.jpg)
Over the past two decades, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) has mobilized collective action and investment in agriculture across the continent, guided by country ownership, inclusivity, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making. In response to evolving challenges and opportunities, African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government reaffirmed their commitment to CAADP in January 2025 by adopting the Kampala CAADP Declaration (2026–2035), signaling renewed momentum to accelerate agrifood systems transformation. The Declaration calls on AU Member States to integrate its commitments into their national agrifood system investment plans (NASIPs), adopt agrifood governance best practices, and incorporate the CAADP Biennial Review (BR) into their agriculture joint sector review (JSR) platforms.
Mutual accountability platforms such as the agriculture JSR and CAADP BR play a crucial role in promoting benchmarking, dialogue, review, mutual learning, and accountability in the agriculture sector. In particular, the agriculture JSR provides an inclusive platform for stakeholders to guide sector planning, priorities, and budgeting; identify and address bottlenecks; and assess progress toward agrifood goals and targets, including those outlined in the Comprehensive Agricultural Transformation Support Programme (CATSP) (2024–2033). A key target of the draft CAADP Kampala Results Framework is for all AU Member States to have functional JSR platforms by 2030 that conduct regular, inclusive reviews of agriculture sector performance.
Since 2014, the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Union Development Agency–NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), and technical partners such as the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS) have supported the establishment and strengthening of JSRs at country and regional levels. In 2015, ReSAKSS conducted the first assessment of Zambia’s JSR to evaluate its status and quality, assess progress toward key commitments and results, and identify actions to strengthen mutual accountability. Zambia has not conducted an agriculture JSR since then.
In 2025, Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MFL) requested support from the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR), ReSAKSS, and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to strengthen the country’s agriculture JSR process. A second JSR assessment is now underway, led by ZIPAR with technical support from ReSAKSS and funding from GIZ. Preliminary findings indicate low awareness and limited understanding of the JSR process among key stakeholders, underscoring the need to strengthen awareness of the value of sustaining a regular, inclusive, and robust JSR in Zambia.
Against this backdrop, AKADEMIYA2063, in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock, GIZ, and ZIPAR, is convening a webinar to raise awareness of the importance of sustaining a JSR in Zambia. The webinar will bring together agrifood stakeholders, including members of the JSR Technical Working Group (TWG), officials from the two ministries and other key ministries, and representatives of non-state actors.
Objectives
- Increase awareness and understanding of the purpose, principles, and value of an agriculture JSR as a mechanism for mutual accountability, evidence-based decision-making, and improved agrifood sector governance.
- Strengthen stakeholder understanding of the roles and responsibilities of government, development partners, civil society, the private sector, farmers’ groups, and other actors in planning, implementing, and sustaining a regular, effective, and inclusive JSR process.
- Review the status of JSR awareness and enhance understanding of JSR commitments under the CAADP Kampala agenda.
- Promote renewed commitment to institutionalizing a regular, inclusive, and high-quality JSR in Zambia by highlighting best practices, lessons learned, and opportunities under the CAADP Kampala agenda.
