Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa ( AFSA )
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AFSA brings small-scale food producers, farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, faith groups, consumers, women, youth and activists from across the continent of Africa to create a united and louder voice for food sovereignty.
AFSA is an alliance of around 40 member networks active in 50 countries. We estimate that our members outreach to over 200 million people.
Regional member networks have national networks in countries they work in. Each national network has many local member associations. Each local association has many individual members. For example, one of AFSA’s members is the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Association – a regional network of over 283 civil society organizations in 12 countries in East, Central and Southern Africa. PELUM works to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and the sustainability of farming communities, with an estimated total membership of over 10 million people.
Afsa
More Information
Meet our members
Pastoralism at the heart of African food systems
Women leading the drive for agroecology
Citizens for Sustainable Food Systems
Meet the AFSA board
NEWEST POSTS
A CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF DIGITAL MARKETING IN THE TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY March 23, 2022
Declaration of the West African Peasants Seed Fair in Djimini March 19, 2022
Advancing Agroecological Enterprises for Healthy Local Food Economies March 7, 2022
ON WORLD SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY, AFSA CALLS FOR A SPEEDY TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY February 19, 2022
Peoples Summit Declaration targets EU-AU Partnership February 17, 2022
Advocating for agroecology in policy and practice
AFSA is a continental voice for food sovereignty. Its key message: to advocate for a transition to agroecology in Africa. This transition requires policy change, but also a change of mindset, replacing the underlying narrative of the industrial food system with a holistic view of a better world.
Industrial agriculture is a dead end. It claims to have raised yields but it has done so at great cost, with extensive soil damage, huge biodiversity loss and negative impacts on nutrition, food sovereignty and natural resources.
In many ways, agroecology is the antithesis of industrial, corporate-driven, monoculture-based agricultural systems. Where industrial agriculture seeks to simplify, agroecology embraces complexity. Where industrial agriculture aims to eliminate biodiversity, agroecology depends on it. Where industrial agriculture is based on one-size-fits-all technofix, agroecology provides local solutions to local problems. Where industrial agriculture pollutes and degrades, agroecology regenerates and restores, working with nature – not against nature.
The strongest resistance to agroecology comes from the vested interests of the industrial food system, who have used their huge economic power to convince African governments that industrial agriculture is the way to go.
Can African policy makers be bold enough to embrace the sustainable solution? Or are they going to wait until it’s too late, until the soils are exhausted, biodiversity devastated, nutritional and health problems mounting, and farmers dependent on outside inputs and knowledge?
We need a complete transformation of our food systems. Agroecology is a people-centred system of sustainable agriculture, combining indigenous knowledge with cutting edge science, making the best use of nature to create healthy communities, and empowering a social movement that resists the corporatization of agriculture.
It’s time to let go of tired narratives and failed solutions. It’s time to support small-scale food producers to build a sustainable, resilient, diverse, healthy, productive, and culturally appropriate food system for Africa.
More Information
Towards an African Food Policy
Seed Policy Report: Resisting Corporate Takeover Of African Seed Systems And Building Farmer Managed Seed Systems For Food Sovereignty In Africa
Agroecology Policy Report: A Study Of Policies, Frameworks And Mechanisms Related To Agroecology And Sustainable Food Systems In Africa
Land Policy Report: Policy Trends And Emerging Opportunities For Strengthening Community Land Rights In Africa
AFSA Briefing papers
African Farmers’ Seed Rights Threatened : an AFSA briefing paper
Securing Community Land Rights In Africa : an AFSA briefing paper
Agroecology – the sustainable response to climate change in Africa : an AFSA briefing paper
Citizens for Sustainable Food Systems : an AFSA briefing paper
NEWEST POSTS
A CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF DIGITAL MARKETING IN THE TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY March 23, 2022
Declaration of the West African Peasants Seed Fair in Djimini March 19, 2022
Advancing Agroecological Enterprises for Healthy Local Food Economies March 7, 2022
ON WORLD SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY, AFSA CALLS FOR A SPEEDY TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY February 19, 2022
Peoples Summit Declaration targets EU-AU Partnership February 17, 2022
Evidence for Agroecology
AFSA is building a clear narrative, backed up with evidence, for the transition to Agroecology. AFSA gathers evidence of the benefits of agroecology for climate action, nutrition, agricultural biodiversity, social justice and more. The evidence demonstrates the holistic nature of agroecology and offers empirical data to back it up.
