AU-IBAR Champions Sustainable Agri-Food Systems at the 6th African Union STC on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water, and Environment

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The African Union–InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is set to participate in the 6th Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE). This high-level meeting, organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) through its Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), brings together Ministers, senior officials, and technical experts from across AU Member States who oversee agriculture, livestock, fisheries, water, rural development, and environmental management.

This year’s session holds strategic importance as it marks a pivotal transition between two continental development frameworks: the conclusion of the Malabo Declaration (CAADP Agenda 2014–2025) and the introduction of the Kampala CAADP Agenda (2026–2035). The STC-ARDWE serves as a platform to review progress made so far and shape the next decade of Africa’s agri-food, environmental, and natural resource governance.

AU-IBAR’s Strategic Contributions to the STC-ARDWE

AU-IBAR will be presenting a suite of policy frameworks and initiatives designed to advance sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agri-food systems across the continent. These submissions are critical to achieving Africa’s broader goals in food security, rural development, public health, and trade.

1. Protecting Animal Health for Sustainable Socio-Economic Growth

Recognizing animal health as a foundational pillar of food systems and public health, AU-IBAR will propose two major continental strategies for endorsement:

• The Pan-African Strategy for the Elimination of Dog-Mediated Rabies (PASERA 2026–2035)
• The Continental Strategy for the Sustainable Control and Elimination of Animal Trypanosomiasis (2026–2035)

These long-term strategies aim to eradicate two of Africa’s most impactful zoonotic diseases, improving public health outcomes, reducing economic losses in livestock systems, and contributing to the One Health agenda by integrating animal, human, and environmental health.

2. Policy Framework for the Development of Africa’s Feed and Fodder Sector (PFEAFF)

To address chronic shortages in animal feed and fodder—which hinder livestock productivity and food security—AU-IBAR will introduce a continental policy framework that:

• Strengthens feed intelligence and early warning systems
• Launches the Dairy Africa Alliance, a collaborative platform to support Africa’s dairy sector and enhance nutrition and economic opportunity

This initiative supports inclusive, sustainable growth in the livestock sector by stabilizing feed availability and building market resilience.

3. Preserving Aquatic Ecosystems and Enhancing Fisheries for a Sustainable Blue Economy

AU-IBAR will present two key tools to enhance Africa’s blue economy and protect aquatic resources:

• The Continental Strategy on Nature-Based Solutions for Aquatic Ecosystems
• AfaData – the African Fisheries and Aquaculture Database, a data-driven platform for informed decision-making in the management of fish stocks and aquatic environments

These frameworks promote evidence-based policies to protect Africa’s freshwater and marine ecosystems, ensuring long-term sustainability and community-based livelihoods.

4. Guidelines for Engaging Africa’s Informal Food Sector to Improve Food Safety

With informal markets accounting for up to 80% of food distribution in Africa, AU-IBAR has developed continental Guidelines for Informal Food Sector Engagement. These guidelines:

• Are built on the “Recognize, Engage, and Invest” principle
• Promote inclusive, risk-based food safety systems
• Aim to strengthen the informal sector’s role in food security without compromising public health

The guidelines support the Food Safety Strategy for Africa (FSSA 2022–2036) and the AfCFTA’s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations, enabling smoother intra-African trade and safer consumption patterns.

Why These AU-IBAR Initiatives Matter

Collectively, the policy tools and frameworks submitted by AU-IBAR aim to:

• Strengthen Africa’s capacity to manage transboundary animal diseases and food safety risks
• Build resilient, inclusive food systems that can withstand climate, economic, and health shocks
• Enhance intra-African trade in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals
• Reduce rural poverty and improve livelihoods through improved animal health, sustainable fisheries, and robust market systems
• Support the Kampala CAADP Agenda objectives to triple intra-African food trade by 2035 and halve rural poverty

Through these efforts, AU-IBAR reinforces its leadership in shaping evidence-based policy and guiding AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) toward a future of resilient, equitable, and self-sufficient food systems.

Read Also;

https://trendsnafrica.com/aus-strategic-initiative-aiming-for-agricultural-transformation-and-food-security-in-africa/

AU-IBAR’s active engagement in the 6th STC-ARDWE underscores its commitment to driving sustainable agricultural transformation in Africa. By promoting coordinated action on animal health, aquatic resource management, informal food safety, and livestock productivity, AU-IBAR continues to support the African Union’s mission to build resilient food systems, ensure public health security, and stimulate inclusive economic growth across the continent.