CAADP: Stakeholders set priorities areas for 10-year food systems implementation

Nigeria has held a National Stakeholders’ Consultation Workshop to develop a Strategic Action Plan for implementing the Kampala Declaration of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) 2026-2035. The high-level meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in partnership with international organizations such as the International Food Policy Research Institute […]

Nigeria has held a National Stakeholders’ Consultation Workshop to develop a Strategic Action Plan for implementing the Kampala Declaration of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) 2026-2035.

The high-level meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in partnership with international organizations such as the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), AGRA, IFAD, and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

This gathering brought together representatives from various sectors, including government agencies, development institutions, civil society groups, farmer associations, the private sector, academic circles, and the media.

Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, described the consultation as a critical step in translating the CAADP Kampala Declaration from a continental commitment into a nationally owned framework capable of responding to Nigeria’s realities, priorities, and development aspirations.

Ogunbiyi stressed the need for inclusive participation in developing a strategic action plan that meets the needs of stakeholders in the food system and promotes sustainable agricultural transformation.

The consultation forms part of Nigeria’s efforts to domesticate the CAADP Kampala Declaration into a ten-year strategic framework that will guide agricultural development between 2026 and 2035.

The plan is expected to shape investments, strengthen food security systems, improve resilience, and accelerate rural transformation across the country.

Dr. Oliver Kirui, the Country Programme Leader at IFPRI Nigeria, delivered opening remarks that looked back on the CAADP initiative since its inception in 2003, highlighting its impact on agricultural progress throughout Africa.

Dr Kirui stated that the consultation provides an opportunity to ensure that Nigeria’s strategic action plan is grounded in local realities while remaining aligned with regional and continental commitments.

Throughout the consultation, stakeholders discussed priorities, opportunities, and constraints that could influence the successful implementation of the CAADP agenda in Nigeria. Issues relating to financing, investment, food systems resilience, coordination, inclusion, and implementation mechanisms featured prominently across discussions.

While communication was not discussed as a standalone agenda item, themes relating to stakeholder engagement, information flow, awareness creation, policy translation, coordination, and feedback systems surfaced repeatedly throughout the workshop.

Discussions highlighted a key question: how can agricultural policies and programmes be communicated more effectively?

Abiola Afolayan, a lawyer and co-founder of the Centre for Women’s Policy and Agricultural Innovation in Nigeria, said during the meeting: “Nigeria has a lot of good policies and programs, but we often have trouble explaining them in a way that everyone understands, especially women and other people who need help.”

Her observation echoed a concern that emerged in different forms throughout the workshop— that implementation challenges are not always linked to policy design alone, but can also be influenced by how effectively priorities, information, and responsibilities are communicated across institutions and stakeholder groups.

Many of the issues raised during the consultation highlighted the importance of stronger communication systems in supporting implementation outcomes.

Key challenges included weak feedback between farmers and policymakers, difficulty translating technical information into practical knowledge, limited use of local communication channels, inconsistent messaging across institutions, low awareness of national agricultural initiatives, weak coordination among food system actors, and limited integration of communication into implementation processes. These issues collectively highlighted the critical role of communication in bridging policy intentions and implementation realities.

As Nigeria moves toward finalising its 2026–2035 Strategic Action Plan, the consultation highlighted both the opportunities and challenges that will shape implementation beyond investments, financing mechanisms, and institutional reforms.

Feyikemi Adurogbangba, the Lead, Strategic Development Communication at Keselash Agricom said in statement that “If the CAADP Kampala Declaration is to move successfully from policy commitment to measurable impact, implementation will require not only strong frameworks and resources, but also systems that ensure priorities are clearly communicated, understood, and owned across all levels of the agricultural sector. “