COMMUNIQUÉ

Communiqué of the Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat on Agrifood Systems Transformation

Limuru, Kenya
26 – 27 March 2026

Preamble

1. We, the Permanent Secretaries, and senior government representatives from over fourteen African countries, convened in Limuru, Kenya, from 26 to 27 March 2026, under the auspices of AGRA. The retreat brought together policymakers, technical experts, and partners to take stock of progress, share country experiences, and identify actionable pathways to strengthen delivery systems that drive inclusive, resilient, and market-oriented agri-food system transformation.
2. We recognize the critical role that agriculture and food systems play in advancing food security, economic growth, job creation, and resilience across the continent.
3. We acknowledge that notable progress has been made in the development of national and continental agricultural strategies and investments. However, we recognize that there are still significant binding constraints facing the sector to accelerate effective implementations of agrifood systems transformation plans.
4. We understand that there should be a shift from strategy to delivery to drive agrifood system strategies and/or national investment plans in focused, coordinated, and aligned manners to bring about maximum impacts.

Opening Reflections

1. In her opening remarks, the President of AGRA emphasized that the central challenge facing African agriculture is execution, noting that the gap is not in what has been written, rather in what has been financed, coordinated, and delivered at scale.
2. She further underscored that agricultural transformation depends on systems working together across policy, markets, finance, and institutions, and reaffirmed that “when farmers prosper, Africa prospers.”
3. In remarks delivered on his behalf, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Agriculture of the Republic of Kenya welcomed delegates and reaffirmed the Government of Kenya’s commitment to agricultural transformation through coordinated policy, investment, and partnerships.
4. He highlighted Kenya’s Agriculture Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy as a roadmap for building a modern, commercial, and climate-resilient agricultural sector, and emphasized the importance of partnerships, innovation, and government-led execution in achieving these objectives.

Key Areas of Discussion
Peer-to-Peer Learnings and Exchanges

1. We recognize the value of peer-to-peer engagement as a mechanism for accelerating delivery and strengthening implementation across countries.
2. We note that the exchange of experiences across fourteen countries enabled the identification of practical approaches and different delivery models that can be adapted and scaled across different national contexts.
3. We highlight examples of country-led approaches, including:
   • National programs anchored in high-level political will and leadership commitments to have coordinated delivery structures.
   • Value chain approaches that align production with processing and market demand
   • Institutional models that strengthen coordination, data use, and implementation
4. We further note specific examples shared during the panel discussions, including:

• • Sierra Leone: The Feed Salone Program, which demonstrates how high-level political leadership, whole-of-government coordination, and structured delivery mechanisms can translate national priorities into measurable outcomes across production, infrastructure, and value chains.
  • Nigeria: The domestic rice strategy, which illustrates how aligning processing capacity and consumption patterns with production systems can stimulate local supply, reduce import dependence, and strengthen food sovereignty.
  • Ethiopia: The role of ATI in strengthening coordination, providing technical backstopping, and supporting systemic project implementation such as the agricultural commercialization cluster through data-driven planning, value chain alignment, and institutional support to government systems.

Cross-Country Approaches and Convergence

1. We acknowledge that while national contexts differ, there is increasing convergence on key principles required for effective delivery of agrifood systems transformation agenda.
2. We recognize that successful approaches share common features, including:
   • Clear prioritization of value chains
   • Strong coordination across government institutions
   • Alignment between policy, financing, and delivery
   • Integration of public and private sector actors
3. We encourage continued exchange of best practices and structured collaboration across countries to share lessons, strengthen implementation, and minimize duplication of efforts. Food Corridors and Regional Integration
4. We recognize the potential of regional approaches such as the food corridors to address structural inefficiencies in production, trade, and market systems.
5. We note that food corridor development provides a framework to:
   • Link production zones to consumption centers
   • Enable regional specialization based on comparative advantage
   • Strengthen intra-African trade
   • Unlock investment across value chains
6. We emphasize that the successful implementation of corridor-based approach requires coordination across multiple government ministries, including agriculture, trade, infrastructure and finance; alignment with regional frameworks, and investment in infrastructure, logistics, and market systems.

Strengthening Government and Private Sector Trust

1. We recognize the central role of the private sector in driving agricultural transformation, particularly in production, processing, logistics, and trade.
2. We note that effective agrifood systems require coordinated participation across the value chain, including producers, traders, processors, service providers, and financial institutions.
3. We emphasize that governments play critical roles in creating and fostering enabling environments to support private sector participation, including:
   1. • Transparent and predictable policy frameworks
      • Clear regulatory systems and standards
      • Structured platforms for dialogue and engagement
      • Access to data and market information
4. We acknowledge that organized private sector platforms strengthen the ability of governments to engage stakeholders, design effective policies, and support implementation of agrifood system transformation agenda.

