The CAADP-XP4 Programme Aids Zambia Towards Attaining the Malabo Commitments

By Happy Mulolani

The agriculture sector is critical to unlocking Africa's potential, given that over 60 percent of the continent’s population is dependent on it. Despite Africa's abundant potential, enormous challenges exist, such as poor access to inputs and markets and unsustainable practices. To address some of these concerns, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) framework aims to transform the agriculture sector.

The need to raise awareness of the Malabo and CAADP frameworks is apparent. Therefore, the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), through an EU-funded CAADP-XP4 Programme, organized a National Knowledge Management, Data capture, and monitoring/reporting Malabo commitments training workshop in Lusaka, Zambia, from March 25 to 27, 2024. The workshop drew participants from government ministries, researchers, and various stakeholders, including non-state actors such as farmer organizations.

The objective of the meeting was to familiarise the participants with knowledge management and data capture guidelines. More importantly, there was a need to establish a Knowledge Management Community of Practice that understands and can facilitate better monitoring of the national implementation of the Malabo declaration and sensitize the public to food security commitments. In addition, for the stakeholders to stay up-to-date, they need to disseminate Zambia’s 4th Biennial Review Report performance results. Ultimately, the media is mandated to raise awareness on key issues that impact communities and ensure coherence by promoting collaboration among national stakeholders in addressing the Malabo declaration commitments.

Ministry of Agriculture Chief Agriculture Officer Morton Mwanza said the Malabo commitments enhance resilience and production in African countries, including Zambia. They provide a visionary direction to ensure the growth of the agriculture sector despite some problematic issues, such as poor access to markets and inputs.

Mr Mwanza explains that the agriculture sector employs over 70 percent of the workforce. This indicates that the sector has the potential to positively contribute to poverty reduction and employment.

“The Malabo Commitments are a vehicle to transforming the agriculture sector. This is the reason the government needs to track the Malabo commitments and at what stage we are at and strive to meet and reflect on how we have reached the stage we are at,” Mr Mwanza clarified.

In his official remarks, Zambia Agriculture Research Institute Deputy Director Kapulu Ndashe stated that the Malabo declaration and CAADP are not only frameworks but are well aligned to national development aspirations as they embody the significance of the agriculture sector.

Dr. Ndashe said that there is a need to invest in the agriculture sector to prioritize and address the youthful pathway. The importance of reflecting on the Malabo and CAADP performance for Zambia is that they are some of the initiatives which offer us a road map towards a more prosperous, sustainable, and food secure future”, Dr Ndashe said.

He reiterated the need for key players to commit themselves to attain the Malabo targets, knowing that the country’s collective efforts today will shape the agricultural landscape of Zambia for generations to come,” Dr Ndashe echoed.

He also acknowledged that knowledge management is the “cornerstone upon which the pillars of the Malabo declaration rest.”

Knowledge management offers a repertoire of information that harnesses collective wisdom, experiences, and innovations of Africa to foster an agricultural revolution that is not only inclusive but also sustainable.

Dr Ndashe says that addressing specific regional needs and challenges requires leveraging data and information, which is better placed to enforce appropriate interventions.

Simply put, the impacts of investments are informed by what information is shared on learning platforms to ensure that funds are directed towards the most effective and transformative interventions.

 “The commitment to ending hunger by 2025 requires a concerted effort to improve food security across our diverse landscapes,” Dr Ndashe reaffirmed.

CCARDESA Information, Communication, and Knowledge Management Officer Bridget Kakuwa-Kasongamulilo emphasized the role CCARDESA is playing through a systematic approach: contributing to social and economic growth through information provision and fostering collaboration.

Mrs. Kasongamulilo added that including women and youth helps support and strengthen the capacity of government, farmer organizations, researchers, and all 16 member states.

Responding to a question on whether CCARDESA plans to engage in fisheries programs, Dr. Frank Kayula, President of the National Association for Small-Scale Farmers and also a CCARDESA Board Member, said, “Previously, there were no fisheries programs, but now several project proposals handling components targeting fisheries and eco-rangelands have been developed to ensure all critical sectors are comprehensively included.”

To achieve some of the aspirations of the Malabo Declaration, Zambia needs to focus on strengthening the agricultural extension services, research institutions, farmer organizations, and policy coordination mechanisms. This should be reinforced by investing in institutional capacity building at both local and national levels; only then will tangible results be achieved.

The Author is the Principal Agricultural Information Officer for the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS).