For three days – March 17 to 19, 2026, leaders across the continent and stakeholders in the agricultural sector converged on Yaoundé, Cameroon, for a high-level dialogue and workshop on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Implementation Guidelines, for the continent’s agricultural transformation.

The CAADP Kampala Declaration, adopted by the Heads of State and Government in January 2025, sets out bold commitments to build resilient and sustainable agrifood systems in Africa for the period 2026-2035.

At its core is the obligation for Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to fully integrate the CAADP Kampala Declaration into National Agrifood Investment Plans (NASIPs) and Regional Agrifood System Investment Plans (RASIPs), and to adopt best practices based on CAADP principles.

The provision highlights the critical need to translate high-level political commitments into systematic, coordinated, and actionable steps that drive real transformation across the continent’s food and agriculture landscape.

The CAADP Kampala Strategy & Action Plan (2026–2035) further reinforces the imperative by directing member states and Regional Economic Communities to integrate and reflect the commitments of the CAADP Kampala Declaration on national policies, strategies, and budget frameworks for effective implementation through NASIPs/RASIPs.

The focus of the workshop was centered on implantation of the plan, which embodies the shared vision of “Sustainable and Resilient Agrifood Systems for a Healthy and Prosperous Africa” and align closely with Agenda 2063: “The Africa We Want, particularly Aspiration 1, which emphasises inclusive growth and sustainable development. These guidelines aim to accelerate the transformation of the agrifood system as part of the continent’s broader journey toward structural change and shared prosperity.”

The guidelines mark a decisive evolution in CAADP’s trajectory, from fragmented planning processes toward an integrated, implementation-focused, and investment-driven approach.

The guidelines address a long-standing gap: while Africa’s political commitment to agricultural transformation has been strong, the mechanisms and roadmaps for implementation have not always been clearly defined.

The new domestication framework, therefore, positions the CAADP Kampala guidelines as the overarching vehicle through, which all AU agrifood-related decisions and thematic initiatives are to be embedded. This integration enhances coherence, fosters synergy, and mitigates fragmentation across policy areas.

At the operational level, the guidelines introduce a four-part implementation cycle, governance, diagnostics and analysis, investment, and accountabilitydesigned to convert commitments into coordinated, results-oriented action. This structure strengthens collaboration, enhances mutual accountability, and ensures that interventions remain aligned with the overarching goals of sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.

In essence, the CAADP Kampala Guidelines represent a strategic shift toward greater efficiency, integration, measurable impact, and operational clarity. These guidelines are intended for policymakers, technical planners, and development partners supporting the domestication of the CAADP Kampala commitments. They provide a structured reference for designing, implementing, and monitoring agrifood systems transformation strategies at national and regional levels.

In line with the plan, the guideline also mandates the AUC and AUDA-NEPAD to support Member States and RECs in incorporating the commitments of the Kampala CAADP Declaration into NASIPs/RASIPs, facilitate regional collaboration, and enhance the use of the Biennial Review process to inform planning and decision making.

Past CAADP cycles revealed a recurring weakness: political commitments were often made without the necessary operational clarity to guide their execution. The Kampala generation of CAADP, being the third and most integrated cycle, cannot afford to repeat this pattern. Hence, there is a clear need for dedicated Implementation Guidelines that provide the “how” to accompany the “what” of the Declaration and Action Plan.