AGRA, the African-led institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, has issued a strong call for a shift from promises to concrete action at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which is currently under way in Belém, Brazil. Positioned as both the “Implementation COP” and the “COP of Truth”, the gathering is seen as a critical moment to drive real change that benefits those most affected by climate impacts – smallholder farmers.
AGRA is urging governments, development partners and the private sector to deliver practical finance and policy mechanisms that reinforce resilience across Africa’s food systems, while creating meaningful opportunities for youth and women.
“Africa’s farmers are not waiting for the future; they are shaping it,” said Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA. “A farmer-first climate breakthrough means turning promises into progress, converting finance into resilience and transforming ambition into action where it matters most, on farms.”
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Tackling Climate Change Through Agriculture
AGRA works across the continent to improve farmers’ access to quality inputs, markets, finance and supportive policies. At COP30, the organisation is spotlighting solutions proven to scale, such as stronger value chains, inclusive financing models, efficient markets and soil stewardship practices that sustain productivity under a changing climate.
This agenda aligns closely with the newly adopted Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and Human-Centered Climate Action, which is endorsed by 43 countries and the European Union. The declaration reinforces the essential link between climate action and social justice, recognising that those most exposed to climate shocks, including Africa’s smallholder farmers, need a fair share of climate finance to secure their livelihoods.
AGRA emphasises that farmers should be recognised not just as frontline victims but as active drivers of resilience and innovation.
“Resilience is built when the right policies, finance and technical solutions meet at the farm level,” noted Tilahun Amede, AGRA’s Director for Sustainable Farming, Climate Adaptation and Resilience. “We want to show how soil health, water management and strong value chains translate climate ambition into tangible results, both short-term and for generations to come.”
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Financing the Adaptation Gap
The UNEP “Adaptation Gap Report 2025” warns that developing countries face a staggering annual shortfall of $284 to $339 billion to adequately adapt to climate change, with current funding covering barely 10% of what is required.
AGRA argues that climate finance must flow directly to farmers, rural enterprises and locally led initiatives that are already driving transformation across Africa’s food economies.
A key focus is reforming regulations to speed the adoption of climate-resilient seed varieties, strengthen risk-sharing instruments that unlock private investment and align donor programmes with long-term national strategies instead of temporary pilot projects.
Soils and Youth at the Heart of the Response
The degradation of Africa’s farmlands remains a major barrier to resilience. Nearly 65% of productive land is already compromised, according to the “Africa Food Systems Report 2025”, leading to declining yields and shrinking incomes. AGRA is advocating for:
- Large-scale investment in soil health;
- Diversified cropping systems;
- Balanced organic and mineral nutrient use; and
- Digital soil data systems for better national planning.
Meanwhile, the organisation’s youth strategy prioritises jobs and entrepreneurship beyond primary production, creating pathways into processing, logistics, inputs and agri-services. AGRA is also calling for measurable progress on youth financing indicators to retain skills and talent in the sector.
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From Declarations to Delivery
Drawing on interventions in 15 African countries, AGRA argues that delivery-first implementation, tying finance to evidence-based outcomes, is essential for meeting climate and food security goals faster.
The real test for COP30, AGRA maintains, will be whether commitments translate into accessible, affordable solutions for farmers on the ground.
AGRA is also a partner in the Growing Innovations showcase, a collaborative platform featuring the Gates Foundation, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), AIM for Scale, CGIAR, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and the United Arab Emirates. The 10 November event and exhibition highlight scalable, farmer-designed climate-smart innovations transforming food systems globally.
