Food Rights Alliance

Tag: CASCADE

  • Stakeholders Call For Continental Action Toward Strengthening Food System Governance in Africa

    Stakeholders Call For Continental Action Toward Strengthening Food System Governance in Africa

    By Claire Atukunda

    The African Agrifood System has long faced deep-rooted systemic barriers stemming from capacity, collaboration, coordination, and accountability challenges. These have implicated all food system actors, especially the bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers in African communities. 

    The Extra-ordinary CAADP Kampala Summit held from 9th– 11th January 2024 at Speke Resort Hotel, Munyonyo in Kampala was filled with hope and optimism as African Union Heads of State and Government endorsed the Kampala Declaration and the new CAADP strategy 2026/35. However, several questions arose during the discussions; (i) What impact could the new CAADP declaration cause when the continent has failed to achieve all the commitments made in the Maputo and Malabo declarations? and (ii) What needs to be done differently to change the current state of play of CAADP implementation. 

    In his discussion during the Summit side event on pivotal system strengthening pathways towards resilient agrifood systems in Africa by the CASCADE program, Mr. Boaz Keizire, Head of Policy at AGRA highlighted that effective governance was fundamental to creating a real impact in Africa’s Agrifood system. He noted that significant impact in the implementation of CAADP declarations could only be realized if food systems transformation was highly prioritized by governments, policy implementation was informed by evidence not politics, and agrifood system investments were made in line with the commitments made. Presenting evidence from Rwanda and Ethiopia, Mr. Keizire noted that countries which had demonstrated political commitment and driven the right policies and investments during the Malabo Agenda had unlocked the potential of their private sector and smallholder farmers, driving progress in agrifood system and overall country economic growth. 

    Read Also: The Kampala CAADP Summit: A New Era For Women’s Leadership in Agriculture

    Building from this discussion, Ms. Agnes Kirabo, the Executive Director of the Food Rights Alliance emphasized that the CAADP Declaration was only as strong as the collective resolve of stakeholders to implement it. She called for the integration of CAADP in National and local government development planning and budgeting frameworks, the establishment of rigorous accountability mechanisms, and frameworks for tracking and aligning civil society contributions to this development agenda.

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    Panelists at the CAADP side event discussing the pivotal role of food systems governance and strengthening pathways to build resilient agrifood systems in Africa, using the CASCADE program as a case study.

    To catalyze action, David Manyonga, the Senior Technical Advisor on Systems Strengthening at CARE International called for the scaling up of proven system-focused approaches such as the 5 CASCADE policy influencing pathways on Policy change and accountability, Market Re-engineering and Private Sector Mobilization, Community empowerment and Shift in gender Norms, Data and Learning Systematization, and strengthened coordination among all food system actors to ensure realistic holistic food system transformation at all levels.

    Overall, the discussions strongly alluded to the fact that while strengthening Agri-Food Systems Governance is the sixth commitment of the Kampala declaration, it is fundamental to the achievement of all other commitments. Hence, prioritization and investment in effective governance mechanisms will be the primary game changer in the realization of the Kampala Declaration and CAADP Strategy 2026- 2035. 

  • World Food Day Policy Dialogue Calls for Urgent Action on Food Security

    World Food Day Policy Dialogue Calls for Urgent Action on Food Security

    Kampala, Uganda – On Friday, October 18th, 2024, over 500 key stakeholders in the Agri-Food system gathered at the Imperial Royale Hotel for a National High-Level Policy Dialogue to mark the 44th World Food Day. The event, spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) and co-convened by the Food Rights Alliance (FRA), brought together government officials, civil society organizations, international development agencies, academia, embassies, and private sector representatives to address Uganda’s pressing food security challenges.

    Under the theme “Right to Food, for a Better Life and a Better Future,” the dialogue centered around the need for comprehensive strategies to tackle food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition, which continue to affect millions of Ugandans, despite the country’s role as a major food producer. Participants emphasized the importance of ensuring access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for all Ugandans, especially the most vulnerable populations, including women, children, and rural communities.

    Ms. Agnes Kirabo, Executive Director of the Food Rights Alliance, highlighted that food is not merely a commodity but a fundamental human right. She expressed concern that while Uganda is rich in food production potential, a significant portion of the population faces hunger and malnutrition due to climate change, poverty, and economic inequality. “Urgent, coordinated efforts are needed to address these challenges, especially for the most vulnerable,” Kirabo remarked, urging stakeholders to work together to build resilient food systems.

    Miss Agnes Kirabo speaking to the audience on WFD National High Level Policy Dailogue.
    Ms. Agnes Kirabo, Executive Director, Food Rights Alliance.

    The dialogue also featured a keynote address by a representative of the Country Director of Care International Uganda – Mr. Babu Edton, who presented alarming statistics about child malnutrition in Uganda. “With 24% of children stunted and only 10% of the population consuming a diverse range of nutritious foods, the need for action is clear,” the representative noted. He called for the swift enactment of the Food and Nutrition Bill, emphasizing that existing government initiatives must be paired with robust implementation strategies.

    Mr. Babu Edton-PM DREAMS, Care International Uganda.

    UNICEF’s representative and Head of Nutrition, Mr. Zakaria Fusheini, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that food insecurity leads to dire outcomes such as stunting and wasting, which put the lives of Uganda’s children at risk. He called for immediate action to protect children’s right to adequate nutrition, urging stakeholders to prioritize children in all food security and nutrition efforts.

    Mr. Zakaria Fusheini- Head of Nutrition UNICEF Uganda

    Dr. Paul Mwambu, Commissioner for Crop Inspection and Certification at MAAIF Uganda
    emphasized the crucial role of crop inspection in ensuring food security in Uganda. Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, Dr. Mwambu highlighted the need to regulate seed quality and provide farmers with access to high-quality agricultural chemicals. He also stressed the importance of managing plant health by controlling the import and export of plant products to prevent pests and diseases.

    Dr. Paul Mwambu, Commissioner for Crop Inspection and Certification at MAAIF Uganda

    As the dialogue concluded, participants agreed that immediate actions are needed to ensure food security, improve nutrition, and protect the rights of all Ugandans to access sufficient food. The call to action focused on enhancing agricultural production, expediting the passage of key legislation, and ensuring that all stakeholders, from government to civil society, work collaboratively to build a food-secure Uganda.

    Key stakeholders in the Agri-Food System who attended the WFD National High-Level Policy Dialogue