AU Calls for Overhaul of Africa's Agrifood Systems
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urged structural transformation of agrifood systems to end hunger across the continent.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Agriculture
At the AU-IFRC High-Level Convening in Addis Ababa, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called for transforming Africa's agrifood systems to address hunger. He said climate change, conflicts, and disruptions to global food supply chains have aggravated the problem.
Why it matters
Hunger undermines peace, stability, economic transformation, and sustainable development across Africa. The call signals a shift from emergency responses toward durable, structural solutions.
The principal quantified reference is the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan covering 2026-2035, which frames the continental agenda over a ten-year window. The extraction does not include hunger prevalence figures or investment totals, so the scale of the funding gap and progress against Zero Hunger remain unquantified.
The players
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the executive body of the continental bloc, who leads the AU's policy agenda on development and food security.
African Union Commission
The executive arm of the African Union, which co-organized the convening and oversees continental frameworks such as CAADP.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The world's largest humanitarian network, which co-organized the AU-IFRC convening and works on disaster response and resilience across Africa.
The details
Youssouf urged a move beyond emergency responses toward stronger resilience and comprehensive transformation of agrifood systems, citing the Kampala Declaration and the Kampala CAADP Agenda. He called for renewed commitment to durable solutions toward achieving Zero Hunger.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: AU Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf delivers remarks at the AU-IFRC High-Level Convening in Addis Ababa.
2026-2035: Period covered by the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan for Africa's agricultural transformation.
Roadmap
The call builds on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, whose 2026-2035 Strategy and Action Plan and the Kampala Declaration now frame continental farm policy. It marks a push to convert that framework from a planning document into structural reform of agrifood systems.
For consumers, the shift toward resilient agrifood systems could eventually influence food availability and prices, though no timeline or price effects are specified in the source. The emphasis on supply-chain disruption suggests food access may remain exposed to climate and conflict shocks in the near term.
The takeaway
Ending hunger in Africa depends on moving from emergency aid to lasting structural change in how food is grown, distributed, and protected from shocks. Watch how the 2026-2035 CAADP plan is funded and implemented.
Further reading
For broader context on farming and food production trends, explore Agriculture coverage on Wisevoter.
