Africa Agri-Food Systems Transition: Addressing Environmental Sustainability, Climate, Energy and Water Systems, Peace, and Security Nexus

The 2023 Compendium is a collective publication by the 54 UN entities members of the Interdepartmental Task Force on African Affairs (IDTFAA). The Compendium includes strategic analysis, best practices and game-changing solutions discussed by IDTFAA members, the African Union Commission, Member States, and representatives from the private sector and farmers’ associations, to build Africa's food sovereignty and resilience. Some of the key messages comprise achieving food sovereignty would accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals, lifting millions out of poverty, creating decent work, improving health and education outcomes, and raising living standards. Access to adequate infrastructure, technology, skills (irrigation, storage, roads, energy), early warning technology, fertilizers, high-yield seeds, and social protection measures for smallholder farmers is essential for agri-food systems transformation and building Resilience. Emphasis should be put on de-risking investment in agriculture projects by leveraging cost-effective instruments to promote and scale up private sector investments.