The evidence demonstrates that:
Agroecology Is Diverse – like Nature.
It’s Productive – increasing yields in a short time.
It’s Resilient to climate change, and puts carbon back in the ground.
It’s Efficient – recycling resources, less inputs, less waste.
It’s Culturally Appropriate – local innovations and solutions.
Our evidence comes from a variety of sources.
Case Studies: More than 70 on-the-ground examples of agroecology in transition all over the continent; each one demonstrating the benefits and offering a huge potential for sharing and scaling these practices.
Research: Policy studies that help us understand the current situation, the power dynamics keeping it in place, and provide entry points for advocacy and opportunities for change.
Films: Short documentaries voiced by grassroots food producers, animated films to explain the issues in visual ways, interviews and presentations by experts.
We invite you to look at the evidence we have gathered, and see the difference that the transition to agroecology is making to communities across Africa.
More Information
Case studies on:
Agroecology
Land and Soil
Pastoralism
Seed Sovereignty
Agroecology – The Bold Future of Farming in Africa
Policy studies:
Seed Policy Report: Resisting Corporate Takeover Of African Seed Systems And Building Farmer Managed Seed Systems For Food Sovereignty In Africa
Agroecology Policy Report: A Study Of Policies, Frameworks And Mechanisms Related To Agroecology And Sustainable Food Systems In Africa
Land Policy Report: Policy Trends And Emerging Opportunities For Strengthening Community Land Rights In Africa
AGRA at Ten Years: Searching for Evidence of a Green Revolution in Africa
More Publications
Films and animations
Campaigning for Agroecology for Climate Action
AFSA is campaigning to place agroecology as a key policy response to the climate crisis that is negatively impacting the economic, social, and ecological life of Africans. Ten national networks are campaigning to drive public opinion and influence decision-makers to shift agriculture and food policy away from destructive industrial farming and adopt agroecological farming as a key climate response, reducing GHG emissions and putting carbon back in the ground.
Climate change is already a reality for millions of African farmers, pastoralists and fishers, as droughts, rangeland degradation, and ocean temperature rises threaten livelihoods and food security. With around 70% of the population dependent on rain-fed farming, Africa does not have the safety net of wealthier, industrialized nations.
The IPCC 1.5C Report 2018 is clear: we have less than 12 years to make radical emission cuts if we are to avert a climate catastrophe. Global food systems generate one-third of all greenhouse gases and account for 75% of global deforestation. Much of this is linked to industrial farming, e.g. fossil fuel use, fertilizer production, burning forests to make way for large-scale monocrops.
Current African policy solutions increase pressure on small scale food producers to take up industrial agriculture initiatives such as climate-smart agriculture, GMO seeds, and fossil fuel-based chemical inputs, releasing the carbon stored in the soil, while increasing the burden of GHGs in the atmosphere, and polluting precious water resources.
More Information
Agroecology – The Sustainable Response To Climate Change In Africa : An AFSA Briefing Paper
Agroecology: The Real Deal For Climate Crisis In Africa
Agroecology For Climate Resilience Conference
Agroecology – The Bold Future of Farming in Africa
Agroecology for Climate Action: Country Policy Studies
Regional Study
Cameroon
Cote d’Ivoire
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Togo
Uganda
Zimbabwe
Zambia
NEWEST POSTS
A CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF DIGITAL MARKETING IN THE TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY March 23, 2022
Declaration of the West African Peasants Seed Fair in Djimini March 19, 2022
Advancing Agroecological Enterprises for Healthy Local Food Economies March 7, 2022
ON WORLD SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY, AFSA CALLS FOR A SPEEDY TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY February 19, 2022
Peoples Summit Declaration targets EU-AU Partnership February 17, 2022
The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) is a broad alliance of different civil society actors that are part of the struggle for food sovereignty and agroecology in Africa. These include: African farmers’ organizations, African NGO networks, specialist African NGOs, consumer movements in Africa, international organizations which support the stance of AFSA, and individuals. Its members represent smallholder farmers, pastoralists, hunter/gatherers, indigenous peoples; faith based institutions, and environmentalists from across Africa. It is a network of networks and currently with 30 active members. See how to become a member?
