The Agroecology and Circular Economy for Ecosystem Services (ACE4ES) project consortium made significant strides at the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS) in Kigali, Rwanda. The event provided an invaluable platform for the consortium to engage with key stakeholders, share insights, and contribute to the ongoing discussions around strengthening Africa’s food systems. As Africa looks towards the future of agriculture, the forum’s key takeaways align closely with the ACE4ES project’s mission to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce agriculture-associated emissions.

Strengthening Political Commitment for Agricultural Investment Policies

As Africa enters a new phase of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the need for stronger political commitment to shared agricultural policies, such as the Malabo Declaration, was emphasized. This commitment will be critical in driving continued investment in agriculture, food security, and environmental sustainability across the continent. The ACE4ES consortium is well-positioned to contribute to this agenda, with its focus on agroecology and circular economy approaches that align with the Malabo goals.

Ensuring Policy and Action Coherence

Policy coherence—both vertical (across continental and different governance levels) and horizontal (across sectors, national and sub-national levels)—is key to overcoming fragmentation in agriculture. The AFS Forum highlighted the need for African countries to synchronize policies and actions to foster more efficient and conflict-free sectoral policy implementations. For ACE4ES, policy coherence is essential in ensuring that sustainable practices are adopted and scaled across Sub-Saharan Africa, creating stronger, more unified agricultural systems.

Promoting South-South and South-North Triangular Cooperation

One of the major takeaways from the forum was the importance of South-South and South-North triangular cooperation in driving investment and innovation for Africa’s food systems. ACE4ES, with its regional and international partnerships, is already contributing to these efforts. By engaging with partners like the World Food Programme (WFP), Africa Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on value chains for rice, maize, plantain and cassava, the project aims to facilitate the creation, adoption and scaling of sustainable agricultural solutions that can be replicated and scaled across different regions.

Unlocking the Power of Public-Private-Civil Society Partnerships

The forum stressed the importance of Public-Private-Civil Society Partnerships as a game changer in the innovation, acceleration, and scaling of agricultural initiatives. For the ACE4ES consortium, this is already a reality. With Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana leading civil society advocacy, Benin’s Youth Initiative for Land in Africa heading youth and women mobilization, and Africa Rice Centre providing scientific expertise, ACE4ES is uniquely positioned to leverage these partnerships for greater impact.

Investing in Agricultural Emission Reduction

Perhaps one of the most exciting discussions at the forum was around the need to invest in reducing agriculture-associated emissions and pollution. ACE4ES is at the forefront of this movement, focusing on reducing methane and black carbon emissions in rice and maize production. This investment will not only drive environmental sustainability and resilience but also improve public health by promoting better respiratory outcomes for communities affected by pollution.

Looking Ahead

The 2024 AFS Forum reinforced the relevance and urgency of the ACE4ES project’s mission. By continuing to engage with political leaders, private sector stakeholders, civil society, and international partners, the ACE4ES consortium is committed to advancing sustainable agriculture, reducing emissions, and building resilient food systems across Africa. For more updates on our progress and partnerships, stay connected with ACE4ES at www.ace4es.org and all our social media platforms.