AUC and Partners Hold An Inaugural CAADP Communication Meeting in Nairobi

Nairobi, 3 August 2023 - In a bid to reinforce the African Union's comprehensive commitment to agricultural development in Africa, the first-ever meeting since the formation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Communication thematic working group took place at the Movenpick Hotel, Nairobi, from 3-4 August.

The main objective of the meeting was to propel the CAADP agenda forward through meticulous communication, advocacy, and knowledge management. The meeting also aimed to assess the strides made, design a concrete work plan, and establish a coordinated mechanism to bolster CAADP and forge a coordination blueprint for the CAADP Communication group.

The desired outcomes of this coordination meeting were manifold, from highlighting the progress made in communication and advocacy at all levels to defining coordination tools for the CAADP Communication group.

The meeting was officially opened by Ms. Panduleni Elago, the CAADP Advisor who emphasized the African Union's anticipation towards the thematic working group to expedite the AU agenda. “The AU looks forward to the Key Performance Indicators that will emerge from this group that will address the knowledge and information gap in the Biannual Review Process,”

Ms Peace Mutuwa the Communication and Knowledge Management expert, echoing the sentiments of the African Union Commission (AUC), emphasized how pivotal this group would be in propelling the AU's goals forward. “As we commence this mammoth task,   we need to develop Terms of Reference (TORs) that will govern our modus operandi. We should also not forget the critical role of the media in disseminating information to the communities on the CAADP process.

A palpable sense of duty settled in the room as the discussions pivoted to the 4th Biannual Review (4BR) of the CAADP. Two decades after the inception of Malabo, a gap remains; farmers are still in the dark about its potential. The need of the hour is curating content specifically tailored for small-scale farmers, ensuring it's digestible and beneficial.

The African Union envisions this esteemed assembly to be the foundation of a robust CAADP Communication strategy. Policy Link voiced the importance of technical and financial backing. They stressed, “It’s time we lay down tangible recommendations, lighting our path forward.”

CCARDESA, through its Information, Communication, and Knowledge Management Officer, Mrs. Bridget Kakuwa-Kasongamulilo joined the chorus, recognizing the CAADP as Africa's agricultural cornerstone, she urged the assembly to prioritize the seven commitments, though it demands perseverance.

Mr. Benjamin Abugri, FARA’s Knowledge Management and Communication Cluster Lead, urged the Working Group to be forward-thinking in using tools such as the Dgroups to discuss BR processes as they also act as interactive tools that allow information exchange.

The meeting's purpose shone clear: addressing the gaping communication void, ensuring synchronization with technical processes, advocating for CAADP, and strategizing its communication. The dialogue flowed, touching upon the support communications provided to the Biannual Review reporting and the Malabo. The ensemble also considered the potential of leveraging annual events like the CAADP Meeting, Fertiliser Summit, and others, ensuring these platforms spread the right message.

Delving deep into recommendations from the Critical BR Analysis Report, the group proposed developing a protocol for the Biannual Review mechanism and crafting a toolkit for communication and knowledge management.

In attendance were participants from AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, Policy Link, CCARDESA, FARA, AU-AUBA, and other esteemed organizations. With two days of productive discourse, this meeting in Nairobi, from 3-4 August 2023, was not just a gathering, but a revolution in the making.