Our Vision
underline
*Africa developing just and equitable ways of life for her people in harmony with nature.
*Africa continually harnessing and enhancing her traditional knowledge systems.
*African peoples controlling their territories, livelihoods and governance systems and related decision-making processes.
*African peoples holding their governments and corporate powers to account for their legacy to the future generations.
Our Mission
underline
The core purpose of AFSA is to influence policies and to promote African solutions for food sovereignty. AFSA serves as a continental platform for consolidation of issues pertaining to food sovereignty and together marshal a single and louder voice on issues and tabling clear workable solutions.
Brief History
underline
AFSA was first conceived in 2008 by a group of concerned individuals and was launched at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties 17 (COP 17) in Durban, South Africa in December 2011. At the launch, AFSA released a report emphasizing that Food Sovereignty can cool the planet, while feeding the world and regenerating ecosystems. AFSA members represent small holder farmers, pastoralists, hunter/gatherers, indigenous peoples, citizens and environmentalists from Africa who possess a strong voice that shapes policy on the continent in the area of community rights, family farming, promotion of traditional knowledge and knowledge systems, the environment and natural resource management. Thus, providing a forum to analyse, discuss issues, challenge policies and identify ways forward.
WHAT DOES AFSA BELIEVE IN?
Championing Small African Family Farming/Production Systems based on agroecological and indigenous approaches that sustain food sovereignty and the livelihoods of communities Resisting the corporate industrialization of African agriculture which will result in massive land grabs, destruction of indigenous biodiversity and ecosystems, displacement of indigenous peoples especially the pastoral communities and hunter gatherers and the destruction of their livelihoods and cultures.
African driven solutions to problems in Africa and a belief in the richness of our diversity. AFSA aims to be a strong voice that shapes policy on the continent in the area of community rights, family farming, promotion of traditional knowledge and knowledge systems, the environment and natural resource management.
AFSA’S PRINCIPLES
AFSA’s binding principles are listed below. They define the kind of alliance the members want to create and live up to. This list will grow and expand as the need arises.
1. Championing small African family farming/production systems based on agroecological and indigenous approaches that sustain food sovereignty, health, nutrition and livelihoods of communities.
2. Resisting industrialization and commodification of African agriculture and food systems, land grabbing, destruction of biodiversity and ecosystems, displacement of indigenous peoples especially pastoral communities and hunter gatherers, and the destruction of their livelihoods and cultures.
3.Emphasizing African-driven solutions to African problems, and a belief in the richness of our diversity.
4. Being a strong voice to shape policies on the continent in the area of community rights, family farming, promotion of traditional knowledge, the environment and natural resource management.
5. Placing emphasis on women and youth as key players in food sovereignty.
6. Contributing to land ownership and control in the hands of communities.
7. Rejecting the genetic engineering and privatization of living organisms.
8. Ensuring a clear understanding and continual analysis of the political dimension of agroecology and food sovereignty and communicating this clearly.
9. Working in synergy with all actors who empower what we as AFSA are doing.
10. Mobilizing farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, hunter gatherers, consumers, and other grassroots voices to speak about agroecology, food sovereignty and the work of AFSA.
