The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) has unveiled its new 10-year strategic plan, setting out a comprehensive framework aimed at strengthening Africa’s agriculture, food systems, and climate resilience through evidence-driven policy interventions.
Speaking at the launch, FANRPAN’s Director of Policy Research and Analysis, Ms. Sithembile Mwamakamba, said the strategy positions the network to support smallholder farmers, policymakers, young innovators, and women entrepreneurs who are navigating increasingly complex agricultural challenges. She emphasized that the plan is designed to enhance policy engagement across the continent through robust research, knowledge management, and strong partnerships.
Established in response to a 1994 call by agriculture ministers from Eastern and Southern Africa, FANRPAN has grown into a leading continental policy think tank. Formalised in 1997 and later granted diplomatic accreditation by South Africa in 2006, the network has consistently advanced agricultural policy through successive strategic cycles. Over the years, FANRPAN has strengthened national decision-making processes, expanded its footprint across Africa, and led high-level advocacy initiatives, including pushing for Africa’s centrality in global climate negotiations through the “No Agriculture, No Deal” campaign. Between 2016 and 2024, the organisation focused heavily on resilience, supporting countries in responding to shocks such as El Niño and the COVID-19 pandemic while promoting climate adaptation and innovation in food systems.
The new strategy is anchored in major global and continental frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Food Systems Summit, and Africa’s Agenda 2063. It also aligns with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which remains the continent’s primary framework for agricultural transformation. Mwamakamba noted that the roadmap reinforces FANRPAN’s mission to cultivate an enabling policy environment that supports resilient, nature-friendly food systems capable of delivering prosperity and improved health outcomes for all.
FANRPAN Board Chairperson Dr. Aggrey Agumya said the strategy is the product of a wide-ranging consultative process involving farmer organisations, research institutions, government departments, regional economic communities, civil society, the private sector, women’s groups, youth representatives, and the media. He said the new plan reflects lessons learned from the implementation of key continental commitments such as the Maputo and Malabo Declarations, which underscore the need for accelerated action if Africa is to meet its agricultural development targets. Dr. Agumya stressed that policy coherence, effective advocacy, and sustained capacity strengthening remain central to driving transformation across Africa’s food systems.
FANRPAN Chief Executive Officer and Head of Mission, Dr. Tshilidzi Madzivhandila, highlighted the organisation’s unique structure as a “network of networks,” saying its success relies on the collaborative strength of its partners. He said the plan reinforces the need for unity of purpose among institutions working to improve agriculture and natural resources management across the continent.
Regional actors welcomed the new strategy. Panduleni Elago, Senior CAADP Advisor at the African Union Commission, said the plan supports the operationalisation of the CAADP Kampala agenda and strengthens accountability mechanisms such as biannual reviews and national joint sector assessments. She commended FANRPAN for providing science-based, impartial policy advice that bridges the gap between researchers and policymakers.
CAADP Non-State Actor Group Chairperson, Chikondi Chabvuta, said the strategy demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing the needs of smallholder farmers, especially women and marginalised communities. She said the focus on evidence-based policy processes, gender equality, nutrition, youth empowerment, and climate resilience reflects the kind of coordinated approach Africa needs to transform its food value chains.
Dr. Mwaka Namukonda, Coordinator of the Consortium of African Youth in Agriculture and Climate Change, described the strategy as a call to action for Africa’s young people. She said youth are ready to contribute as innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and climate champions, and urged FANRPAN to continue providing platforms that elevate their voices in critical policy discussions.
ReNAPRI Executive Director, Dr. Antony Chapoto, described the launch as an important milestone for Africa’s food security and agricultural policy landscape. He said the strategy complements the aspirations of the Malabo Commitments, the CAADP framework, and Agenda 2063, adding that genuine transformation can only be achieved through collaboration, partnership, and shared learning across sectors and borders.
With the 2025–2035 strategy now in place, FANRPAN enters its next decade focused on driving agricultural transformation through rigorous research, strong continental partnerships, and policies that respond to Africa’s evolving food systems challenges.
