09/09/2026
AFSA organized the continental Convening on Strengthening African Civil Society Climate Action on Food Systems and Agriculture towards COP31 and COP32, taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 7–9 September 2026.
The African Biodiversity Network ( ) is participating in the three-day convening which brought together more than 30 climate and food systems actors from across Africa, representing African governments and negotiators, civil society organizations, farmer organizations, women’s organizations, Indigenous and pastoralist communities, youth organizations, donors, academic and research institutions, and the media.
The convening aims to strengthen a unified, inclusive and influential African civil society platform that can advance sustainable and healthy food systems and agriculture within global climate processes. A key focus is building a stronger and better-coordinated African civil society presence in global climate policy spaces, particularly as the continent prepares for COP31 and COP32.
The gathering also provides an important space for African food systems and agriculture actors to consolidate a shared civil society roadmap towards COP31 and COP32, strengthen collaboration, and identify common priorities for climate advocacy.
For ABN, this engagement is closely connected to our work with partners and communities across Africa on agroecology, Farmer-Managed Seed Systems, Indigenous and local knowledge, Community Ecological Governance, biodiversity, and resilient food systems. It is also an opportunity to contribute community experiences and perspectives to the wider African climate agenda.
As discussions continue in Addis Ababa, one message is becoming increasingly clear: Africa’s food systems and agriculture must be at the centre of climate negotiations, and the voices, knowledge and experiences of farmers, Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be part of shaping the decisions.
From COP31 to COP32, ABN will continue contributing to collective efforts to connect community realities with national, continental and global climate action.