11. Ensuring cross learning and collaboration among members.
12. Working to promote the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities to control their natural resources.
Meet our Board Members
underline
Members of the Board of Directors of AFSA are elected every three years by the General Assembly. Only Core Members can vote and stand for election to board membership. Below are members of the incumbent Board of Directors for the duration of 2020-2022 as elected by the General Assembly held in November 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
chris-macoloo-copy
Dr. Chris Macoloo, Chairperson
View Dr. Chris’ profile
underline
sikeli
Jean Paul Sikeli, Board Member
View Jean’s profile
underline
screen-shot-2019-11-15-at-15.18.05
Fidele Houssou, Board Member
View Fidele’s profile
josephine
Josephine Atangana, Secretary
View Josephine’s profile
underline
screen-shot-2019-11-15-at-15.40.35
Fassil Gebeyehu PhD, Board Member
View Fassil’s profile
underline
p1010549
Ali Aii Shatu, Treasurer
View Ali’s profile
underline
img_6606
Mariama Sonko, Board Member
View Mariama’s profile
underline
Meet the Secretariat!
underline
Million Belay, AFSA General Coordinator
MILLION BELAY, AFSA GENERAL COORDINATOR
Million has been working for over two decades on intergenerational learning of bio-cultural diversity, agriculture, the rights of local communities to seed and food sovereignty and forest issues. He has a PhD in environmental learning, an MSc in tourism and conservation, and a BSc in Biology, and is a member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food).
Email: million.belay@afsafrica.org
underline
Juliet Masika, Finance and Administration Officer
JULIET MASIKA, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICER
Juliet is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting Option). She works as AFSA’s Finance and Administration Officer. She has 10 years working experience with NGOs and the private sector.
Email: juliet.masika@afsafrica.org
underline
Michael Farrelly, Program Officer
MICHAEL FARRELLY, PROGRAM OFFICER
Michael’s first career was in water supply, including six years drilling boreholes in rural villages across West and Central Africa, then two years running a local authority water department in the Kalahari, Botswana. Returning to UK, he became a community activist in London, gained a master’s degree in rural development, then worked in community regeneration in deprived post-industrial areas of Northern England. Now back in Africa, he worked for seven years promoting ecological organic agriculture in Tanzania, managing farmer training, advocacy and climate change adaptation projects before joining AFSA working on communications, research and project management.
Email: michael.farrelly@afsafrica.org
underline
Bridget Mugambe, Program Coordinator
BRIDGET MUGAMBE, PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Bridget is a social scientist with over 15 years work experience with NGOs in management, strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising, and gender mainstreaming. Her competencies are mainly in policy analysis, campaigns and advocacy, capacity building, generation and dissemination of information on food sovereignty. As AFSA’s Program Coordinator, Bridget oversees policy advocacy on seed sovereignty, community land rights, climate justice, and consumer action, supporting AFSA working groups to implement agreed strategies and work plans, and spearheading fundraising initiatives within the organization. She has a Master of Arts Degree in Social Sciences (Public Administration), Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences (Sociology) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation.
Email: bridget.mugambe@afsafrica.org
underline
Famara Diédhiou, Program Officer - West Africa
FAMARA DIÉDHIOU, PROGRAM OFFICER - WEST AFRICA
Famara Diédhiou holds an MBA from the African Center for Higher Studies in Management (CESAG, Dakar, Senegal) and a master’s degree in regional planning, environment and urban management. Famara has 12 years’ professional experience working mostly in rural development, particularly in the establishment of community seed and cereal banks, and organizing women’s groups for urban-rural partnership and advocacy. Active in organic and agroecology movements, he also developed strong international experience both in Africa and outside the continent. Currently Famara is active in various networks in West Africa to advance the food sovereignty struggle and African driven solutions.
Email: famara.diedhiou@afsafrica.org
underline
Kirubel Tadele, Communications Officer
KIRUBEL TADELE, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Kirubel is an avid Pan-African who is passionate about environmental, social justice, and human rights activism. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from Addis Ababa University in 2005. He has over ten years of experience in environmental advocacy and communication in both national and international NGOs. His interest is curating African narrative on food sovereignty at the center of discourses about development, environment, climate change, biocultural diversity, and social justice. In his spare time, he loves reading history books and exploring indigenous wisdom on spiritualism and consciousness.
