A group of VSLA members posing for a photo/Credit – Oxfam in Nigeria via Ikechukwu Okeagu
The African Union Kampala Summit of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) will be held from January 9 to 11, 2025 at the Speke Resort.
Women constitute the majority of actors in Africa’s agricultural value chains but continue to face barriers such as unequal access to resources, limited policy representation, and systemic gender disparities. These hinder their productivity and participation in the sector. Without deliberate action, these inequities will hinder Africa’s progress toward sustainable agricultural growth and food security.
The upcoming AU CAADP Kampala Summit presents a pivotal moment for the continent to transform agri-food systems into sustainable livelihoods for all. Oxfam stands in solidarity with these efforts by echoing its policy position on inclusive agri-food systems.
In alignment with the Kampala Declaration’s sub-theme, “Advancing Inclusivity and Equitable Livelihoods,” Oxfam reaffirms its unwavering commitment to tackling inequalities within Africa’s agri-food systems.
Speaking ahead of the Summit, Oxfam in Africa’s Just Economies Lead Francis Agbere said:
“Women’s leadership, labor, and knowledge are the backbone of African agriculture, yet they continue to face significant barriers in access to land, credit, and markets. As we approach the CAADP Kampala Summit, African governments must commit to transforming agricultural policies and systems to empower women and small holder farmers, ensuring their voices are not only heard but central to the continent’s agricultural and economic policy decisions and development.”
Oxfam calls on African leaders and the African Union Commission to:
- Establish comprehensive mechanisms for gender-disaggregated data and gender-responsive expenditure in the agri-food system
- Facilitate women and small holder farmer’s active participation in policymaking processes.
- Prioritize access to credit and customized financial products for women farmers.
- Develop and implement culturally sensitive approaches to address traditional norms and legal restrictions limiting women’s economic empowerment.
- Foster strategic partnerships and build alliances between AU Member States, and grassroots women’s groups to promote women leadership within the agri-food system
Oxfam is dedicated to fostering inclusive growth that empowers communities and ensures lasting prosperity for the continent as guided by the CAADP priorities for 2026–2035.
