New roadmap signals Africa’s pathway for sustainable and resilient agriculture

Rome - Agrifood systems and the people behind them are already under enormous strain in a world made hotter, drier and less predictable by climate change. A resilient agrifood system now is the strongest line of defense against escalating climate shocks, especially in Africa.

In the national climate and adaptation plans submitted to the United Nations, African governments have already set out what it will take to adapt their continent’s farming to a changing climate. The challenge is to connect those instruments with policies and finance, so they work as one system, according to the first continent-wide assessment of African agricultural adaptation.

“The State of African Agricultural Adaptation, 2016–2026: Assessment and Roadmap to 2036” has been presented at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) during a high-level event marking the 10th anniversary of the Initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA Initiative), launched at COP22, the 2016 UN Climate Change Conference, in Marrakech.

The assessment, prepared by the AAA Initiative Foundation in partnership with FAO, finds that 46 of the 53 African countries covered have estimated their climate adaptation needs at a combined $566 billion over the periods covered by their national plans, or around $56 billion a year on average. At least $80 billion of the total relates specifically to agriculture, and the report presents this as a minimum, since 22 countries currently cost agricultural adaptation within broader totals.

Translating these needs into investment will call for both increased financing and sustained capacity support: the report calls for stronger support to help countries prepare investment-ready projects, and for the continental support it proposes to be delivered through the institutions that already exist, with no new institution or fund.

Opening the event on behalf of the FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, Deputy Director General Godfrey Magwenzi highlighted the continued relevance of the AAA Initiative at a time when climate change is affecting agricultural productivity, water availability, soil health, rural livelihoods and food security across Africa.

“The next decade must be a decade of delivery,” he said. “This requires coordinated action at scale, driven by strong national ownership and better alignment between climate, agriculture, water and development policies - underpinned by science, innovation and locally adapted solutions.” 

He also emphasized the need for financing that is accessible, predictable and responsive.

“Ten years ago, at Marrakech, we asked that African agriculture be heard. It is now heard,” said Ghita El Ghorfi, Director General of the AAA Initiative Foundation. “Today we come with an assessment that can be verified and a roadmap that can be measured.”

From plans to investment

The focus on adaptation of the AAA Initiative is ever more important today than when it was initiated a decade ago. FAO is also scaling up the support to countries, including in Africa, for embedding agrifood systems solutions in adaptation plans and linking climate action with and through agriculture and food systems with finance and investments including through the new project “Supporting climate-resilient, inclusive and low-emission agrifood systems”. The Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership, hosted at FAO, is also helping countries and members, including the AAA Initiative, strengthen capacity, identify financial solutions, and access finance for agrifood systems. Some of these latest developments were brought to the discussion at the event.

Looking ahead to future COPs

The event also focused on maintaining continuity across successive UN climate conferences. The AAA Initiative was launched under Morocco’s COP22 Presidency, while Türkiye is preparing to host COP31 and launch the Turquoise Nexus Initiative (TNI), further advancing the global agenda on agrifood systems at the COPs. Ethiopia has been designated to host COP32.

Speaking on behalf of Ahmed El Bouari, Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests and President of the Board of Directors of the AAA Initiative Foundation, Youssef Balla Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Italy and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Organizations in Rome, recalled that the Initiative was founded with a clear purpose. Ten years on, he said, the call for action on African agricultural adaptation is no longer an isolated voice, and Morocco remains committed to supporting this effort.

The anniversary event formed part of FAO’s Climate Policy and Finance Week, which brings together countries and partners for meetings on climate policy, finance and resilient agrifood systems. Activities include meetings of the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership, discussions on women farmers’ access to finance, and a workshop on Loss and Damage in agrifood systems.