Email: kirubel.tadele@afsafrica.org
AFSA is an alliance of around 40 member networks active in 50 countries. We estimate that our members outreach to over 200 million people.
Regional member networks have national networks in countries they work in. Each national network has many local member associations. Each local association has many individual members. For example, one of AFSA’s members is the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Association – a regional network of over 283 civil society organizations in 12 countries in East, Central and Southern Africa. PELUM works to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and the sustainability of farming communities, with an estimated total membership of over 10 million people.
Afsa
More Information
Meet our members
Pastoralism at the heart of African food systems
Women leading the drive for agroecology
Citizens for Sustainable Food Systems
Meet the AFSA board
NEWEST POSTS
A CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF DIGITAL MARKETING IN THE TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY March 23, 2022
Declaration of the West African Peasants Seed Fair in Djimini March 19, 2022
Advancing Agroecological Enterprises for Healthy Local Food Economies March 7, 2022
ON WORLD SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY, AFSA CALLS FOR A SPEEDY TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY February 19, 2022
Peoples Summit Declaration targets EU-AU Partnership February 17, 2022
Advocating for agroecology in policy and practice
AFSA is a continental voice for food sovereignty. Its key message: to advocate for a transition to agroecology in Africa. This transition requires policy change, but also a change of mindset, replacing the underlying narrative of the industrial food system with a holistic view of a better world.
Industrial agriculture is a dead end. It claims to have raised yields but it has done so at great cost, with extensive soil damage, huge biodiversity loss and negative impacts on nutrition, food sovereignty and natural resources.
In many ways, agroecology is the antithesis of industrial, corporate-driven, monoculture-based agricultural systems. Where industrial agriculture seeks to simplify, agroecology embraces complexity. Where industrial agriculture aims to eliminate biodiversity, agroecology depends on it. Where industrial agriculture is based on one-size-fits-all technofix, agroecology provides local solutions to local problems. Where industrial agriculture pollutes and degrades, agroecology regenerates and restores, working with nature – not against nature.
The strongest resistance to agroecology comes from the vested interests of the industrial food system, who have used their huge economic power to convince African governments that industrial agriculture is the way to go.
Can African policy makers be bold enough to embrace the sustainable solution? Or are they going to wait until it’s too late, until the soils are exhausted, biodiversity devastated, nutritional and health problems mounting, and farmers dependent on outside inputs and knowledge?
We need a complete transformation of our food systems. Agroecology is a people-centred system of sustainable agriculture, combining indigenous knowledge with cutting edge science, making the best use of nature to create healthy communities, and empowering a social movement that resists the corporatization of agriculture.
It’s time to let go of tired narratives and failed solutions. It’s time to support small-scale food producers to build a sustainable, resilient, diverse, healthy, productive, and culturally appropriate food system for Africa.
More Information
Towards an African Food Policy
Seed Policy Report: Resisting Corporate Takeover Of African Seed Systems And Building Farmer Managed Seed Systems For Food Sovereignty In Africa
Agroecology Policy Report: A Study Of Policies, Frameworks And Mechanisms Related To Agroecology And Sustainable Food Systems In Africa
Land Policy Report: Policy Trends And Emerging Opportunities For Strengthening Community Land Rights In Africa
AFSA Briefing papers
African Farmers’ Seed Rights Threatened : an AFSA briefing paper
Securing Community Land Rights In Africa : an AFSA briefing paper
Agroecology – the sustainable response to climate change in Africa : an AFSA briefing paper
Citizens for Sustainable Food Systems : an AFSA briefing paper
NEWEST POSTS
A CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF DIGITAL MARKETING IN THE TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY March 23, 2022
Declaration of the West African Peasants Seed Fair in Djimini March 19, 2022
Advancing Agroecological Enterprises for Healthy Local Food Economies March 7, 2022
ON WORLD SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY, AFSA CALLS FOR A SPEEDY TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY February 19, 2022
Peoples Summit Declaration targets EU-AU Partnership February 17, 2022
Evidence for Agroecology
AFSA is building a clear narrative, backed up with evidence, for the transition to Agroecology. AFSA gathers evidence of the benefits of agroecology for climate action, nutrition, agricultural biodiversity, social justice and more. The evidence demonstrates the holistic nature of agroecology and offers empirical data to back it up.
