TMA participated in a collaboration, learning, and adaptation (CLA) conference in Kampala, Uganda, on April 3-4, 2023, themed ‘The Future of Fertilizer and Agro-inputs in Africa.’ The forum, convened by the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), addressed the current food crisis in the East African Community (EAC), specifically focusing on the fertilizer and agro-input supply chains, by facilitating a public-private dialogue (PPD) session.

Key objectives of the meeting included i) connecting fertilizer suppliers and buyers; ii) providing linkages across the fertilizer and agro-input value chain: and iii) providing an investor focus by sharing key investment opportunities, risks across different regions, and regulatory reforms in the African fertilizer and agribusiness industry.

AFAP’s and ERRA’s intersecting areas in promoting regional food security include:

• Developing a more sustainable and efficient logistics sector in the greater EAC region to help streamline cross-border trade in agro-inputs;
• Developing the capacity of the private sector, regional, and national bodies to improve market access for traders through the harmonization of the SPS regulatory framework for agro-inputs; and
• Strengthening regional capacity to mitigate against shocks by increasing resilience and empowerment of women and crossborder youth traders.

The workshop brought together a dynamic panel of public, private, and civil society experts to enable sharing of experiences from respective countries along the fertilizer supply chains.

Topics of discussion included the impact of soil health on fertilizer efficacy, fertilizer needs assessments, and recommendations and strategies for addressing the identified gaps.