My speech at the climax of the 3 day CAADP Strategy and Action Plan Validation Meeting, held in Kampala from August 21st to 23rd, 2024.

?Title: A Call for True Transformation: AFSA's Perspective on the Post-Malabo Process

?All protocols observed.

My name is Million Belay, and I represent AFSA, the Alliance For Food Sovereignty in Africa is the largest African-born social movement, a network of networks that spans across 50 of the 55 countries in Africa. Our membership includes farmers, fisherfolk, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, faith-based institutions, women, youth, consumer associations, and the broader civil society.

AFSA has been an active participant in the Post-Malabo process. We organized a face-to-face meeting for non-state actors, submitted a memorandum, actively engaged in working groups, and participated in the Lusaka process. We thank the AU for giving us this opportunity.

?Today, I stand here, representing close to 200 million Africans, to ask: "Does the Post-Malabo document reflect our dreams and aspirations for a healthy and sustainably fed Africa based on agroecology and food sovereignty?"

?Our response is as follows:

1. Adopting a Holistic Agri-Food Systems Approach: We support CAADP's shift towards a holistic agri-food systems approach, but we urge caution regarding the emphasis on technological innovations and agro-industrialization. While we recognize the immense power of technology and innovation to drive significant change and offer solutions to longstanding challenges, these forces are not inherently neutral. They can perpetuate existing power structures and reinforce neo-colonial relationships if not critically examined and contextually applied. Greater democratic oversight, regulation, and accountable governance are needed to ensure technological innovations benefit everyone.

?2. Commitment to Inclusivity and Equitable Livelihoods: While we appreciate CAADP's focus on inclusivity, we caution against policies that may inadvertently reinforce existing inequities. The prioritization of large-scale agro-industrial projects can sideline smallholder farmers, particularly women. We demand a shift towards truly inclusive policies that empower smallholders and protect their rights.?

3. The Role of Governance and the Private Sector in Policymaking: While we agree with CAADP's emphasis on strong governance and community involvement, we are concerned about the disconnect between stated intentions and the actions outlined in the Action Plan. The document grants disproportionate influence to the private sector, particularly in the development of policies on emerging technologies. We call for a more balanced approach that genuinely empowers local communities to shape policies that directly affect their livelihoods.

?4. Mobilizing Financing and Investment: While we recognize the critical importance of investment, we caution against an over-reliance on private sector investments. We advocate for increased public investment in smallholder agriculture and agroecology.

?5. Threats to African Traditional Food Systems: We recognize the inclusion of African food systems in the document, but CAADP's focus on industrial agriculture and emerging technology, like poses significant risks to Africa's traditional food systems. We advocate for a stronger commitment to protecting and promoting traditional food systems as essential components of a resilient and sustainable agricultural future.

?In conclusion, we ask for the following to feel we have truly participated:

?1. We strongly advocate for the inclusion of cultural appropriateness of food as a central component of the Post-Malabo vision. The Theory of Change should clearly outline cultural appropriateness and indicate its significance in the vision, outcomes, and intervention areas.

?2. Scores of farmer organizations, civil society groups, and women's groups have consistently expressed their support for agroecology as the central focus of the CAADP program. Their memoranda and statements at this meeting reflect this overwhelming consensus. We are perplexed by the ongoing reference to the controversy surrounding agroecology, especially given the widespread demand for it among the vast majority of Africans. This raises the question: "Controversial to whom?"

?3. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have clearly demonstrated the urgent need for food sovereignty. We believe that this principle should be enshrined in the Post-Malabo process.

?4. To ensure inclusivity, we advocate for the creation of an advisory role for food producers and African civil society within CAADP. This would mirror the existing role granted to the private sector.

?5. We reject GMOs, which are products of genetic engineering, written in the document as biotechnology. We have science to guide us—GMOs are not reducing hunger or malnutrition in any nation in the world. We are baffled by the expectation that they will somehow feed Africa. Genetic engineering will only allow corporate control of our food, while also impacting our health, economy, and the environment. Therefore, we urge that the CAADP process encourage stronger biosafety protocols in all African countries.

?Thank you very much, and thank you again, Dr. Bahigwa, for allowing us this space.