The evidence demonstrates that:
Agroecology Is Diverse – like Nature.
It’s Productive – increasing yields in a short time.
It’s Resilient to climate change, and puts carbon back in the ground.
It’s Efficient – recycling resources, less inputs, less waste.
It’s Culturally Appropriate – local innovations and solutions.
Our evidence comes from a variety of sources.
Case Studies: More than 70 on-the-ground examples of agroecology in transition all over the continent; each one demonstrating the benefits and offering a huge potential for sharing and scaling these practices.
Research: Policy studies that help us understand the current situation, the power dynamics keeping it in place, and provide entry points for advocacy and opportunities for change.
Films: Short documentaries voiced by grassroots food producers, animated films to explain the issues in visual ways, interviews and presentations by experts.
We invite you to look at the evidence we have gathered, and see the difference that the transition to agroecology is making to communities across Africa.
More Information
Case studies on:
Agroecology
Land and Soil
Pastoralism
Seed Sovereignty
Agroecology – The Bold Future of Farming in Africa
Policy studies:
Seed Policy Report: Resisting Corporate Takeover Of African Seed Systems And Building Farmer Managed Seed Systems For Food Sovereignty In Africa
Agroecology Policy Report: A Study Of Policies, Frameworks And Mechanisms Related To Agroecology And Sustainable Food Systems In Africa
Land Policy Report: Policy Trends And Emerging Opportunities For Strengthening Community Land Rights In Africa
AGRA at Ten Years: Searching for Evidence of a Green Revolution in Africa
More Publications
Films and animations
Campaigning for Agroecology for Climate Action
AFSA is campaigning to place agroecology as a key policy response to the climate crisis that is negatively impacting the economic, social, and ecological life of Africans. Ten national networks are campaigning to drive public opinion and influence decision-makers to shift agriculture and food policy away from destructive industrial farming and adopt agroecological farming as a key climate response, reducing GHG emissions and putting carbon back in the ground.
Climate change is already a reality for millions of African farmers, pastoralists and fishers, as droughts, rangeland degradation, and ocean temperature rises threaten livelihoods and food security. With around 70% of the population dependent on rain-fed farming, Africa does not have the safety net of wealthier, industrialized nations.
The IPCC 1.5C Report 2018 is clear: we have less than 12 years to make radical emission cuts if we are to avert a climate catastrophe. Global food systems generate one-third of all greenhouse gases and account for 75% of global deforestation. Much of this is linked to industrial farming, e.g. fossil fuel use, fertilizer production, burning forests to make way for large-scale monocrops.
Current African policy solutions increase pressure on small scale food producers to take up industrial agriculture initiatives such as climate-smart agriculture, GMO seeds, and fossil fuel-based chemical inputs, releasing the carbon stored in the soil, while increasing the burden of GHGs in the atmosphere, and polluting precious water resources.
More Information
Agroecology – The Sustainable Response To Climate Change In Africa : An AFSA Briefing Paper
Agroecology: The Real Deal For Climate Crisis In Africa
Agroecology For Climate Resilience Conference
Agroecology – The Bold Future of Farming in Africa
Agroecology for Climate Action: Country Policy Studies
Regional Study
Cameroon
Cote d’Ivoire
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Togo
Uganda
Zimbabwe
Zambia
NEWEST POSTS
A CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF DIGITAL MARKETING IN THE TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY March 23, 2022
Declaration of the West African Peasants Seed Fair in Djimini March 19, 2022
Advancing Agroecological Enterprises for Healthy Local Food Economies March 7, 2022
ON WORLD SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY, AFSA CALLS FOR A SPEEDY TRANSITION TO AGROECOLOGY February 19, 2022
Peoples Summit Declaration targets EU-AU Partnership February 17, 2022
The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) is a broad alliance of different civil society actors that are part of the struggle for food sovereignty and agroecology in Africa. These include: African farmers’ organizations, African NGO networks, specialist African NGOs, consumer movements in Africa, international organizations which support the stance of AFSA, and individuals. Its members represent smallholder farmers, pastoralists, hunter/gatherers, indigenous peoples; faith based institutions, and environmentalists from across Africa. It is a network of networks and currently with 30 active members. See how to become a member?
