REPORT + WEBINAR: Connecting the dots: Policy innovations for food systems transformation in Africa

Malabo Montpellier Panel (2021) Connecting the dots: Policy innovations for food systems transformation in Africa. 86 pp.

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This report presents a collation of African perspectives and priorities on food systems and their transformation. 

Part 1: Technical part

A technical part summarized policy areas that need to be prioritized to enhance and transform African food systems and an analysis of four African countries – Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, and Rwanda – that are leaders within their regions in adopting a more holistic approach to food systems transformation. These case studies have a particular focus on the lessons to be learned from government action: policy and institutional innovations and programmatic interventions on the ground –that can be scaled up and scaled out across the continent.

• Dr Debisi Araba, Member of the Malabo Montpellier Panel - moderator
• H.E. Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for the African Union Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, the Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment
• Dr Ousmane Badiane, Panel Co-Chair, Executive Chairperson at AKADEMYIA2063
  Dr. Badiane paid tribute to late Prof. Noble Ephraim Banadda. He died on 1 July 2021, in Kampala, Uganda, of complications of COVID-19
• Dr Gunhild Stordalen, Founder & Executive Chair, EAT
• Prof Sheryl Hendriks Head of Department, Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development – University of Pretoria & member of the Malabo Montpellier Panel

Part 2: Partners and CAADP focal points

• Roy Steiner The Rockefeller Foundation
• Mooketsa Ramasodi Deputy Director-General: Agricultural Production, Health and Food Safety at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa 
• Abdoulaye Ka Secrétaire Exécutif national chez Conseil National de Développement de la Nutrition, Senegal
• Abdelhalim Guesmi Directeur chez Ministère de l'Agriculture, Tunisie
• Rhoda Tumusiime, Former Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission

Part 3: Partners and CAADP focal points

• Tom Arnold, Chair of the Irish 2030 Agri-Food Strategy Committee & member of the Malabo Montpellier Panel
• Dr Agnes Kalibata, President at AGRA
• Mohamed Sherif, Agricultural Economist at Private Sector, Sierra Leone
• Readwell Musopole, Deputy Director of Planning at Ministry of Agriculture, Malawi
• Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of Rural Economy and Agriculture at African Union Commission
• Dr. Amos Laar, University of Ghana College of Health
• Professor Joachim von Braun, Malabo Montpellier Panel Co-Chair, Director at The Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, and Chair of the UNFSS Scientific Group

Resources in English (also available in French):

Main Report: 

Malabo Montpellier Panel (2021) Connecting the dots: Policy innovations for food systems transformation in Africa. 86 pp.

Four case studies: 

By combining the definition of sustainable food systems put forward by the High- Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) with the data provided by the latest CAADP Biennial Review, the report presents progress made in four leading countries: Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, and Rwanda. This report— Connecting the Dots: Policy Innovations for Food Systems Transformation in Africa—draws on their experience and at times visionary leadership in successfully moving the needle toward systems-level change and transformation.

Malabo Montpellier Panel (2021) Case Study Ghana - Connecting The Dots: Policy Innovations for Food Systems Transformation in Africa 17 pp.

Ghana is recognized as a leading African country in its efforts to reduce poverty and boost economic growth. A key component of success is the government’s forward-thinking long-term policies that have paved the way for short-, mid-term and cross-sectoral interventions to achieve a common objective for sustained and inclusive growth. Supported by a strong and collaborative institutional framework, the government ensures inclusivity and support to all actors in the effective delivery of interventions.

Malabo Montpellier Panel (2021) Case Study Malawi  - Connecting The Dots: Policy Innovations for

Food Systems Transformation in Africa 16 pp.

Malawi is among the top African countries that are on course to achieve continental agricultural policy reform and budget allocation targets. Recent institutional, policy and programmatic interventions demonstrate a comprehensive approach to transforming its food systems. Improvements in agricultural productivity have been driven by a successful—albeit controversial—inputs subsidy program. Malawi’s policymakers chose to develop solutions that fit within their own contexts and have opted to do so inclusively.

Malabo Montpellier Panel (2021) Case Study Morocco - Connecting The Dots: Policy Innovations forFood Systems Transformation in Africa, 12 pp.

Morocco’s commitment to sustainably develop its agriculture sector and agri-food industries to meet its food and nutritional demands from domestic production has significantly contributed to building a sustainable food system. Through the Ministry of Agriculture and several specialized agencies, the government has ensured better access to extension services and technologies and has enforced laws and regulations for more inclusive food value chains. In addition, expansion of irrigation, land restoration and agricultural insurance have significantly increased the resilience of the food system.

Malabo Montpellier Panel (2021) Case Study Rwanda - Connecting The Dots: Policy Innovations for Food Systems Transformation in Africa 12 pp.

Rwanda has developed an extensive institutional framework that supports effective coordination between different stakeholders in the development and implementation of activities and interventions in its food systems. The government’s approach centers on encouraging private sector involvement in all activities along the food value chain. Similarly, the government is encouraging Rwanda’s development to be green—led, to improve resilience and climate-sensitive and-smart approaches. Finally, Rwanda’s land tenure reforms have further strengthened the country’s ability to meet demands for food security, healthy diets, and improved livelihoods.

Background:

The Malabo Montpellier Forum, meets twice each year and is supported technically by the Malabo Montpellier Panel, which brings together 17 leading experts in agriculture, ecology, nutrition, and food security. It is hosted by AKADEMIYA2063 with headquarters in Kigali, in collaboration with ZEF at the University of Bonn and Imperial College London.

The Malabo Montpellier Panel identifies areas of progress and positive change across Africa and assesses what successful countries have done differently in terms of institutional and policy innovations and program interventions. It produces two reports annually that serve as background documents for the Forum meetings, which act as platforms for dialogue and exchange among high-level decision-makers, usually ministers and permanent secretaries. The co-chairs of the Forum are H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and The Right Honorable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President of Malawi.