August 22, 2026 (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 centre 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.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Mohammed Omar Djama, Director of the IGAD Foreign Service Institute (IFSI), emphasised 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.”
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, while 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.”
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 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 in addressing shared challenges facing the region’s agrifood systems.
“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.”
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 of regional performance and Member State experiences formed a central part of the programme.
The review showed that the IGAD region was not on track to achieve the comprehensive Malabo commitments, notwithstanding progress in some areas. The strongest performance was recorded under Commitment 1 on Recommitment to CAADP Principles and Mutual Accountability, while the weakest areas included Ending Hunger by 2025 and 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. Increased investment was highlighted as critical not only to agricultural development, but also to economic growth, food security and poverty reduction.
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 and 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.
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.
