The 2023 ATOR aims to contribute evidence and analysis to guide the design of the post-Malabo agenda for agricultural development in Africa. It reviews progress since 2003, noting that while Africa made gains, challenges remain or have been exacerbated by recent shocks. The report examines methodologies for food systems assessment and strategic issues like nutrition, climate change, and data gaps. Key themes are the need for innovation, collaboration, strengthened capacities, evidence-based planning, improved data, and analytical tools to inform the next phase of Africa's agricultural transformation.

1. Senior Associate Scientist,
AKADEMIYA2063
2023 ATOR Overview
Julie Collins

2. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
From Maputo to Malabo to today
• Africa has made tremendous progress on multiple fronts since 2003
• But progress slowed in the mid-2010s, and recent shocks further exacerbated
challenges
• Nearly all African countries are engaging with the Biennial Review, but Africa is off-
track to achieve the Biennial Review commitments
• The post-Malabo agenda must help Africa get back on track, resume rapid progress,
and respond to new and remaining challenges

3. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
The importance of food systems transformation
• Food systems challenges cannot be addressed in isolation, but require coordinated actions to
remove constraints on multiple fronts
• Africa engaged enthusiastically in the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit
• Africa Common Position on Food Systems; national food systems transformation pathways
• The Malabo Declaration already envisioned a food systems approach
• The post-Malabo agenda needs to deepen this approach and build on achievements while
addressing current challenges

4. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Objective of the ATOR
• The development and implementation of CAADP and the Malabo Declaration have
been guided by knowledge and evidence
• The 2023 ATOR aims to begin this process for the post-Malabo agenda
• The report strives to assemble relevant, high-quality evidence and analysis to
contribute to the design of the post-Malabo agenda

5. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Looking back on CAADP implementation;
defining methodologies and tools

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Understanding the Malabo theory of change and progress
in CAADP implementation
• Empirical assessment of relationships between Biennial
Review thematic areas, performance categories and
indicators
• Review of status and progress on CAADP Results
Framework indicators and implementation processes
Growth in agriculture value added, 2003–2022

7. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Methodologies and tools for food systems assessment
• Food systems diagnostics
• Comprehensive assessment of food systems status, drivers, strengths and challenges
• Qualitative insights from stakeholders; quantitative assessments of food systems
indicators; analysis of policy gaps
• Iterative process involving extensive stakeholder engagement
• Forensic framework for resilience and sustainability
• Forward-looking tool to visualize the predicted future evolution of food systems
indicators
• Decision makers select indicators, examine impacts on outcomes of interest through
scenario analysis
• Identifies expected impacts and tradeoffs

8. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Strategic issues in food systems
transformation

9. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Nutrition
• Need for nutrition-smart food systems capable of delivering healthy diets to all
• Alignment of Africa’s UNFSS food system transformation commitments with the WHO
food systems priority policy actions
• High burden of micronutrient deficiencies in Africa; need to assess micronutrient
adequacy at different food system components

10. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Food Safety
• Africa has a disproportionately high burden of food-borne diseases
• A number of continental policy tools and initiatives are helping to focus efforts
• AU SPS Policy Framework, Food Safety Strategy for Africa, among others
• Key constraints:
• Generation of evidence for risk assessment, implementation capacity
• A paradigm shift in food safety management is required, encompassing governance,
data, capacities, funding, and focus

11. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Climate change adaptation
• Substantial negative impacts expected, in agriculture and
economywide
• Climate-smart agriculture practices can counteract, but needs
large scale adoption  substantial investments
• Need to increase adaptive capacity – increase human capital,
build asset base
• Adaptation actions and investments should be informed by
detailed understanding of needs
• Needs for adaptation capacity differ depending on current food
security and exposure and vulnerability to climate change.

12. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Bioeconomy
• The bioeconomy approach applies science, technology, and innovation for sustainable
production and value addition based on biological resources
• Bioeconomy actions and innovations are already taking place throughout Africa;
bioeconomy plans are in place or under development in several countries and regions
• Gaps: underinvestment in R&D; lack of education and training to build human capacity
• Need for continent-wide bioeconomy strategy

13. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Gender equality and women’s empowerment
• Aside from their intrinsic value, increasing gender equality and women’s
empowerment can contribute to positive food systems transformation outcomes
• But some aspects of food systems transformation may not contribute to equality
and women’s empowerment
• Need for better understanding of linkages between food systems transformation,
equality and empowerment
• Gender-transformative programs should consider women’s workload; involve men
and women in shifting gender norms
• Need for gender-related data

14. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Data
• Data to inform the development, implementation and monitoring of policies and
actions is essential
• Several initiatives are working to improve the availability of food systems
transformation data in Africa, but important gaps remain
• Data quality and timeliness; gender and sex disaggregated data; data maintenance and
dissemination; coverage of key food systems components
• Efforts are required to increase investments in data capacities, improve coordination
between data generators and users, allocate sufficient funds to data collection,
define food systems indicators

15. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Science, technology and innovation
• Sustainable output growth requires productivity increases, fueled by technological advances
• For some food systems components, technological advances require public investments in national
R&D systems
• For others, technologies may be transferrable from abroad  need to promote foreign direct
investment
• Policies should encourage private sector R&D and build adaptation capacity of farmers and other
food systems actors

16. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Key takeaways

17. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Major themes of the 2023 ATOR
• Importance of innovation, R&D
• Need for cooperation and collaboration among food systems actors
• Need for strengthened capacities: implementation capacity, adoption capacity
• Evidence-based planning is key—and requires continuing efforts
• Increase data availability, coverage, quality
• Analytical tools and methodologies are needed to translate data into evidence
• Bringing knowledge and evidence to bear in the design of the post-Malabo agenda is
a long-term project; the ATOR is an initial step

18. THANK YOU