The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is the continental leader in agricultural transformation after emerging as Africa’s top-performing Regional Economic Community (REC) in the 5th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Biennial Review (BR) Report, attaining an impressive score of 5.77 out of 10.
The landmark report, officially launched on 14 May 2026 by the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), marks the conclusion of the historic Malabo Declaration decade (2015-2025) and ushers in a new era under the CAADP Kampala Declaration and Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035).
For SADC, the achievement reflects years of deliberate investment in regional coordination, evidence-based planning, technical backstopping and collective commitment by Member States towards achieving food security, agricultural resilience and inclusive economic growth.
The latest Biennial Review results positioned SADC ahead of all RECs on the continent, reaffirming Southern Africa’s growing influence in driving Africa’s agricultural transformation agenda.
Several Member States recorded notable performances, with Malawi, Mauritius, Tanzania and Zimbabwe all scoring above the continental benchmark of 5 out of 10. Meanwhile, Lesotho and Zimbabwe received special recognition for demonstrating continuous improvement across successive Biennial Review cycles a sign of strengthening institutional capacity and policy implementation.
The strong regional showing demonstrates the impact of coordinated regional systems, political will, and sustained technical support mechanisms championed through the SADC Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate.
During the official launch, H.E Moses Vilakati, delivering the keynote address, applauded Southern Africa for its exemplary commitment to advancing the CAADP agenda. The Commissioner further acknowledged the critical role of development and technical partners, including AGRA, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and AUDA-NEPAD, for their unwavering support in implementing the Biennial Review process across Africa.
Special recognition was also extended to all Regional Economic Communities for strengthening continental coordination and enabling Member States to participate effectively in the review and reporting processes.
Behind the regional achievement was a strong and dedicated technical coordination mechanism led by the SADC Secretariat and its Technical Expert Team, which provided hands-on support to Member States strengthened data collection, validation, reporting and overall technical backstopping throughout the BR process.
The achievement reflects the often-unseen but critical work of regional experts, statisticians, planners, and policymakers who worked tirelessly to ensure quality reporting and evidence-driven agricultural planning across the region.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African Proverb
The proverb perfectly captures the spirit behind SADC’s success a regional effort built on solidarity, collaboration and shared ambition.
The launch of the 5th BR Report represents more than a reporting milestone; it is a defining moment in Africa’s agricultural development journey.
Over the past decade, the Malabo Declaration provided a roadmap for transforming agriculture into a driver of economic growth, trade, employment creation and food and nutrition security. The latest report highlights Africa’s progress in areas such as agricultural growth, intra-African trade expansion, improved nutrition outcomes and increased public investment in agriculture.
As the continent transitions to implementing the Kampala Declaration (2026–2035), SADC’s performance offers a strong model of what coordinated regional leadership and Member State ownership can achieve.
At a time when Africa faces mounting pressures from climate change, food insecurity, economic shocks and rising unemployment, SADC’s achievement sends a powerful message that regional cooperation remains central to building resilient and inclusive agri-food systems.
The region’s leadership in the 5th Biennial Review is therefore not only a recognition of past efforts, but also a call to sustain momentum, strengthen accountability and accelerate implementation under the new CAADP framework.
With strong political commitment, coordinated technical support, and resilient Member States, Southern Africa continues to demonstrate that agricultural transformation is possible and that Africa’s future can indeed be food-secure, prosperous, and sustainable.
