Editor’s Note: Africa holds 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land but accounts for only 4 per cent of global agricultural output. As food demand rises, forward-thinking strategies, including the FANRPAN’s recently launched Strategic Plan for 2025–2035, could turn this untapped potential into inclusive, climate-smart growth across the continent’s agri-food systems.
The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) has officially launched its Strategic Plan for 2025–2035—a forward-looking roadmap aimed at accelerating inclusive, climate-resilient and evidence-driven reforms across Africa’s agriculture and food systems.
The Strategic Plan was formally launched at the FANRPAN Partners’ Meeting, held virtually on 4 June 2025. The meeting brought together a diverse group of regional and global partners to celebrate this milestone and discuss the way forward for African agriculture and food systems transformation.
The Chairperson of FANRPAN’s Board of Governors, Dr. Aggrey Agumya, officially launched the Strategic Plan, and in his speech, emphasised the strategy’s strong alignment with the third 10-year cycle of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), as framed in the Kampala Declaration. Noting that this is FANRPAN’s fourth strategic plan since the Network’s establishment in 2001, the chairperson hailed the over two decades of the network’s dedicated influencing of the continent’s agriculture and food systems policies and practice.
Highlighting the critical importance of stakeholder involvement and partnerships to achieve meaningful transformation in Africa’s agriculture sector, Dr Agumya said, “The urgency and consistency in implementing this strategy cannot be overstated. We must intensify our efforts in research and advocacy at all levels to align with CAADP and realise the ambitions of Africa’s continental frameworks. Strengthening the interface between research and policy will be vital for success.”
The official keynote for the event was presented by Ms. Panduleni Elago, the Senior CAADP Advisor at the African Union Commission (AUC). She applauded the plan’s alignment with CAADP and Agenda 2063 and highlighted its focus on evidence-informed policy development, climate resilience, and agri-food systems transformation. Ms. Elago emphasized the need for greater investment in agricultural research and a collaborative, multisectoral approach to address food insecurity challenges.
The FANRPAN 2025–2035 Strategic Plan is built on three core pillars:
- Policy Research and Analysis – Enhancing evidence for informed policy formulation and decision-making.
- Knowledge Management and Policy Advocacy – Strengthening access to and use of evidence to support policy processes.
- Capacity Strengthening – Building the capabilities of institutions and individuals to effectively engage with agriculture and food systems policy.
FANRPAN’s thematic areas of focus include:
- Climate change resilience
- Nutrition and sustainable livelihoods
- Natural resources and environmental management
- Soil health management
- Trade and market dynamics
- Agricultural Investments
- Technological Advancement and Innovation
- Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion
Several partners at the launch expressed strong support for the new strategic plan and pledged continued collaboration with FANRPAN. The CEO and Head of Mission of FANRPAN, Dr. Tshilidzi Madzivhandila concluded the launch by thanking all partners and reaffirming the organisation’s readiness to collaborate in implementing the 2025–2035 strategic plan. “This plan reflects both our collective wisdom and shared responsibility. With committed partnerships, we are confident that we can catalyse real, lasting change.”
Header photo credit: ©2015CIAT/GeorginaSmith
