Building on the results of the successful previous conference in 2017, around 450 invited high-level representatives and stakeholders from Africa and Europe will debate on how to further unlock the potential for a positive rural transformation and an inclusive and sustainable agriculture and agri-food sector in Africa.

In the spirit of the ‘Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs’ called for by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in September 2018, knowledge transfer, sharing of good practices, reinforcing strategic policy cooperation and dialogue between the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU), should contribute to African job creation and to the development of its agricultural sector.

Thanks to years of constructive dialogue and cooperation, the partnership between Europe and Africa is based on long-term cooperation on jointly identified, mutual and complementary interests. The agriculture and food sector play a key role, given the central importance in the economy of most African countries.

Moreover, in May 2018 the Task Force Rural Africa (TFRA) was created to advise the European Commission on how best to contribute to sustainable development and job creation in Africa’s agri-food sector and rural economy.

On 7 March 2019, this Task Force presented its report with recommendations, grouped along four strategic areas for action

• a territorial approach for income and job creation
• sustainable land and natural resources management, and climate action
• sustainable transformation of African agriculture
• development of the African food industry and food markets

For further information contact: EU-AU-4-AGRI@ec.europa.eu