National Roundtables

Although CAADP is continental in scope, it is realised through national efforts to promote growth in the agriculture sector and economic development. As such, CAADP is not a set of supranational programmes, but a framework embodying a set of key principles and targets.

This means that no single road map fits all countries. Each will implement the CAADP Agenda in its own way - although each will use a common set of tools, such as Pillar frameworks and the country roundtable process. Success will be measured by the extent to which policies and investment programmes change, guided by the common principles and goals of the CAADP Agenda.

The national roundtables, which are still under way, will lead to national pacts between donors and individual governments that will help different countries to achieve the four Pillars.

National roundtable responsibilities

National roundtables take responsibility for:

• aligning state policies with regional priorities and the four Pillars;
• exploiting synergies and discussing economic bottlenecks between neighbouring countries, and deciding appropriate action on those matters;
• identifying gaps in the donor funding needed to achieve agreed priorities;
• initiating work to monitor and evaluate CAADP's progress at the national, regional and continental levels.

National roundtable processes

With the four Pillars as a framework, CAADP efforts drill down to the national level through a roundtable process that focuses on:

• exploiting synergies and inclusive, evidence-based discussions on socio-economic bottlenecks and deciding appropriate action on those matters;
• identifying gaps in donor funding needed to achieve agreed priorities;
• initiating work to monitor and evaluate CAADP's progress at the national, regional and continental levels;
• aligning state policies with regional priorities and the four Pillars;
• developing long-term commitments to finance agricultural investment programmes that are aligned with CAADP principles and targets.

The country roundtable process is flexible and is being constantly adapted, becoming more robust as it is used and refined.

National CAADP roundtable implementation processes

CAADP Implementation: achievements to date (October 2009) 
Countries are continuously adapting the CAADP Agenda into their agriculture and rural development strategies and programmes. Togo, Burundi, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Benin, Mali, Niger and Liberia have signed their CAADP Compacts in the last quarter. Rwanda was the first country to sign up in 2007. Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, Uganda, Swaziland, Kenya and Zambia have also advanced with the Country Roundtables and are expected to sign their compacts in 2009/2010. For more on these upcoming events go to the Events calendar of the website.

In Zimbabwe, NEPAD is in the process of exploring support for CAADP implementation. An initial preparatory and planning mission has already been held. The focus is now on developing appropriate responses to the food security challenges facing Zimbabwe. Some potential responses include better access to seeds and fertilizers and food emergency supplies.

It is expected that concrete investment priorities for all of the countries that have kick-started the CAADP process will be defined for support from the international development community who are actively involved in the CAADP Roundtable process.

National focal point contacts

List of CAADP Focal Points (pdf, 283 KB)