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The major objective of this study is to assess the complementarities of the measures adopted by Nigeria vis-à-vis the Economic Community of West African States Agricultural Policy and the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program (ECOWAP/CAADP). Within this context, the study examines the extent to which Nigeria has leveraged its agricultural sector to roll away food insecurity in terms of increased productivity and competitiveness. In 2003, African leaders initiated the CAADP to revitalize and leverage the agricultural sector to drive development on the continent. Consistent with the CAADP, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) developed its agricultural policy named ECOWAP in 2005. In the same vein, Nigeria developed a number of policy documents in line with the overarching thrusts of the ECOWAP/CAADP to boost the productivity and competitiveness of its agricultural sector. This study employs both primary and secondary data, which are analyzed through logical inductive method to evaluate the extent to which Nigeria has achieved the ECOWAP/CAADP commitments. It finds that despite the various programs evolved by the Nigerian government to leverage its enormous agricultural potentials, the country is neither on track to achieving food security nor becoming a major player in the global food market.

The Sahel region of Africa faces severe challenges in achieving food security, with the World Food Programme identifying Mali, Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso as major hunger hotspots. Despite the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) aiming to enhance food security across the continent, the region’s distinct challenges—including political instability and climate vulnerabilities—pose significant barriers to achieving these objectives. This study investigates the effectiveness of CAADP in improving food security within the Sahel region. Analyzing climatic, political, and economic data from 1990 to 2022, the study employs a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) model augmented by a random forest analysis. The findings reveal that none of the five Sahelian countries have made significant progress toward CAADP targets, with Mali demonstrating the highest commitment at just 46%. Carbon emissions emerged as the most influential factor (dominance score: 0.72) surpassing CAADP-related indicators. The study concludes that the pervasive impact of climate change, coupled with structural barriers, has severely hindered CAADP’s effectiveness in improving food security within the Sahel region. To address these challenges, CAADP must integrate climate-smart strategies such as sustainable farming, agroforestry, carbon sequestration, drought-resistant crops, improved irrigation, and soil conservation. However, sustainable food security in the Sahel requires more than technical solutions—it demands stronger governance, climate-responsive financing, and digital agricultural innovations. Regional bodies, governments, and development partners must collaborate to scale these interventions through national policies and regional frameworks. Embedding resilience-driven reforms within CAADP can foster a more adaptive, climate-conscious, and food-secure Sahel.

As we approach 2030, Africa remains distant from achieving the second sustainable development goal of zero hunger. Approximately 307 million people in Africa experience hunger, a number that may continue to rise. Therefore, it is imperative to urgently transform food systems to secure access to healthy and sustainable diets for all. Following the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), countries developed commitments to transform their food systems. This paper aims to: (i) review the food system transformation commitments made by five Eastern African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda) following the UNFSS, and (ii) assess their alignment with the UNFSS action areas and the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Declaration. The Food System Transformation Pathways (FSTPs) of each of the five countries were comprehensively reviewed and thematically analyzed. A total of 199 commitments were found. Regarding the UNFSS action areas, many commitments were focused on building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stresses (n = 97), accelerating the means of implementation (n = 79), and advancing equitable livelihoods (n = 60) . Regarding the Kampala Declaration, most commitments ( n  = 91) aligned with building resilient agrifood systems while only a few ( n  = 13) aligned with strengthening agrifood systems governance . Only 23.6% and 25.6% of the commitments aligned with nourish all people and food and nutrition security , respectively. While all the commitments indicate each country’s ambition in transforming their food systems towards healthiness and sustainability, none of the five country-level FSTPs outline a plan on how the commitments would be delivered, and only two commitments by Tanzania had explicit measurable metrics. Additionally, only Tanzania has so far developed a costed action plan for the implementation of the strategy. Since sustainable food systems are fundamental in promoting food and nutrition security, fostering social equity, and tackling climate change, it is essential for these countries to develop action plans with suitable indicators and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks to guide the implementation of their commitments. Countries should also regularly review their commitments to ensure their alignment with global and regional food systems transformation agendas, and that they are on track to achieve sustainability in their food systems.

