Walking the talk: 11th Meeting of the CAADP Partnership Platform calls for delivery of the AU Malabo commitments on agriculture towards women empowerment and development

The 11th Meeting of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform (PP) officially opened on 25 March 2015 with a call to CAADP stakeholders to deliver on the commitments made in the AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agricultural Growth and Transformation at the 23rd African Union (AU) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in Equatorial Guinea last year.

The two-day CAADP PP, held under the theme, “Walking the Talk: Delivering on the Malabo Commitments on Agriculture for Women Empowerment and Development,” brings together African and global leaders from a number of international organisations, African Governments including parliamentarians from select countries, private agribusiness firms, farmers, NGOs and civil society organizations.

This PP – the first after the Malabo Declaration – is designed to help shape how the renewed commitments will be translated into action, results and impact at country level. This year's PP also comes on the backdrop of the AU Year of Women Empowerment and Development, and the adoption of the AU Agenda 2063.

Speaking during the opening session, African Union Commission (AUC) Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, reiterated the call made by AU Leaders during their Malabo Summit, stating that, “It is now time to deliver! It is now time to walk the talk.”

She informed the gathering that the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agricultural Growth and Transformation, in line with Africa’s Agenda 2063, reiterates a call for action and delivery of results and impact and an expedient process of translating the commitments into results.

Commissioner Tumusiime further noted that through collaborative efforts the AUC, NEPAD Agency, Regional Economic Communities and Development Partners developed the Implementation Strategy and Roadmap (IS&R) and a programme of work for the implementation of the Malabo Declaration.

South Africa’s Director General in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Prof. Edith Vries observed that, “70% of food is produced by small-holder farmers, a majority of them being women. Prioritizing women in agriculture would therefore be a smart and critical political move for governments.”

And giving a keynote presentation during the opening session, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO of the NEPAD Agency said, “The Malabo Declaration is situated at the highest level of ambition by placing agricultural development in the broader context of the structural transformation of our societies. This is expressed, for instance, in the goals of eradicating hunger and halving poverty. It also goes beyond the strict challenges of agricultural production to tackle changes required in African trade and institutions.”

Dr. Mayaki said the strategy to implement the Malabo commitments could no longer simply be aimed at committing to more planning and investment but would come from an increased and bold focus on reforms in economic policies and in institutional capabilities.

Other speakers at the opening event included Dr. Theo de Jager; President, Pan African Farmers’ Organisation (PAFO) and the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) who called for more focused attention to be given to agriculture and farmers.

Mr. Roberto Ridolfi representing EU, which is the current Chair of the CAADP Development Partners Task team Chair, reiterated the partners commitment to support for delivering on the Malabo Commitments to transform Africa’s agriculture and called for enhanced adherence to principles of mutual accountability. Also in attendance was Malawi’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Hon. Allan Chiyembekeza.

The two day meeting encompassed focused discussions and consensus on specific actions to deliver on the 2014 Malabo commitments for the next decade of CAADP in line with the thrust of the AU Agenda 2063, an important part of which is agricultural transformation and women empowerment.