Africa Dialogue Series 2022

The Africa Dialogue Series is an event held annually in May. It is an advocacy platform to discuss and debate challenges and opportunities for Africa with the aim to provide knowledge that informs the decisions of policymakers. 

The inaugural Africa Dialogue Series was in 2018. Previously, the event took place annually in October and was known as Africa Week. Following consultation with Members States, it was moved to May, Africa month, during which Africa Day is celebrated on the 25th of the month. Since 2021, the event has taken place throughout the entire month of May. 

To ensure that the Africa Dialogue Series serves to echo the priorities of the African Union and African Member States and highlight their interrelationship with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063, each year’s edition focusses on the theme that the African Union has declared as the theme of the year. It analyses its interlinkages with peace and security, economic and social development.

The AU adopted ‘Strengthening resilience in nutrition and food security on the African continent: Strengthening agro-food systems, health and social protection systems for the acceleration of human, social and economic capital development’ as its theme for 2022. This theme contributes towards the achievement of Aspiration 1 of Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development, and a key goal of which is to ensure a continent of healthy and well-nourished citizens. Aspiration 1 of Agenda 2063 has commonalities with Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030, as well as increase agricultural productivity and ensure sustainable food production systems.

In line with the African Union’s theme, this year’s series theme is: “Build resilience in nutrition: Accelerate Africa's human capital and socio-economic development.”

The Africa Dialogue Series international webinar on ‘Human Capital Development, Climate, Energy and Food Systems’ was convened on 24 May. In her welcome remarks, the Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, Ms Cristina Duarte, reiterated that the Africa Dialogue Series, held during Africa Month is a platform for African voices on the world stage.

“The food crisis in Africa has been amplified to some extent, by external factors, such as COVID-19 and the Russia and Ukraine war, exacerbated by climate change. Therefore, collective action under mutual accountability is needed,” Ms Duarte stated.  She also maintained that “Africa should adopt a ‘from within’ approach to address challenges. Moreover, Africa is not starting from scratch – we have our Malabo commitments and Agenda 2063.”

Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, spoke on the urgency to drive change that will enable communities to realise zero hunger for their populations by 2025 cannot be over emphasised. “AUDA-NEPAD places emphasis on the urgent need for policy and investment choices that will transform local capacities and build resilient and inclusive food systems.”

“At the regional and continental level, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) – Malabo Declaration, Agenda 2063 and other sector plans in climate change, healthcare and education, should remain the frameworks within which food security and nutrition should be pursued,” Ms Bekele-Thomas emphasised.

Amb. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the AU to the UN affirmed that, “During the Africa Dialogue Series, we have been able to offer some solutions towards building resilience in nutrition and food systems. A call to action at the highest level has been achieved, for us all to act collectively to accelerate the implementation of our development goals. Africa is determined to transform its agricultural potential to impact the livelihoods of our populations across the board and address hunger and malnutrition. The need is clear for all stakeholders to work through the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD’s CAADP framework.”

A key outcome of this year’s Africa Dialogue Series is a “call to action” that garners the engagement of African governments at the highest level and rallies the international community’s support to strengthen the resilience of agro-food systems, health, and social protection to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the SDGs.