The African continent needs a whopping $257 billion annually to transform its food systems and end hunger, according to a new report by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Launched in the Rwandan capital of Kigali this week, the annual 2022 Africa Agriculture Status Report paints a rather gloomy picture of Africa’s agriculture sector, a situation likely to be exacerbated by the ongoing energy and food crises, conflict, soil productivity decline and pandemic-induced challenges. The report was released at the ongoing African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) summit, and, more importantly, in a week the African Union is marking its 20th anniversary. Launched on September 7, 2002, the AU came as a response to changing contexts and dynamics on the continent, and the need to reform the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Two decades later, the AU has barely delivered on crucial fronts, generally remaining ineffective across the board, leading to the Union’s decision to undertake institutional reforms in 2016. President Paul Kagame-led reform effort was designed to make the AU Commission more effective, results-driven and impactful. Now, over the last decade or so, the Union has come up with a long list of blueprints, strategies and roadmaps that seek to promote sustainable development, food security, peace and security, and improved welfare of the people of Africa. However, the pace at which these well-articulated plans and goals have been devised and rolled out, often amid hype, has not been reflected in implementation – leading to broken promises, missed targets and lost opportunities. For instance, it is not uncommon that some Africans have to travel through Europe or Asia to reach another African country despite AU leaders committing to open air skies. The Union also continues to heavily rely on foreign support to run its programmes, while little progress has been made toward intra-Africa trade and free movement of people. While there have been promising efforts to translate commitments into actions in recent years, including concrete steps toward operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, there is an urgent need for African countries and governments to move together with one voice on delivering on key commitments and to engage with the rest of the world as a single unified force. And, there is no better way to start than not losing focus in pursuit of the pillars of the AU reform process, as well as accelerating the implementation of the Agenda 2063 and specific frameworks on AfCFTA, AU’s self-financing agenda, and pathways to zero hunger, climate resilience and regional integration.
