Liberia’s Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung has departed Liberia to represent President Joseph N. Boakai at the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit on the Post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
The summit is expected to take place from January 9-11, 2025, at the Commonwealth Resort Hotel in Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda.
Vice President Koung is leading Liberia’s delegation, which includes officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture.
The event is organized by the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development (DARBE) and the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD).
The summit’s primary objective is to review and endorse the Kampala CAADP Declaration, which will provide a roadmap for transforming Africa’s agri-food systems from 2026 to 2035.
This declaration is expected to shape the continent’s agricultural policies and investments over the next decade.
The summit will consist of two key sessions. The first, on January 10, 2025, will feature interactive discussions among ministers of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development, Water, and Sanitation.
These discussions will set the foundation for a thorough review of the CAADP Declaration, with subsequent recommendations to guide its implementation.
The second session, scheduled for January 11, 2025, will convene the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
During this session, the Assembly is expected to endorse the draft ten-year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035) and the Kampala CAADP Declaration.
At the Assembly, Vice President Koung will deliver Liberia’s National Statement, affirming the country’s commitment to the CAADP Declaration.
He will underscore that agriculture is central to Liberia’s national development strategy, particularly under the ARREST Agenda, which emphasizes rural transformation and sustainable growth.
Vice President Koung will also highlight President Boakai’s launch of the Liberia National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) 2024-2030, which aims to enhance food security, create jobs, and reduce poverty—goals that align with the broader CAADP framework for Africa’s agricultural transformation.
While in Kampala, Vice President Koung will hold bilateral meetings with select Heads of State, the African Union Commission, and other key development partners. These meetings will focus on strengthening Liberia’s agricultural sector, enhancing regional cooperation, and exploring opportunities for sustainable investments.
The AU Extraordinary Summit on the CAADP Agenda will be attended by Heads of State and Government from AU member states, as well as ministers and experts in agriculture (including fisheries, forestry, crops, and livestock), rural development, water, environment, youth, women, non-state actors, media, academia and development partners.