Our Vision
underline
*Africa developing just and equitable ways of life for her people in harmony with nature.
*Africa continually harnessing and enhancing her traditional knowledge systems.
*African peoples controlling their territories, livelihoods and governance systems and related decision-making processes.
*African peoples holding their governments and corporate powers to account for their legacy to the future generations.
Our Mission
underline
The core purpose of AFSA is to influence policies and to promote African solutions for food sovereignty. AFSA serves as a continental platform for consolidation of issues pertaining to food sovereignty and together marshal a single and louder voice on issues and tabling clear workable solutions.
Brief History
underline
AFSA was first conceived in 2008 by a group of concerned individuals and was launched at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties 17 (COP 17) in Durban, South Africa in December 2011. At the launch, AFSA released a report emphasizing that Food Sovereignty can cool the planet, while feeding the world and regenerating ecosystems. AFSA members represent small holder farmers, pastoralists, hunter/gatherers, indigenous peoples, citizens and environmentalists from Africa who possess a strong voice that shapes policy on the continent in the area of community rights, family farming, promotion of traditional knowledge and knowledge systems, the environment and natural resource management. Thus, providing a forum to analyse, discuss issues, challenge policies and identify ways forward.
WHAT DOES AFSA BELIEVE IN?
Championing Small African Family Farming/Production Systems based on agroecological and indigenous approaches that sustain food sovereignty and the livelihoods of communities Resisting the corporate industrialization of African agriculture which will result in massive land grabs, destruction of indigenous biodiversity and ecosystems, displacement of indigenous peoples especially the pastoral communities and hunter gatherers and the destruction of their livelihoods and cultures.
African driven solutions to problems in Africa and a belief in the richness of our diversity. AFSA aims to be a strong voice that shapes policy on the continent in the area of community rights, family farming, promotion of traditional knowledge and knowledge systems, the environment and natural resource management.
AFSA’S PRINCIPLES
AFSA’s binding principles are listed below. They define the kind of alliance the members want to create and live up to. This list will grow and expand as the need arises.
1. Championing small African family farming/production systems based on agroecological and indigenous approaches that sustain food sovereignty, health, nutrition and livelihoods of communities.
2. Resisting industrialization and commodification of African agriculture and food systems, land grabbing, destruction of biodiversity and ecosystems, displacement of indigenous peoples especially pastoral communities and hunter gatherers, and the destruction of their livelihoods and cultures.
3.Emphasizing African-driven solutions to African problems, and a belief in the richness of our diversity.
4. Being a strong voice to shape policies on the continent in the area of community rights, family farming, promotion of traditional knowledge, the environment and natural resource management.
5. Placing emphasis on women and youth as key players in food sovereignty.
6. Contributing to land ownership and control in the hands of communities.
7. Rejecting the genetic engineering and privatization of living organisms.
8. Ensuring a clear understanding and continual analysis of the political dimension of agroecology and food sovereignty and communicating this clearly.
9. Working in synergy with all actors who empower what we as AFSA are doing.
10. Mobilizing farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, hunter gatherers, consumers, and other grassroots voices to speak about agroecology, food sovereignty and the work of AFSA.
