KANDY, Sri Lanka (PAMACC News) – At the Nyéléni Global Forum in Sri Lanka, women from across the world issued a bold call: feminism must be placed at the heart of the Common Political Agenda and Action Plan (CPAA). They warned that food sovereignty and climate justice cannot be realized without dismantling patriarchy and recognizing women’s contributions to sustaining life and communities.Delivering the intervention on behalf of the Women’s Assembly, Susan Owiti of La Via Campesina stressed that women globally continue to shoulder the double burden of sustaining households and communities while being excluded from decision-making. “Women’s labour in food production is systematically exploited. The liberation of women will lead the transformation we seek—one based on equality, care, and solidarity,” she told delegates.The Assembly highlighted glaring omissions in the draft CPAA, including silence on gender-based violence, patriarchy within movements, and the realities faced by women in conflict zones. Delegates noted that even within progressive spaces, women encounter exclusion and violence. “We cannot claim to fight for liberation out there if we reproduce domination in here,” the Assembly declared, pointing to incidents of disrespect and harassment reported during the forum itself.In a show of internationalist solidarity, women expressed deep support for struggles against oppression worldwide, from Palestine to Afghanistan. They drew clear links between the exploitation of women’s labour, imperialism, and resource plunder. The Assembly insisted that feminism is not an optional perspective but a political necessity in confronting systems of domination.Central to their intervention was the demand to recognize women’s historic and ongoing roles as seed keepers, fisherfolk, and custodians of biodiversity. Women condemned the corporate capture of seeds, water, and natural resources, stressing that these processes criminalize seed saving, destroy ecosystems, and deepen inequality. They called for decisive action to protect peasant and Indigenous seed systems, resist destructive extractivism, and defend territories from land and water grabbing.The women also underscored the urgency of reorganizing and valuing care work, which underpins all economies but remains invisible and unpaid. They demanded policies to guarantee equal access to land, income, education, and healthcare, alongside strong public services and renewable energy systems that prioritize people over profit. Strengthening feminist education—rooted in popular, Indigenous, and grassroots perspectives—was identified as critical for building systemic change.Sophie Ogutu, a Kenyan feminist with the World March of Women, reminded delegates that patriarchy is a global system deeply embedded in capitalism: “The end of capitalism alone will not end patriarchy. But the end of patriarchy will end capitalism, because global economies depend fundamentally on women’s unpaid and underpaid labour.”This analysis reinforced the Assembly’s insistence that dismantling patriarchy is inseparable from struggles for food sovereignty and climate justice. The women urged the forum to treat feminism not as a separate agenda item but as a cross-cutting principle informing every aspect of the CPAA—from democracy and people’s economies to land, health, and climate.The Assembly concluded with a powerful affirmation: “Without feminism, there is no food sovereignty. Systemic transformation—now and never!”

NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) – A €45 million partnership has been launched by the IKEA Foundation and SNV to reimagine how food and energy systems work together in Eastern Africa. The five-year initiative, known as the Power for Food Partnership, will roll out in Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Kenya with the aim of boosting resilience, improving livelihoods, and driving systemic change at the intersection of regenerative agriculture (RA) and the productive use of renewable energy (PURE). Breaking silos to build resilience For decades, food and energy systems in the region have developed in isolation. Farmers tested sustainable practices on one side, while renewable energy projects expanded separately on the other. This fragmentation limited their combined impact. “This partnership is an opportunity to think differently about how systems can work together, and who gets to shape them,” said Annemieke Beekmans, Director of Technical Expertise at SNV. “Beyond a technical overlap, the focus on nexus points between regenerative agriculture and productive use of renewable energy, through better coordination, smarter, more inclusive investment and the primacy of stronger local leadership are vital to scaling outcomes. In a time of increasing fragmentation, values-driven partnerships like this are a way to build the kind of enabling environment that long-term, inclusive and sustainable development actually requires.” Farmers at the frontline of climate change The need for such integration is urgent. In Uganda, climate models predict that shifting rainfall patterns could reduce maize yields nationally by up to 10 percent in the near future. Across the region, most rural households remain off-grid, leaving farmers unable to irrigate crops, process harvests, or preserve produce. While technologies like solar-powered irrigation, cold storage, and decentralized agro-processing already exist, uptake is hampered by affordability challenges, policy barriers, and weak infrastructure. For women and youth, who already face systemic barriers in accessing land, credit, and decision-making spaces, the challenges are even steeper. Locally-led solutions at the core The Power for Food Partnership is designed to address these gaps through locally-led innovations and systemic collaboration. By bringing together communities, governments, civil society, and private sector actors, the initiative will create an enabling environment where regenerative agriculture and renewable energy can reinforce each other. “This partnership is rooted in trust and shared purpose. It’s about standing alongside communities who are leading change from within. By connecting regenerative agriculture and renewable energy, we’re supporting locally driven innovations that respond to real needs and lived experiences. We’re proud to partner with SNV and local leaders in building systems that are resilient, inclusive, and shaped by those most affected,” said Marilia Bezerra, Chief Programme Officer of IKEA Foundation. A new chapter of collaboration The partnership builds on earlier collaboration between IKEA Foundation and SNV dating back to 2019, which piloted approaches and generated learning in the same four countries. That experience