Early evidence from AFSA’s ongoing investigation suggests that the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has shifted its focus from field-level interventions to a more insidious approach that prioritises influencing agricultural policy across the continent. While AGRA’s efforts may claim to be supporting agricultural development, the evidence gathered in this investigation reveals a pattern of undue influence that often compromises the sovereignty of African nations and undermines sustainable agricultural practices.

The case studies from Kenya and Zambia highlight the extent of AGRA’s involvement in shaping policies that favour industrial agriculture, often at the expense of smallholder farmers, agroecology, and food sovereignty. The organisation’s strategic positioning within government institutions and its financial backing of policy processes have raised transparency concerns, particularly regarding the lack of inclusivity and the sidelining of alternative, more sustainable approaches to agriculture.

As Africa continues to develop its agricultural policies, it is crucial to ensure that these processes are democratic, transparent, and inclusive. The future of Africa’s food systems depends on the ability of its governments and people to resist external pressures and prioritise policies that are in the best interests of their farmers, ecosystems, and communities. The findings of this investigation call for greater scrutiny of AGRA’s role in policy-making and a re-evaluation of the influence wielded by external entities in shaping Africa’s agricultural future.

“AGRA’s fingerprints are all over Africa’s agricultural policies,” says AFSA’s Million Belay. “They represent an attack on African food sovereignty.”