Second APP Learning Event Examined the Kampala Declaration

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), launched in the early 2000s, aims to place African countries on a stronger path of economic growth through agriculture-led development. It addresses policy and capacity challenges across the agricultural sector and represents a continent-wide, African-led vision for transforming agriculture.

Find out more about CAADP

CAADP emerged in the early 2000s as a continental framework designed to realign agricultural policies, restore coherence across fragmented systems, and address long-standing structural challenges. By positioning agriculture at the centre of economic growth and poverty reduction, it marked a shift from fragmented, donor-driven interventions towards country-led, evidence-based investment grounded in African ownership and mutual accountability.

The framework operates across multiple levels:

• Continental: The African Union (AU) and African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD) provide continental political direction and technical coordination.
• Regional: Regional Economic Communities (RECs) integrate CAADP priorities at the regional level.
• National: Individual countries implement policies through tools such as National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIP).

CAADP has evolved through three major phases:

• Maputo Declaration (2003-2013): Commitment to allocate 10% public expenditure on agriculture
• Malabo Declaration (2014-2025): Introduction of new goals to end hunger, double productivity, and boost intra-African trade
• Kampala Declaration (2026-2035): Adoption of a food systems approach, with emphasis on agro-industrialisation and trade.

The third phase of CAADP introduces several significant strengths:

• A shift towards a food-systems approach: CAADP III moves beyond production-focus interventions towards a broader agrifood-systems perspective that integrates trade, consumption, nutrition, equity, climate action, and renewed attention to indigenous crops.

• Greater inclusivity and stakeholder engagement: The Kampala declaration process was more participatory. The AU and NEPAD combined stakeholder consultations with calls for memoranda, enabling grassroots inputs from non-state actors, civil society, agricultural workers, and the media.

• Recognition of agroecological principles: Agroecological principles are woven throughout the CAADP strategy, particularly through its focus on inclusivity, the empowerment of women and youth, resilience, climate action, and the valorisation of indigenous knowledge.

• Recognition of parliamentarians and governance mechanisms: Parliamentarians are explicitly recognised by the Kampala Declaration, strengthening domestic accountability and helping ensure that commitments are translated into practice.

Despite its strengthened vision, CAADP III faces several practical challenges tied to its continental scope and national-level implementation:

• Gaps in financing and implementation: Many countries have yet to meet the 10% agricultural expenditure target. CAADP III lacks clear guidelines on implementation or resource mobilisation, leaving funding heavily reliant on donors or private actors, particularly agribusinesses, whose priorities may diverge from national or agroecological goals.
   
• Weak enforcement and compliance mechanisms: Despite civil society’s call for legal backing, the Kampala Declaration does not include enforcement measures to ensure compliance, especially regarding the 10% agriculture budget commitment. As a result, non-compliance persists.
   
• Institutional fragmentation: Although CAADP III adopts a food-systems perspective, it remains largely anchored within Ministries of Agriculture. Effective implementation requires  cross-ministerial coordination with environment, health, trade, and infrastructure sectors.
   
• Ambiguity and interpretive gaps: The broad framing of CAADP III’s pillars leaves rooms for varying interpretations. While this can create opportunities for agroecology advocates, it also risks favouring industrial agriculture models, potentially diluting agroecological priorities.
   
• Limited participation of civil society: Although participatory mechanisms exist, there are no clear processes in place to ensure that civil society’s inputs are meaningfully considered, raising concerns that participation may be more symbolic than influential.
   
• Data and indicator weaknesses: With the shift toward a broader agrifood-systems approach, there is an urgent need to develop robust and relevant indicators that can generate evidence-based data to inform policy decisions, particularly in the field of agroecology, where misconceptions persist.

The Agroecology Promotion Programme (APP) is a transformative intervention for creating sustainable, resilient, inclusive, and healthy food systems globally. It specifically targets Sub-Saharan Africa and selected Southeast Asian countries. By empowering civil society, influencing policies, and developing robust agroecological markets, APP aims to significantly enhance food security, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic resilience. 

IFOAM – Organics International coordinates the overall programme, providing leadership for the Programme Steering Committee (PSC) in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), as well as leads the Global Component of the project. This includes organising annual learning events for APP partners.

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