Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through its Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) with support from the World Bank, concluded a two-day high-level learning event aimed at strengthening political leadership, investment, and regional collaboration for agrifood systems transformation.
The event brought together the IGAD Committee of Ambassadors, the IGAD Parliamentary Forum on Agrifood Systems, Member State representatives, and technical experts to strengthen ownership and build consensus around implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration and its Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035).
At the center of the discussions was how to translate continental commitments into stronger national policies, increased investment, effective oversight, and tangible results for people across the region.
A Regional Imperative: Beyond Agriculture
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Mohammed Omar Djama, Director of the IGAD Foreign Service Institute (IFSI), emphasized that transforming the region’s agrifood systems goes beyond agriculture, given the sector’s importance to economies, livelihoods, and regional integration.
“The challenges we face, including food insecurity, climate change, conflict, and low productivity, remind us that transforming our agrifood system is not simply an agricultural agenda. It is an economic, social, political, and regional integration imperative.”
Complementary Roles: Ambassadors and Parliamentarians
The forum highlighted the complementary roles of Ambassadors and Parliamentarians in advancing the Kampala agenda:
- Parliamentarians play an important role in shaping legislation, influencing national priorities and budgets, and strengthening oversight
- The Committee of Ambassadors provides strategic leadership and political guidance for regional cooperation
Ambassador Mohamed Ali Hassan, Chair of the IGAD Committee of Ambassadors and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to implementation of the Kampala Declaration:
“Food security and agricultural cooperation are tremendously important for our region. As a policy organ, it is our duty to continuously encourage cooperation among Member States to fulfil the objectives of the Kampala Declaration.”
From Commitment to Implementation
Presenting the continental implementation framework, Dr. Clement Adjorlolo, Principal Programme Officer, Agriculture and Rural Transformation at AUDA-NEPAD, highlighted the transition from commitment to implementation. His presentation emphasised the responsibilities of Member States in policy integration, investment, coordination, and monitoring, alongside the role of the African Union and Regional Economic Communities in supporting implementation, review, and accountability.
“The Kampala Declaration must now move from commitment to implementation. Our focus should be on translating these continental ambitions into tangible results through stronger policies, increased investment, effective coordination and accountability. Member States, Regional Economic Communities, parliamentarians, the private sector and other partners all have a role to play in building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems across Africa.”
The Kampala Declaration advances a broader agrifood systems approach covering:
- Sustainable food production
- Agro-industrialisation and trade
- Investment and financing
- Food and nutrition security
- Inclusive livelihoods
- Resilience and stronger governance
The Challenge: IGAD’s CAADP Performance
A key focus of the forum was the IGAD region’s performance under the CAADP Fifth Biennial Review. Member States shared experiences, lessons, and recommendations, providing Ambassadors and Parliamentarians with a clearer picture of progress and areas requiring greater attention.
The review showed that the IGAD region was not on track to achieve the comprehensive Malabo commitments, notwithstanding progress in some areas. Key findings included:
| Area | Performance |
|---|---|
| Strongest Performance | Commitment 1: Recommitment to CAADP Principles and Mutual Accountability |
| Weakest Areas | Ending Hunger by 2025; Enhancing Investment Finance in Agriculture |
These findings brought financing into sharp focus, particularly the need for governments to increase budget allocations towards agrifood systems initiatives and strengthen progress towards the commitment to allocate 10 per cent of public expenditure to agriculture.
Moving Forward: Action Plan for 2026–2027
Building on the performance review, Ambassadors and Parliamentarians discussed strategies for strengthening financial and policy support for agrifood systems transformation, including:
- Advocacy for supportive policies and budgets
- Measures to reinforce ownership and accountability
The forum culminated in the development of an Action Plan for the IGAD Parliamentary Forum Working Group on Agrifood Systems for 2026–2027, providing a framework for carrying forward the recommendations and defining responsibilities for continued engagement.
A Call to Action: A Food-Secure IGAD Region
The meeting was officially opened by Honourable Solomon Lale, Chairperson of Ethiopia’s Parliamentary Agriculture Standing Committee, who underscored the importance of regional cooperation and collective action:
“We share common challenges, particularly poverty, food insecurity and forces that undermine peace and stability. We must therefore strengthen our unity, align our efforts and work together to address these challenges with determination and shared purpose.”
As the learning event concluded, participants reaffirmed the need to move from commitments to implementation by strengthening policies, increasing investment, and sustaining political engagement.
Through closer collaboration among Member States, Ambassadors, Parliamentarians, and regional institutions, IGAD is advancing efforts to build agrifood systems that contribute to food and nutrition security, economic growth, resilient livelihoods, and sustainable development across the region.
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Quick Reference
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | IGAD High-Level Learning Event on Agrifood Systems |
| Organizer | IGAD Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) |
| Support | World Bank |
| Focus | CAADP Kampala Declaration Implementation |
| Key Outcome | Action Plan for IGAD Parliamentary Forum Working Group (2026–2027) |
| Region | IGAD Member States |
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