration is the successor of the Malabo Declaration, whose implementation term ends this year.

During the conference, African leaders also approved the breakthrough ten-year CAADP strategy, which lays out a precise roadmap for modernizing agriculture in Africa, a sector that is very sensitive to climate change impacts. This plan explains the measures necessary to fulfill the declaration's aims, including explicit implementation and monitoring procedures.

The agricultural industry in Africa has been suffering due to recent shocks such as the COVID-19 epidemic, internal conflicts, the Russia-Ukraine war, climate change, and corruption. These disturbances highlighted the need for a new strategy that would restructure the continent's food system after 2025.

The 10-year CAADP has paved the way for a fresh phase in African agriculture. It promotes the use of smart innovations and technology to provide food security for Africa's population, which is expected to increase by 2050 to almost a billion people.