High-level Conference on the Development of Agribusiness & Agro-industries in Africa (HLCD-3A)

With a vision to foster the development of agroindustries and agribusinesses in Africa as a pathway to increased economic growth and food security, UNIDO, FAO and IFAD joined efforts with the African Union Commission, NEPAD/CAADP, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to launch the African Agribusiness and Agro-industries Development Initiative (3ADI) during the High-Level Conference on the Development of Agribusiness and Agro-Industries in Africa (HLCD-3A).

Embracing the principles of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), 3ADI emerges as a timely initiative, in the light of the recent Sirte Declaration on Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security. In this declaration, African Heads of State and Government explicitly acknowledge the need for proactive measures and interventions to increase investments in agriculture and the continued improvement of sector policies for accelerated economic growth.

HLCD-3A took place in Abuja, Nigeria from 8 to 10 March 2010 as the main platform to launch 3ADI. It was held as one of the follow-up actions to the Global Agro-Industries Forum (GAIF), organized by FAO, UNIDO, IFAD and the Government of India in April 2008, with the objective of raising awareness, exchanging information, considering strategies and promoting partnerships for future action towards the development of competitive, sustainable and inclusive agro-industries.

The grounds for the conference and for 3ADI stem from the momentum created for agricultural sector development in Africa in conjunction with the recent political commitments resulting from:

• The recognition of the need to respond to the food prices crisis and avoid future crises.
• The Sirte Declaration, that expresses the commitment of African leaders towards the provision of support to the promotion of institutional reforms that will stimulate and facilitate accelerated expansion of agriculture related market opportunities.
• Additional political commitment to removing barriers to intra-regional trade and to building competitive food supply systems to replace imports.
• A widespread recognition in the continent that investments being made to improve primary production must go hand in hand with efforts to improve services, increase value addition, and address constraints on moving food to urban and regional markets.
• The need to increase financial flows from both private and public sectors into agriculture in Africa, as agro-industries and agribusinesses are profitable sectors through which additional resources from domestic financial systems can be channeled to the agricultural sector.

For more information, visit HLCD-3A website.