In 2003 the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) was established by the assembly of the African Union (AU) aiming to raise agricultural productivity by at least 6% per year and increasing public investment in agriculture to 10% of national budgets per year.

After an initial phase focused primarily on interventions at the national level, there is growing awareness on the need to work more on the regional dimensions of the CAADP.

Key Purpose of ECDPM Study

Regional agriculture development has been identified as one of the priority areas of the East Africa Community (EAC) Treaty. The EAC Agriculture and Rural Development Policy (EAC-ARDP) and Strategy (EAC-ARDS) were developed to serve as the common agriculture policy for the region and guide regional interventions in the sector. Although these foundational policy documents were introduced before CAADP gained momentum, their underpinning goals are compatible with the core principles of CAADP.

This paper outlines the results of a ‘mapping exercise’ for EAC, and is meant to stimulate further discussions among stakeholders and to contribute to the consultative processes around the development and implementation of a regional CAADP compact in the region.

Key findings of ECDPM

• Stakeholders agree that a regional CAADP process is the appropriate framework to stimulate improved coordination of regional agricultural initiatives to address food security.

• There is consensus among the various actors working in EAC that developing a regional compact would be a useful rallying point for REC, partner states, Development Partners (DPs), private sector and other stakeholders around regional agriculture.

• Most stakeholders believe that it is up to the EAC and its member states to decide what approach is best suited for the region – an EAC CAADP compact or a Tripartite CAADP compact or both.

• In developing an EAC regional compact and/ or the tripartite compact, consultation with all relevant stakeholders is key. A multi-sector approach that reflects and builds on linkages between CAADP and other sectoral programs is important for better harmonization of regional initiatives and could help improve coordination among the different institutions supporting the CAADP process.

• Other factors are also important in developing an EAC regional compact:
  – Better donor coordination
  – Ensuring synergetic regional integration
  – Building broad-based support for regional agriculture
  – Working toward a regional compact: applying a flexible, ‘differentiated-gear’ approach

Read Discussion Paper 128c

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