This study examines the relationship between agricultural GDP growth and government spending on input subsidies, agricultural research, price support programs and infrastructure development in Zambia, Malawi and South Africa. The study compiled government expenditures to different agricultural areas from the year 2000 to 2014 using a variety of data sources such as government budgets, public expenditure reviews, and working papers. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller test was used for unit root testing and the variables were found to be non-stationary at their levels but stationary after differencing. After testing for co-integration among the variables, the error correction model (VECM) was then employed using the Stata software to assess the impact of government spending components on agricultural GDP growth. The study found agricultural research expenditure to be more growth-enhancing only in Zambia and South Africa. A positive relationship was obtained between agricultural growth and infrastructure expenditure in Zambia and Malawi while spending on infrastructure in South Africa had a lower growth impact. Even though spending on input subsidies in Malawi positively influenced agricultural GDP, contradicting results were observed in Zambia and South Africa. The study recommends the governments in the three countries shift their spending priorities and disburse more funds to more growth-enhancing areas. This study differs from previous studies in that it disaggregates total government expenditure into four crucial components that dominate budgetary expenditures in Sub-Saharan countries and examines as well as compares their impact on agricultural growth.

The study investigates the impact of government agricultural expenditure on agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) growth in South Africa. South Africa subscribes to the African Union-inspired Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), established in 2003 to exterminate hunger and lessen absolute poverty. CAADP requires governments to allot at least 10% of government expenditure to agriculture and achieve an average 6% annual growth in agricultural GDP through doubling agricultural productivity. Despite launching CAADP in 2011, South Africa is off-track. Our analysis follows a two-step procedure using data for the period 1986 to 2018. Firstly, using input and output data, we estimate agricultural TFP indices using the growth accounting (GA) and the Malmquist-Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methods. Secondly, we use the Autoregressive Distributed Lag econometric technique to estimate the agricultural TFP impact of government expenditure. Estimates from the GA approach proved more reliable. We find that government agricultural expenditure has a significant positive effect on agricultural TFP growth of 4% and 18.5% in the short-run and long-run, suggesting high and increasing marginal gains. Estimations on weather variables reveal that a 1% increase in average temperatures and rainfall would increase TFP by 2.7% and 1.4% respectively. We recommend that South Africa fully implements the CAADP. Also, given significantly positive estimates of imports and exports, we call for increased agricultural trade liberalization biased towards export promotion and more intra-Africa agricultural trade within the AfCFTA framework.

Perennial challenges of food insecurity, poverty, malnutrition and nutritional insecurity plague the African continent. Global development agencies have placed agriculture at the top of Africa continent development agenda as a sector with great potential in addressing Africa‘s perennial challenges. The African Heads of State through the African Union Commission (AUC) embarked on an ambitious plan; the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) to transform the fortunes of the agricultural sector on the continent. The African Heads of State and Government made commitments under the Maputo Declaration (2003) and Malabo Declaration (2014) whose implementation would be through CAADP. The AUC implemented CAADP through Africa Union Development Agency (AUDA) formerly New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD). Most countries encountered challenges in the implementation of CAADP that made it necessary for AUC through AUDA to provide policy support in the Domestication of CAADP. The AUC/AUDA provided policy support to eight (8) countries that is Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Gabon, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This paper looks at the lessons learnt from the policy support in domestication of CAADP in Lesotho. The study collected qualitative data through interviews, stakeholder consultation workshops, focus groups and questionnaires. The study analysed the data utilising thematic analysis and the study drew conclusions from the findings and consequently recommendations. The main conclusions of the study were that there is need for high level political ownership of NAIP development process if the process will likely have a chance of success, stakeholder participation is of paramount importance, therefore those leading the process must ensure inclusivity; a NAIP must be evidence based and it is important to conduct analytical work to inform the NAIP development process; good coordination during implementation will eliminate duplication of efforts, governments need to harness domestic resources to finance NAIP implementation to avoid over dependance on donor funds and it was evident that technical assistance helps improve capacity to develop Malabo complaint NAIPs. The main recommendations of the study include that high level decision makers need to be engaged in the NAIP development process right at the beginning for them to support and ensure high level political ownership; government needs to increase budgetary resources to the agriculture sector to avoid misconception that donors must fund implementation of NAIP; countries must strive to improve data collection and management systems which will improve and influence the analytical work that forms part of NAIP formulation; FAO must continue to provide technical assistance to governments in partnership with AUC/AUDA for successful development of Malabo complaint NAIPs on the continent.

