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Kigali – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), headquartered in Nairobi, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting African governments and institutions as the continent enters a decisive phase of food systems reform.

Speaking at the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme – Partnership Platform (CAADP-PP) conference in Kigali, Rwanda, co-organised by the African Union Commission (AUC) and AUDA-NEPAD, AGRA stressed the importance of moving beyond high-level commitments to coordinated actions that reflect Africa’s priorities and leadership.

AGRA’s collaborative approach brings together governments, the private sector, civil society, and development partners to drive inclusive agricultural transformation. By strengthening systems, the institution aims to ensure that farmers can thrive, markets expand, and countries achieve their food and nutrition goals.

This year’s CAADP-PP convened governments, development partners, and private sector players to align on priority areas that will deliver tangible outcomes in Africa’s agri-food systems. During the forum, AGRA presented the Africa Food Systems Report (AFSR) 2025, a comprehensive resource tracking progress across supply chains, diets, food environments, systemic drivers, and development outcomes.

Jonathan Said, AGRA’s Vice President for Technical Expertise, underscored the significance of the platform. “The CAADP Partnership Platform is where partners align on what we will deliver together. Our role is to support the AUC and AUDA-NEPAD to secure partner coherence and focus on key priorities such as food corridors, end-to-end value-chain development and seed system commercialisation so that countries can implement their National Agriculture Investment Plans faster, crowd in private investment and expand access to finance for farmers and SMEs,” he explained.

Shared commitments at the forum focused on enabling governments to strengthen coordination and delivery of flagship agricultural programmes that drive food systems transformation. Partners also highlighted the importance of advancing regional trade integration while stimulating private-sector investment in value addition and improved market access.

AGRA’s initiatives are designed to connect smallholder farmers to regional markets, de-risk investment in agro-processing, and mobilise new financing models that catalyse growth along entire value chains. These efforts aim to accelerate Africa’s path toward self-sufficiency and inclusive agricultural growth.
Soil health emerged as another critical priority. The African Soil Health and Fertilizer Agenda was spotlighted as partners acknowledged soil degradation as a major constraint to food security. Proposed interventions included integrated soil fertility management, more efficient fertiliser use, and the expansion of farmer-centred extension systems to improve access to information, technologies, and essential inputs.

Momentum is also building around the AU’s Seed and Biotechnology Action Plan. AGRA, through its Centre of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa (CESSA), showcased a tri-partite model linking AGRA, One CGIAR, and National Agricultural Research Systems to fast-track the development and deployment of climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutrient-dense crop varieties.

The conference further emphasised the role of youth and women as intentional drivers of agricultural transformation. With women and young people forming the backbone of Africa’s agricultural workforce, AGRA and partners are rolling out targeted programmes to expand access to land, finance, markets, and practical skills. A dedicated side event convened by the AUC focused on tracking youth entrepreneurship and employment in agri-food systems, highlighting the need for coherent metrics to guide investment and support viable youth enterprises.

By reaffirming its commitment at CAADP-PP, AGRA has signaled its determination to help African governments translate policy into practice, ensuring that food systems reform delivers inclusive growth and resilience across the continent.