Agricultural Policy Dialogue (APD) African Union

Accelerating transformation of African agrifood systems towards resilience through strengthened policy frameworks, guidelines, and implementation

Agriculture policy in Africa

Agrifood systems in Africa are strained by the impacts of compound crises, increasingly threatening food and nutrition security. Africa’s growing, young population, coupled with urbanization, is rapidly driving shifts in food demand. These changes present both challenges and opportunities to ensure food security by transforming agrifood systems while prioritizing equity, sustainability, and resilience.

The Project

The APD supports the African Union Commission (AUC) Department for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) in its efforts to accelerate progress towards agrifood systems transformation, through strengthened, coherent policy frameworks and implementation guidelines.
The APD will promote regional and national dialogues through multistakeholder platforms, while sharing lessons learned and good practices for agrifood systems transformation towards enhanced inclusiveness, equity, sustainability, and resilience. The APD targets policymakers and other actors relevant to actioning agrifood systems transformation at continental, regional, and national level.

Project Goals

Strengthened AUC coordination capacity through development and implementation of Guidelines for Resilient Agrifood Systems Strengthening (GRASS)
Adoption of the GRASS through implementation of national policies, strategies, and action plans.
Operationalization of an AU-led Implementation Support Mechanism.
Dissemination of good practices at continental, regional, and national level.

“The African Youth Agribusiness Forum presents a great platform to foster collaboration between youth, policymakers, private sector and experts to drive the agribusiness agenda.” H.E. Josefa L. Sacko, Commissioner AUC ARBE

Results and Successes

The APD supported the AUC in the development of its new 10-Year Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035) of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, while advocating for adherence to precautionary principles, and supporting efforts towards enhanced inclusiveness, equity, environmental sustainability, and climate change adaptation, as well as accountability. On 4th November 2024, the APD and AUC successfully brought together >200 young agripreneurs from across the continent for the African Youth in Agribusiness Forum, resulting in a strong Call to Action on Moving from Policy to Action.

Project Partners and Cooperations

African Union Commission – Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), political partner of BMEL and implementation partner of the project
Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
AU Member States