UK (Commonwealth Union)_ The Commonwealth Secretariat and AGRA have formalized a partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at harnessing digital innovations to facilitate the transformation of smallholder agriculture across Africa. The MoU specifically targets the enhancement of agricultural production and trade by harmonizing national agricultural data systems using a Digital Public Infrastructure model (DPI). A consensus during the recent Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting underscored the importance of resilient DPIs as a foundational element for intra-Commonwealth trade and investment.
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Within the framework of the MoU, the Commonwealth will play a facilitating role in organizing multi-stakeholder dialogues on ‘National Agricultural Data Infrastructure (NAgDI)’ and providing capacity-building initiatives on ‘National Digital Agriculture Strategies’ in selected African countries. The NAgDI represents a DPI model designed to assist member countries in better managing their agricultural data. The signing ceremony, which took place at COP28, the UN climate change summit in Dubai, involved the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, and Dr Agnes Kalibata, the President of AGRA.
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Secretary-General Scotland commended AGRA’s longstanding achievements in Africa, emphasizing the Commonwealth’s potential to support member countries in utilizing data effectively and maintaining sovereignty over digital assets. She highlighted the collaborative role of organizations like AGRA, aiming to reduce duplication and enhance impact. According to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, “The long-standing spirit of cooperation in the Commonwealth positions us to play a crucial role in supporting member countries to harness the power of data to ensure sovereignty over how digital assets are handled. By collaborating with organisations, such as AGRA, who are doing important work on the ground with governments, communities, and smallholder farmers, the Commonwealth can help reduce duplication and improve impact.”
Dr Kalibata articulated that the partnership with the Commonwealth complements AGRA’s efforts to advocate for and advance Africa’s food system transformation. The collaboration is seen as an opportunity to strengthen South-South cooperation in global dialogues on climate action, trade, investments, and digitization. The agreement builds on existing partnerships with IICA, Grow Asia, the UAE, and Barbados, fostering a collective approach to sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development. With 21 member states in Africa, the Commonwealth envisions using the MoU to closely collaborate with AGRA, providing support to these nations and promoting intra-Commonwealth knowledge sharing.
The MoU signifies a new phase of collaboration between the Commonwealth and AGRA, addressing significant agricultural challenges in Africa. The outlined implementation plan focuses on the shared commitment of both organizations to fostering sustainable development and growth on the continent. The Commonwealth, guided by the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda, champions a flagship program on food system transformation. Employing a policy-driven approach, the Commonwealth aims to amplify the impact of digital innovations in African agriculture by facilitating the enabling environment for digitalization.
