Accra, Ghana, 16 July 2019 – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, (AGRA) has joined forces with the global campaigning and advocacy organisation ONE to mobilise multi-sectoral support for inclusive agriculture transformation in Africa.

Agriculture is key to Africa’s future. The continent has most of the world’s arable land. Over half of the African population is employed in the sector, and it is the largest contributor to the total gross domestic product (GDP). Despite this, Africa is still not fully utilizing its agricultural potential for food security and economic growth.

The partnership between ONE and AGRA will help bolster and drive in-country advocacy across-actors from civil society, the private sector, farmers organisations and government to drive the agricultural transformation agenda and achieve commitments from Heads of States which will be tracked by a scorecard.  Its focus will initially be on the 11 countries that AGRA work in.

The ONE-AGRA collaboration will coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Malabo declaration, and will focus on three core areas:

First, to ramp up and drive in-country advocacy, across-actors to drive in country agricultural transformation agenda – using the National Agriculture Investment Plans (NAIPS) and their targets as key instruments and also support how the NAIPS are being implemented.

Second, develop a common narrative, informed by the African Union biennial review report of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) to advocate for specific policy and other investments required to drive change in the country.

Third, to popularize, raise the profile and spotlight on the Africa Food Prize that recognizes bold initiatives and Africans who are taking control of the continent’s agricultural agenda to create a new era of food security and economic opportunity for all Africans.

Signing the partnership in the Ghana capital Accra, ONE CEO and President, Gayle Smith said: “We are delighted about our partnership with AGRA, together we will call on our leaders to invest in the agriculture sector to create millions of jobs, and food security for our communities by working with smallholder farmers, especially women and youth.”    

On her part, AGRA President, Dr.  Agnes  Kalibata welcomed the partnership saying that it will put a spotlight on issues that require scaling: “At AGRA, we work with governments and other partners to increase yields and improve income for 30 million smallholder households. This partnership will be critical in accelerating the achievement of continental commitments towards this.”

ENDS-

Media Contacts:

AGRA:

Waiganjo Njoroge, Interim Head of Communication, AGRA at [email protected] or Tel. No: +254 723 857 270

ONE:

Tumba Tshimanga, Influencer Engagement Manager, Tumba at [email protected] or tel. +27 63 698 1093

About ONE

The ONE Campaign is a policy and advocacy organisation of more than 9 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Not politically partisan, it raises public awareness and presses political leaders to combat AIDS and other preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programs.

About AGRA:

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led, Africa-based and farmer-centered institution working to put smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming their farming from a solitary struggle to survive to a business that thrives. Working in collaboration with our partners including African governments, researchers, development partners, the private sector and civil society AGRA’s work primarily focuses on smallholder farmers – men and women who typically cultivate staple crops on two hectares or less. In the new strategy for 2017-2021, AGRA is supporting 11 African countries and 30 million smallholder farm households (150 million individuals) to increase their incomes and improve their food security. For more information, visit www.agra.org