In January 2025, African leaders gathered in Kampala, Uganda, for an extraordinary summit that would become a turning point in the continent’s efforts to reshape its food systems. From that gathering emerged the Kampala Declaration—a bold and transformative commitment that is now being hailed as a catalyst for achieving sustainable development across Africa.
At the heart of this movement is Estherine Fotabong, the Director of Programme Implementation and Coordination at AUDA-NEPAD. Speaking recently at the High-Level Opening of the Africa Regional UN Food Systems Summit+4 Preparatory Meeting in Nairobi, Fotabong emphasized the weight of the declaration. She explained that the Kampala Declaration, rooted in the CAADP (Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme) framework, is more than just another policy—it is a powerful alignment of Africa’s food systems transformation with the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. What sets it apart is the renewed urgency and collective determination driving it forward.
The declaration introduces a new ten-year strategy and action plan running from 2026 to 2035. This strategy reimagines agriculture as not merely a means of economic growth but as a holistic system that can deliver resilience, equity, and prosperity. It focuses on improving food security, enhancing nutrition, and uplifting rural livelihoods, while weaving sustainability into every layer of agricultural practice. According to Fotabong, this marks a pivotal shift—from focusing solely on agriculture to embracing a comprehensive agrifood systems approach, one that considers climate resilience, nutrition, and inclusive growth as inseparable components.
Over the past four years, following the inaugural UN Food Systems Summit, Africa has made significant strides. Countries are now committing to increasing agrifood output by nearly half, reducing post-harvest losses, and tripling trade within the continent. These efforts are part of a broader vision tied to the African Continental Free Trade Area, aimed at unlocking the potential of regional markets. But the vision goes even further—addressing long-standing disparities by aiming to close the gender productivity gap and ensure meaningful participation of women, youth, and vulnerable communities. There is also a strong push to bring at least 30 percent of Africa’s farmland under sustainable management and protect 40 percent of households from the growing threats of climate change and economic instability.
Fotabong was clear about the scale of the challenge. Hunger, malnutrition, climate shocks, and fragmented food value chains continue to pose serious threats. But she argued that the declaration offers a roadmap—not just for mitigation, but for transformation. It is also a call to action to invest in people and institutions that can carry the vision forward.
Central to this process, Fotabong noted, is the principle of accountability. The Kampala Declaration reaffirms CAADP’s mutual accountability framework, which includes a biennial review process designed to monitor progress and highlight gaps. For this transformation to take root, governance must be inclusive and transparent. This means engaging farmers—especially smallholders—as well as women, youth, and indigenous groups in the policy-making process. It also means making space for the private sector to take on a larger role, such as through the proposed Agrifood Systems Advisory Council, which would be led by business actors.
The transformation of food systems, however, cannot happen without serious investment. Fotabong estimated that Africa would need at least 100 billion US dollars in public and private funding by 2035. The financial strategy she outlined focuses on unlocking climate-sensitive and inclusive financing that prioritizes small-scale farmers, reduces risks for investors, and channels resources into critical areas such as agro-industrial corridors, storage infrastructure, and regional trade. Innovative funding methods, including diaspora bonds, green finance, and blended models, will be essential to crowd in the capital needed for the continent’s agrifood SMEs.
Looking ahead to the UNFSS+4 Stocktaking Moment scheduled for July in Addis Ababa, Fotabong urged African states and partners to center their discussions around three interconnected areas. These include accelerating implementation of national food systems aligned with the Kampala Declaration, scaling up proven innovations like AI-assisted farming and biofortified crops, and fostering convergence between sectors—from agriculture and climate to biodiversity and trade.
The Kampala Declaration is more than a document; it is a bold vision of what Africa can achieve when it unites around shared goals. It seeks to turn food from a source of vulnerability into a driver of opportunity. For a continent with immense potential and pressing challenges, this declaration could be the bridge between aspiration and action, between policy and prosperity.
