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The African Union Development Agency introduces UP-RISE to improve food safety systems with a focus on informal sector at CAADP Summit in Uganda

6 February 2025

The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), an UP-RISE consortium partner, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) through the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa, hosted the side event titled Addressing Food Safety and Healthy Diets in Food Systems Approach on the margins of the extraordinary Summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) which took place from 9-11 January 2025 in Kampala.

This event brought together high level government officials, African Union agencies, private sector representatives, academia, development partners, youth leaders, and civil society to discuss the imperative of integrating food safety and nutrition into Africa’s food systems transformation agenda.

The session built on Africa’s ongoing efforts to transform food systems under the CAADP framework, emphasising that food safety and healthy diets are indispensable to achieving food security and nutrition, improving public health, and enhancing economic development and resilience.

  1. Key Objectives and Discussions:
  • Reinforcing food safety and nutrition as integral to Africa’s food systems transformation under the CAADP framework.
  • Promoting the use of tools like the Africa Food Safety Index (AFSI) for governance and accountability.
  • Advocating for stronger regulatory frameworks, intersectoral collaboration, and youth-led entrepreneurship.
  1. High-Level Contributions:
  • Insights from African ministers and experts emphasized the need to prioritize food safety and healthy diets to ensure sustainable agricultural development, protect consumer health, and enhance trade.
  • A panel discussion explored strategies for scaling up food safety initiatives and leveraging partnerships to address challenges in Africa’s food systems.
  1. Outcomes and Recommendations:
  • Recognition of food safety as a cornerstone of economic growth, improved trade, and sustainable development.
  • Calls for integrating food safety into national and regional policies, fostering collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
  • Recommendations to prioritize food safety and nutrition in the Kampala Declaration and CAADP Results Framework, while increasing investment in research, innovation, and capacity building.
  1. Call to Action:
  • Advocating for the mainstreaming of food safety and healthy diets across Africa’s development agenda.
  • Encouraging Member States to harmonize strategies and mobilize resources to strengthen food safety systems and achieve sustainable food systems transformation.

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Download the Joint Communiqué here…