Africa is at a turning point. The third United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4), to been held in Addis Ababa from 27 to 29 July 2025, comes twenty years after the launch of the CAADP in Maputo and on the eve of the new Kampala Strategic Framework (2026-2035). This convergence provides an opportunity to analyse the progress made and identify levers for acceleration to transform the continent’s agri-food systems in a sustainable manner123.
This article examines the current challenges of this transformation, assesses trends in light of growing needs and identifies areas on which African countries can build to accelerate their reforms. The analysis is structured around four themes: an assessment of the CAADP’s 20 years, current transformation dynamics, demographic and nutritional projections, and strategic levers for acceleration.
I. Twenty years of CAADP: achievements and persistent challenges
1.1. From Maputo to Malabo: from ambitions to realities on the ground
The CAADP, launched in 2003, committed states to allocating 10% of their national budgets to agriculture and to aiming for 6% annual agricultural growth45. The Malabo Declaration (2014) renewed these commitments, targeting the elimination of hunger, poverty reduction and inclusive growth by 202567.
Finding: no African Union member state will achieve all of the Malabo goals by the end of 2025. Only 12 states show continuous progress in the biennial assessment cycles, as documented in the official reviews of CAADP implementation68.
1.2. The undeniable achievements of the CAADP
African agriculture has performed remarkably well. Between 2000 and 2021, the continent’s GDP doubled and the agricultural sector strengthened, but this growth has been largely driven by land expansion and labour intensification rather than sustainable productivity gains459.
The experience of the past 20 years calls for a systemic and qualitative approach capable of transforming African agriculture in a sustainable manner1011.
II. Current dynamics: emergence and constraints of agri-food systems
2.1. The rise of the agri-food processing sector
The sector is experiencing significant growth in job creation and productivity9. Urbanisation and dietary diversification are opening up new investment opportunities.
A major challenge is the predominance of the informal sector.
The sector remains dominated by informal SMEs, which face limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, high operating costs and a lack of technological innovation129.
2.2. Critical inefficiencies in supply chains
Logistics chains are inefficient: it takes an average of 23 days and 4,000 km to transport a commodity to its market, four times longer than in Europe. These weaknesses lead to significant losses and limit the competitiveness of local producers129.
As a direct consequence, more than 282 million Africans suffer from undernourishment, representing nearly 20% of the continent’s population138.
The continent has considerable potential, but transformation is hampered by structural barriers, including access to finance and a weak innovation ecosystem149.
III. Demographic and nutritional projections: the urgent need for action
3.1. Growing demographic pressure
Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is set to double by 2050, rising from 856 million to nearly 2 billion, with 40% under the age of 151516. These dynamics will put increasing pressure on food systems.
3.2. The growing gap with the 2030 targets
By 2030, 512 million people could remain undernourished, 60% of whom will be located in Africa. Only 9 out of 55 countries are currently on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for nutrition138.
Alert in West and Central Africa: more than 40 million people are food insecure during the 2024 post-harvest season, a figure projected to rise to 52.7 million by mid-202513.
The projections require accelerated transformation, otherwise the gap between needs and production capacity will continue to widen8.
IV. Strategic levers for acceleration: towards the CAADP-Kampala
4.1. The paradigm shift: from sectoral to systemic
Adopted at the extraordinary summit in Kampala in 2025, the CAADP Strategy 2026–2035 marks a break with the past: agri-food processing now encompasses all food systems, integrating nutrition, economic development, sustainability and social inclusion1011.
Target: increase sustainable food production by 45% by 2035 while halving post-harvest losses1011.
4.2. Ambitious financial mobilization
The continental goal is to mobilise USD 100 billion in public and private funding by 2035, bearing in mind that the necessary funding is estimated at around USD 77 billion per year until 20301114. Financial institutions currently allocate only 6% of their loans to agriculture, even though the sector accounts for 30% of the continent’s GDP1714.
4.3. Technological innovation and digital solutions
Digital technology (drones, sensors, digital platforms) are levers for strengthening transparency, access to finance, information management and connection to local and global markets11149.
4.4. Value chains and inclusive governance
The transformation of value chains (e.g. soybeans in Togo), the professionalization of farmers’ organizations and the integration of women and young people are key to accelerating development, ensuring resilience and supporting inclusion119.
The new Kampala Framework provides the necessary conceptual and financial tools. Its success will depend on the coordination of public policies, the mobilisation of resources and the inclusive participation of all stakeholders1011.
Operational recommendations
At least four priority areas emerge:
- Intensify investment in agricultural research and innovation in response to the effects of climate change and local nutritional challenges1011.
- Develop integrated rural infrastructure (transport, energy, ICT) to reduce transaction costs and improve market access129.
- Establish innovative financing mechanisms tailored to agricultural cycles and the needs of small-scale producers (80% of the agricultural population)1714.
- Strengthen governance and institutional capacities, ensuring the inclusion of all, especially women and young people119.
Conclusion
The UNFSS 2025 Summit in Addis Ababa comes at a decisive moment: twenty years of experience, a renewed vision and unprecedented needs. The new CAADP-Kampala framework focuses on systemic and inclusive transformation that is commensurate with the continent’s demographic, nutritional and environmental challenges. Collective action must now be accelerated to achieve a self-sufficient, prosperous and resilient Africa.
STRATEGIES! has long supported institutions, ministries and development partners in the design and implementation of agricultural strategies. Our focus on the UNFSS 2025 marks our ongoing commitment to supporting the transformation of agri-food systems in Africa, working alongside decision-makers to address these crucial challenges123.
Franck Essi, Senior Consultant, STRATEGIES!
