GIZ and AUDA-NEPAD Partner to Boost Agribusiness Across Africa

South Africa, Magaliesberg: Africa’s agriculture is rich in potential—fertile land, dynamic markets, and a generation of ambitious young agripreneurs. Yet, with climate change, limited financing and growing demand, farmers and small agribusinesses need more support than ever before. That’s where a new partnership steps in.

On 5 December 2025 in South Africa, the GIZ project, Agri-Business Facility for Africa (ABF) and AUDA-NEPAD signed an Implementation Agreement to accelerate the transformation of Africa’s agrifood systems. This partnership builds on a decade of collaboration and represents a major step in promoting sustainable, inclusive, and climate-smart agribusiness across the continent.

For years, GIZ and AUDA-NEPAD walked the same path, supporting the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Now, with this agreement, AUDA-NEPAD takes on a political leadership role, strengthening implementation of joint initiatives and fostering collaboration in training, policy dialogue, and project execution.

“GIZ has been a steadfast ally in advancing the CAADP agenda for over a decade. This partnership ensures that effective solutions reach the communities and individuals who need them most. This is how we create meaningful, lasting change across Africa’s agricultural landscape.” - Director Ola Ehinmoro, on behalf of AUDA-NEPAD Director Estherine Fotabong-Lisenge

A Partnership for Sustainable Growth
The partnership strengthens policy dialogue, investment readiness, and the implementation of the CAADP Kampala Agenda of agricultural transformation in Africa. Together, ABF and AUDA-NEPAD are committed to building a resilient, inclusive and competitive agrifood sector, creating opportunities and improving livelihoods for millions.

“Inspired by Africa’s shared commitment to transform agri-food systems, ABF is proud to partner with AUDA-NEPAD to translate the Kampala Declaration into action. The implementation agreement marks an important step as we advance sustainable food production, agro-industrialisation, and inclusive value chains while mobilising bold public and private investment to make Africa’s agrifood systems bankable, competitive, and ready to scale.”- Linh Feldkoetter, Head of Project, ABF/GIZ

Empowering MSMEs, Women, and Youth
This partnership seeks to empowers MSMEs in cocoa, maize, and livestock value chains by providing training, technical support and access to investment. Gender inclusion and youth empowerment are central to ensuring that the benefits of growth are widely shared. Supporting MSMEs and farmers helps increase incomes, create jobs and build secure livelihoods

“Across the continent, smallholder farmers, women, youth, and emerging agripreneurs are not just beneficiaries; they are the beating hearts of Africa’s agricultural future,” Feldkoetter added.

This partnership is a commitment to Africa’s people and its potential, a pledge to help farmers, women and young entrepreneurs thrive, to make agriculture a driver of prosperity and to transform Africa’s agrifood systems into sustainable engines of growth for generations to come.