We critically assessed experiences in the implementation of agricultural joint sector reviews in supporting mutual accountability in Southern Africa, focusing on the lessons learned, the challenges and recommendations for improvement. Empirical data were gathered from four countries that have implemented joint sector reviews: Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia. The results show that recent efforts to conduct joint sector review assessments in these countries have raised the quest for increased accountability for action and results. Despite progress to strengthen mutual accountability in the countries, monitoring and evaluation capacity remains a concern, especially at sub-national levels. The mutual accountability process and implementation of the agricultural joint sector review processes in the respective countries have come a long way in facilitating sector-wide engagement of stakeholders in planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of agricultural policies and programmes. These processes are critical to ensure effective implementation and realisation of development impacts of agricultural priorities in the national agricultural investment plans. Significance: • The implementation of the CAADP mutual accountability framework is critical to ensure effective implementation and realisation of development impacts of agricultural priorities in the national agricultural investment plans. • Agriculture joint sector reviews facilitate sector-wide engagement of stakeholders in planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of agricultural policies and programmes.

Resveratrol is a highly biologically active phytoalexin, found in many plant materials that are common elements of the human diet, such as grapes, nuts, and red wine. The therapeutic or disease preventative potential of this natural polyphenolic antioxidant has been limited in part due to its poor aqueous solubility and low oral bioavailability. We hypothesized that solid dispersion of resveratrol (Res) in cellulose derivative matrices might afford amorphous dispersions, from which supersaturated Res solutions would be produced in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract, resulting in higher Res bioavailability. We carried out structure–property studies employing cellulose esters with a range of physical characteristics but possessing features suitable for use in amorphous solid dispersions: carboxymethylcellulose acetate butyrate (CMCAB), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) and cellulose acetate adipate propionate (CAAdP). The cellulose derivative results were compared with those of a negative control, pure crystalline Res, and a positive control, Res/poly(vinylpyrrolidinone) (PVP). Solid dispersions were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRPD), modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) of solid dispersions. HPMCAS and PVP solid dispersions afforded faster and more complete Res release at pH 6.8; however Res is also released from PVP matrices at pH 1.2. The carboxyl-containing cellulose derivatives release Res to only a small extent at pH 1.2. This combination of solution and solid phase stabilization against crystallization, and pH-triggered drug release makes these cellulose esters attractive candidates for Res bioavailability enhancement.

Enhancing the productivity of agriculture is vital for Sub-Saharan Africa's economic future and is one of the most important tools to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity in the region. How governments elect to spend public resources has significant development impact in this regard. Choosing to catalyze a shift toward more effective, efficient, and climate-resilient public spending in agriculture can accelerate change and unleash growth. Not only does agricultural public spending in Sub-Saharan Africa lag behind other developing regions but its impact is vitiated by subsidy programs and transfers that tend to benefit elites to the detriment of poor people and the agricultural sector itself. Shortcomings in the budgeting processes also reduce spending effectiveness. In light of this scenario, addressing the quality of public spending and the efficiency of resource use becomes even more important than addressing only the level of spending. Improvements in the policy environment, better institutions, and investments in rural public goods positively affect agricultural productivity. These, combined with smarter use of public funds, have helped lay the foundations for agricultural productivity growth around the world, resulting in a wealth of important lessons from which African policy makers and development practitioners can draw. The rigorous analysis presented in this book provides options for reform with a view to boosting the productivity of African agriculture and eventually increasing development impact.