AU-IBAR to Champion Implementation of Continental Strategies for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems at the 6th STC-ARDWE

@2025 AUC

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21–24 October 2025

AU-IBAR will participate in the 6th Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE), which is convened by the African Union Commission (AUC) through its Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE). The gathering comprises Ministers, Senior Officials, and Experts from AU Member States who are accountable for agriculture, livestock, fisheries, environment, water, and rural development.

This year's session, which is a strategic platform for reviewing progress and establishing new continental directions in agriculture, natural resources, and environmental governance, is being held at a critical juncture, marking the transition from the Malabo CAADP Agenda (2014–2025) to the Kampala CAADP Agenda (2026–2035).

AU-IBAR’s Key Submissions to the STC-ARDWE

AU-IBAR will introduce several initiatives at the 6th STC=ARDWE that are consistent with Africa's objectives for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agri-food systems.

 

  1. Safeguarding Animal Health for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems and Socio-Economic Development in Africa
    AU-IBAR will highlight the importance of animal health as a cornerstone of sustainable development, presenting two continental strategies for endorsement:

    • The Pan-African Strategy for the Elimination of Dog-Mediated Rabies in Africa (PASERA 2026–2035)

    • The Continental Strategy for the Sustainable Control and Elimination of Animal Trypanosomiasis in Africa (2026–2035)

      These frameworks outline coordinated, long-term actions to eliminate rabies and trypanosomiasis, two of Africa’s most persistent and economically devastating zoonotic diseases.

  2. Policy Framework for Economic African Feed and Fodder Sub-Sectors and Industries (PFEAFF)
    This policy framework aims to address feed and fodder scarcity through a structured approach that supports feed intelligence systems and establishes the Dairy Africa Alliance, a multi-stakeholder platform to scale up Africa’s dairy industry and improve nutritional outcomes.

  3. Conserving and Restoring Africa’s Aquatic Ecosystems and Fish Stocks for a Blue Economy-Driven Sustainable Livelihood
    AU-IBAR will seek endorsement of the Continental Strategy on Nature-Based Solutions for Aquatic Ecosystems and the African Fisheries and Aquaculture Database (AfaData), a data-driven platform supporting evidence-based management of Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture resources.

  4. Guidelines for Informal Food Sector Engagement Towards Improved Food Safety in Africa (For Information)
    Developed through multi-stakeholder consultations led by AU-IBAR, these Guidelines provide a continental framework for strengthening food safety in informal markets, which account for up to 80% of Africa’s food trade. Anchored on the principles of Recognize, Engage, and Invest, they promote risk-based, inclusive food safety systems that safeguard livelihoods while protecting consumer health. 

    The Guidelines also support the domestication of the Food Safety Strategy for Africa (FSSA 2022–2036) and the AfCFTA sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) provisions.

Why These Initiatives Matter

These AU-IBAR-led frameworks collectively aim to build stronger, safer, and more sustainable agri-food systems across Africa.

  • They support livelihood security, disease resilience, and intra-African trade, advancing the Kampala CAADP Agenda’s ambitions to triple intra-African food trade by 2035 and reduce rural poverty by 50%.
  • They align with continental commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Food Safety Strategy for Africa, ensuring that Africa’s growing informal and formal food sectors can coexist under inclusive, risk-based policies.
  • They advance the One Health approach, integrating animal, human, and environmental health to tackle zoonotic diseases, ensure food safety, and strengthen Africa’s public health security.

AU-IBAR's active involvement in the 6th STC-ARDWE reinforces its leadership role in formulating African agriculture and animal health policies. AU-IBAR continues to assist AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in transforming Africa's agriculture and food systems into engines of long-term growth, equity, and resilience by promoting evidence-based solutions and inclusive frameworks.