Countries Key Messages, Takeaways and Commitments

1. We note the reflections presented by participating countries, reflecting national priorities and approaches to advancing agrifood systems transformation.

• • Tanzania: Emphasized the importance of integrated planning and strengthened delivery systems, including reinforcing the Agricultural Transformation Office’s (ATO) capability and seed systems. Highlighted the need to align national strategies and accelerate
    implementation of growth corridors and climate-resilient agriculture.
  • Zambia: Highlighted the importance of deeper private sector engagement and stronger coordination between government and partners, including positioning AGRA more centrally in delivery systems. Reflected on the value of peer learning, particularly on mechanization and agricultural financing models.
  • Uganda: Emphasized the critical role of agricultural finance and the need for more demand- driven and decentralized approaches. Highlighted the importance of joint programming and more direct implementation to improve delivery outcomes.
  • Mozambique: Underscored the need for capacity strengthening, youth employment, and a more enabling environment for private sector participation. Highlighted expectations for AGRA to play a stronger technical, convening, and catalytic role, particularly in data systems, digitalization, and trade.
  • Rwanda: Reflected on progress in seed systems, youth programming, and data systems, and emphasized the importance of stronger coordination across partners. Highlighted the need for resource mobilization and more integrated approaches to reduce duplication and enhance delivery.
  • Somalia: Emphasized the importance of strong leadership and institutional capacity as foundations for agricultural transformation. Highlighted priorities around policy development, implementation support to livestock sector, national investment planning, and improved access to finance.
  • Mali: Highlighted alignment of current investments with national priorities and the importance of private sector participation, including contract farming models. Emphasized the need for stronger data systems and institutional delivery mechanisms such as an ATO.
  • Burkina Faso: Emphasized the importance of sectoral and multi-sectoral coordination, alongside private sector participation and infrastructure development. Highlighted priorities around soil health, irrigation systems, data systems, and strengthening delivery institutions.
  • Sierra Leone: Emphasized the importance of sustained high-level political will and commitment, strong coordination and leadership, and public-private collaboration to deliver agrifood system transformation. Highlighted the need to strengthen data systems, institutional capacity, and governance frameworks to support effective implementation.
  • Ethiopia: Highlighted the importance of focused, catalytic interventions and lessons from cluster-based approaches and digital advisory systems. Emphasized the need for stronger agricultural financing models and increased attention to climate financing for smallholder farmers.
  • Malawi: Reflected on progress in strengthening seed systems and regulatory frameworks, including the establishment of a Seed Commission. Highlighted priorities around private sector engagement, technical advisory support, and strengthening institutional delivery structures. Requested the strengthen the institutional delivery capacity of the sector through have the ATO model.
  • Senegal: Highlighted readiness to expand engagement following the Host CountryAgreement and emphasized the importance of scaling program delivery. Underscored the value of structured peer learning and cross-country exchange.
  • Nigeria: Emphasized the role of Permanent Secretaries as key drivers of transformation and the importance of sustained political commitment. Highlighted the need for more decentralized implementation at a state level and the need for stronger integration of nutrition within agricultural programming.
  • Kenya: Strengthen a whole-of-system approach to agricultural transformation, integrating inputs, irrigation, markets, finance, and infrastructure into a coordinated delivery ecosystem. Leverage AGRA’s technical and data capabilities to institutionalize data-driven decision-making, strengthening accountability, targeting, and performance tracking across the agricultural sector using KIAMIS.

Conclusion

1. 1. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening implementation capabilities to accelerate effective delivery of agrifood system transformation priorities across our respective countries.
   2. We emphasize the importance of continued collaboration, peer learning, and coordinated action to address shared challenges and opportunities.
   3. We recognize that achieving meaningful transformation will require leadership commitments and political will with robust governance and coordination mechanisms across government systems, strong partnerships with the private sector, and alignment with regional frameworks.
   4. Cognizant of the shift from strategy to delivery, we commit to exert maximum efforts to accelerate implementations of our respective agrifood system strategies and/or national investment plans in a focused, coordinated, and aligned manner for maximum impacts to transform the lives of smallholder farmers. We further commit to advancing practical, country- led approaches that translate policy into results for farmers, and the entire market systems.
   5. Finally, we encourage AGRA to organize similar PS leadership retreat annually besides participating at the African Food Systems Forum (AFSF).

Participation

The Retreat was attended by Permanent Secretaries and senior government representatives from the following countries:

1. 1. Burkina Faso
   2. Ethiopia
   3. Kenya
   4. Malawi
   5. Mali
   6. Mozambique
   7. Nigeria
   8. Senegal
   9. Sierra Leone
   10. Somalia
   11. Rwanda
   12. Tanzania
   13. Uganda
   14. Zambia

The Retreat also included participation from other partners, technical institutions, and private sector representatives supporting agrifood systems transformation across the continent.