11. Ensuring cross learning and collaboration among members.
12. Working to promote the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities to control their natural resources.
Meet our Board Members
underline
Members of the Board of Directors of AFSA are elected every three years by the General Assembly. Only Core Members can vote and stand for election to board membership. Below are members of the incumbent Board of Directors for the duration of 2020-2022 as elected by the General Assembly held in November 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
chris-macoloo-copy
Dr. Chris Macoloo, Chairperson
View Dr. Chris’ profile
underline
sikeli
Jean Paul Sikeli, Board Member
View Jean’s profile
underline
screen-shot-2019-11-15-at-15.18.05
Fidele Houssou, Board Member
View Fidele’s profile
josephine
Josephine Atangana, Secretary
View Josephine’s profile
underline
screen-shot-2019-11-15-at-15.40.35
Fassil Gebeyehu PhD, Board Member
View Fassil’s profile
underline
p1010549
Ali Aii Shatu, Treasurer
View Ali’s profile
underline
img_6606
Mariama Sonko, Board Member
View Mariama’s profile
underline
Meet the Secretariat!
underline
Million Belay, AFSA General Coordinator
MILLION BELAY, AFSA GENERAL COORDINATOR
Million has been working for over two decades on intergenerational learning of bio-cultural diversity, agriculture, the rights of local communities to seed and food sovereignty and forest issues. He has a PhD in environmental learning, an MSc in tourism and conservation, and a BSc in Biology, and is a member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food).
Email: million.belay@afsafrica.org
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Juliet Masika, Finance and Administration Officer
JULIET MASIKA, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICER
Juliet is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting Option). She works as AFSA’s Finance and Administration Officer. She has 10 years working experience with NGOs and the private sector.
Email: juliet.masika@afsafrica.org
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Michael Farrelly, Program Officer
MICHAEL FARRELLY, PROGRAM OFFICER
Michael’s first career was in water supply, including six years drilling boreholes in rural villages across West and Central Africa, then two years running a local authority water department in the Kalahari, Botswana. Returning to UK, he became a community activist in London, gained a master’s degree in rural development, then worked in community regeneration in deprived post-industrial areas of Northern England. Now back in Africa, he worked for seven years promoting ecological organic agriculture in Tanzania, managing farmer training, advocacy and climate change adaptation projects before joining AFSA working on communications, research and project management.
Email: michael.farrelly@afsafrica.org
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Bridget Mugambe, Program Coordinator
BRIDGET MUGAMBE, PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Bridget is a social scientist with over 15 years work experience with NGOs in management, strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising, and gender mainstreaming. Her competencies are mainly in policy analysis, campaigns and advocacy, capacity building, generation and dissemination of information on food sovereignty. As AFSA’s Program Coordinator, Bridget oversees policy advocacy on seed sovereignty, community land rights, climate justice, and consumer action, supporting AFSA working groups to implement agreed strategies and work plans, and spearheading fundraising initiatives within the organization. She has a Master of Arts Degree in Social Sciences (Public Administration), Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences (Sociology) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation.
Email: bridget.mugambe@afsafrica.org
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Famara Diédhiou, Program Officer - West Africa
FAMARA DIÉDHIOU, PROGRAM OFFICER - WEST AFRICA
Famara Diédhiou holds an MBA from the African Center for Higher Studies in Management (CESAG, Dakar, Senegal) and a master’s degree in regional planning, environment and urban management. Famara has 12 years’ professional experience working mostly in rural development, particularly in the establishment of community seed and cereal banks, and organizing women’s groups for urban-rural partnership and advocacy. Active in organic and agroecology movements, he also developed strong international experience both in Africa and outside the continent. Currently Famara is active in various networks in West Africa to advance the food sovereignty struggle and African driven solutions.
Email: famara.diedhiou@afsafrica.org
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Kirubel Tadele, Communications Officer
KIRUBEL TADELE, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Kirubel is an avid Pan-African who is passionate about environmental, social justice, and human rights activism. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from Addis Ababa University in 2005. He has over ten years of experience in environmental advocacy and communication in both national and international NGOs. His interest is curating African narrative on food sovereignty at the center of discourses about development, environment, climate change, biocultural diversity, and social justice. In his spare time, he loves reading history books and exploring indigenous wisdom on spiritualism and consciousness.
Email: kirubel.tadele@afsafrica.org
Company Information
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afsa@afsafrica.org
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