Lusaka, Zambia – April 13, 2025: A renewed sense of urgency and unity filled the air in Lusaka as Africa’s top agricultural leaders gathered for the Leadership Dialogue of Permanent Secretaries—a pivotal moment to translate the bold ambitions of the CAADP Kampala Declaration into reality. Driven by a shared goal to transform Africa’s agri-food systems, the event was a joint effort by the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the Government of Zambia.

Opening the dialogue with a stirring address, AUDA-NEPAD CEO, Nardos Bekele-Thomas framed the gathering not as a routine meeting but as a rallying call for decisive action. “Today, we do not gather merely for routine deliberation,” she declared. “We gather to reimagine, reaffirm, and reignite Africa’s commitment to transform our agri-food systems through National Agriculture Investment Plans.”

Bekele-Thomas highlighted how, since its inception in 2003, CAADP has elevated agriculture to a continental priority. Yet, the 2023 CAADP Biennial Review has shown that the pace of progress is still too slow. “Over 250 million of our brothers and sisters remain food insecure,” she warned. “Climate threats, inequality, and economic fragility continue to weigh down the very sector that holds the key to our renewal.”

She laid out five foundational pillars critical to fulfilling the Kampala Declaration: Resilience, Agro-industrialization, Blended Financing, Inclusive Empowerment, and Governance and Coordination. These, she stressed, are not lofty ideals—they are actionable priorities. “Imagine an Africa where every child eats a nutritious, affordable meal daily. Where farmers thrive as entrepreneurs, not subsistence workers. Where Africa feeds itself—and the world,” she said. “This is not a dream. It is our responsibility. It is our destiny.”
Zambia’s Secretary to the Cabinet, H.E. Patrick Kangwa, echoed this vision with an appeal for ownership and leadership at the national level. “The people of Africa are watching,” he said. “They trust that their governments have sent their finest minds to chart a path to food and nutrition security.”

Kangwa acknowledged that past efforts were often hindered by weak implementation capacity and fragmented coordination. But he framed these as opportunities for transformation. “We must embrace tools like the Food Systems Guidelines and prioritize three key imperatives: stronger governance, inter-ministerial collaboration, and local ownership,” he urged. “Only then can we build food systems that are resilient, inclusive, and truly African.”

Adding a continental perspective, Dr. Janet Edeme, Head of Rural Development and Acting Head of Agriculture and Food Security at the AUC, reminded participants of the strategic significance of the moment. “This Dialogue comes just months after the historic Kampala Declaration,” she noted. “It is a turning point for CAADP, positioning agri-food systems transformation at the very core of Africa’s sustainable development journey.”

She emphasized that Permanent Secretaries are more than administrators—they are architects of reform. “Your leadership is crucial in driving policy coherence, aligning national strategies, and creating the enabling environment for sustainable transformation,” she said, relaying greetings from AUC leadership, including Dr. Bahiigwa and Commissioner H.E. Moses Vilakati.

Throughout the two-and-a-half-day Dialogue, Permanent Secretaries are engaging with the newly developed Food Systems Guidelines, a key tool to integrate agri-food systems transformation into National Agriculture Investment Plans (NAIPs) and broader development frameworks.

The Lusaka Dialogue is more than a high-level event—it is a continental moment of reflection, ambition, and recommitment. As Africa stands at the crossroads of climate resilience, food sovereignty, and economic transformation, the message from Lusaka is clear: the time for talk has passed. 

AUDA-NEPAD