ECOWAS Commission Joins African Union’s Extraordinary Summit on New Ten-Year Agricultural Development Plan

By Raymond Enoch

The ECOWAS Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to Agricultural transformation in Africa through its active participation in the African Union’s (AU) Extraordinary Summit on the Ten-Year Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035) under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

The summit, held in Kampala, Uganda, convened key stakeholders, including Heads of State, government ministers, regional economic communities, youth, women, and development partners, to chart the future of agriculture on the continent.

Representing the ECOWAS Commission at the summit was Mrs. Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, in her speech at the Summit, emphasized the ECOWAS Commission’s commitment to aligning its regional agricultural policies with the AU’s transformative vision.

Mrs. TOURE-LITSE praised the AU Commission for its inclusive approach to developing the new ten-year plan, engaging stakeholders from various sectors and regions. She noted that the new strategy reflects the aspirations of ECOWAS citizens and aligns with the regional bloc’s Vision 2050, which is rooted in the AU’s Agenda 2063.

Highlighting the synergy between regional and continental agricultural policies, Mrs. TOURE-LITSE affirmed that the new CAADP strategy would serve as a foundation for revising the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP 2025). The ECOWAP review, set to begin in 2025, will incorporate the goals and priorities of the AU’s 2026-2035 action plan.

“The ECOWAS Commission is fully committed to implementing this new action plan under the framework of ECOWAP and supporting Member States in translating these commitments into national policies and strategies,” Mrs. TOURE-LITSE stated. She also urged all partners to unite their efforts, avoid duplication, and foster collaboration to ensure effective implementation of the plan.

The summit, which began with a meeting of agriculture and fisheries ministers on January 10, 2025, was followed by a joint session of foreign affairs and agriculture ministers on January 11.

At the conclusion, the AU adopted the new CAADP Ten-Year Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035) and the ‘Kampala Declaration,’ building on the Maputo (2003) and Malabo (2014) Declarations.

CAADP, since its inception in 2003, has been pivotal in driving agricultural transformation across Africa. Its goals include increasing food security, reducing rural poverty, creating jobs, and promoting economic development while ensuring environmental sustainability. The program targets an annual agricultural growth rate of 6% and requires member states to allocate at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture.

The Summit underscores Africa’s collective determination to strengthen agriculture as a cornerstone of sustainable development. As the region moves toward implementing the 2026-2035 strategy, the ECOWAS Commission’s leadership and dedication will play a vital role in turning aspirations into actionable results for a food-secure and prosperous Africa.