laid the groundwork for this larger, longer-term commitment. With this investment in its first phase, the Power for Food Partnership signals a bold new effort to bridge fragmented systems, tackle structural inequalities, and empower communities to…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (PAMACC News) – The 13th edition of the Climate Change and Development in Africa Conference (CCDA-XIII) took place in Addis Ababa with a strong message: Africa is ready to lead its own climate agenda, built on science, inclusive finance, and a just transition. Convened under the theme “Empowering Africa’s Climate Action with Science, Finance, and Just Transition,” the three-day gathering brings together policymakers, scientists, climate negotiators, civil society leaders, development partners, and private sector representatives. Their mission is to sharpen an African-led, evidence-based climate agenda ahead of key global negotiations. A Pivotal Moment for Africa In her opening address, Jihane El Gaouzi, Head of the Sustainable Environment Division at the African Union Commission (AUC), delivered remarks on behalf of Commissioner Moses Vilakati. She described the conference as unfolding at a turning point for the continent. “This year’s CCDA comes at a pivotal time. The climate crisis is accelerating — but so is Africa’s determination to lead with solutions grounded in equity, innovation, and resilience,” she said. El Gaouzi stressed that Africa’s story is not solely about vulnerability. Instead, it is about immense potential for transformation. “Over the next few days, we will explore not only the vulnerabilities that shape our shared experience, but also the immense opportunities to transform Africa into a hub of green growth and sustainable development,” she noted. Her message was clear: Africa should not be defined by climate risks but by the solutions it brings forward. “From scaling up climate finance to strengthening adaptive capacity and advancing homegrown research and technologies, CCDA-XIII is a platform for bold ideas and collaborative action,” she concluded. Putting People at the Center For the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), which represents a broad coalition of civil society organizations, the urgency of the moment cannot be overstated. Delivering remarks on behalf of Executive Director Mithika Mwenda, PACJA officials highlighted the devastating human toll of climate inaction. “In 2024 alone, more than 110 million Africans were affected by climate disasters — floods, droughts, and heatwaves. These are not abstract statistics. They represent lives disrupted, dignity eroded, and futures compromised,” Mwenda emphasized. He reminded participants that Africa, despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, continues to bear the brunt of climate impacts. “Despite contributing the least to global emissions, Africa pays the highest price. That is why CCDA-XIII matters. This gathering must provide the scaffolding for Africa’s common position — equipping our leaders and negotiators with the evidence and solutions to stand tall in global climate diplomacy,” he said. Mwenda also celebrated Africa’s pioneering climate initiatives, citing Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative — a massive tree-planting campaign — as a global model of ambition and vision. Negotiators Call for Science-Driven Policy The African Group of Negotiators (AGN), which represents the continent in international climate talks, echoed these sentiments while sharpening the focus on science and sovereignty. Richard Muyungi, Chair of the AGN, declared that Africa was entering a new phase in climate leadership. “Africa is entering a new phase…

OPINION In July 2025, I had the privilege of representing the Seed and Knowledge Initiative at the African Chefs’ Gathering and Policy Convening on African Food Systems in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event brought together participants from 23 countries in a space of unity, purpose and solidarity, where voices from across the continent affirmed the beauty and sacredness of African food systems. We celebrated the richness of our heritage through indigenous foods used in ceremonies and healing, traditional dishes carrying ancestral wisdom, and food rituals that bind communities. Chefs spoke about grains like fonio and teff and fruits like baobab and moringa, reminding us that every dish tells a story of seed, soil and survival. Yet these stories are at risk, as imported and ultra-processed foods continue to push indigenous diets to the margins, weakening local economies, eroding culture and harming human health. What inspired me most was seeing chefs act as cultural ambassadors, using their kitchens as platforms of advocacy. Through food, they challenged policies that sideline traditional crops and smallholder farmers, and called for sovereignty and justice in how Africa feeds itself. At the same time, we confronted hard truths: the disconnection of youth from farming and cooking, colonial narratives that undermine African cuisine, the impacts of climate change and land degradation, and policies that speak of agroecology but fail to support it in practice. Despite these challenges, hope and opportunity guided the gathering. Together we imagined a future where African food knowledge is documented, shared and celebrated, where women and youth are central to agroecological and culinary transformation, and where policies and education systems uplift African food traditions. The commitment that emerged was clear; to uphold dignity, share knowledge, challenge narratives that devalue African food systems, and protect the small-scale producers, consumers and chefs who safeguard this heritage. Leaving Addis Ababa, I carried with me the spirit of a living declaration that goes beyond words and takes root in our fields, kitchens, schools and policies. I was reminded of the annual Harare Good Food and Seed Festival and other seed fairs and community events in Southern Africa, where local chefs prepare delicious meals using indigenous ingredients sourced from small holder farmers. These fairs are powerful spaces that showcase the richness of African food and highlight the commitment of SKI partners to securing healthy food systems rooted in locally produced crops and traditions. They also create vital opportunities for sharing knowledge and building solidarity across the continent, reminding us that our strength lies in celebrating and protecting our food heritage together. As SKI, we remain committed to advancing agroecology and farmer-led seed systems while standing in solidarity with smallholder farmers who continue to nourish Africa with their hands, hearts and cultural practices.