AGRA Urges COP30 to Deliver a Farmer-First Climate Breakthrough with Youth at the Core
Belém, Brazil, November 11, 2025 — As global leaders convene for the UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has called for urgent, farmer-centered climate action that translates global pledges into tangible outcomes for Africa’s smallholders.
AGRA President Alice Ruhweza emphasized that Africa’s farmers, soils, and youth must be at the heart of climate negotiations, urging governments to move from talk to delivery. “Africa’s smallholders live the climate crisis daily, yet they remain the backbone of our food security and resilience,” she said. “Our expectation for COP30 is simple focus on delivery so that farmers can access better seed, markets, finance, and risk tools now.”
The organization noted that previous summits, including COP28, COP29, and the Africa Climate Summit, drew attention to food systems but failed to deliver real change at the farm level. AGRA hopes COP30 will mark a turning point by mobilizing finance, policies, and innovations that empower farmers to adapt and thrive despite intensifying climate shocks.
Tilahun Amede, AGRA’s Director for Sustainable Farming, Climate Adaptation and Resilience, said the focus must shift from ambition to implementation. “Resilience is built when the right policies, finance, and technical solutions meet at the farm level,” he noted. “At COP30, we want to demonstrate how soil health, water management, inclusive finance, and stronger value chains can translate climate ambition into results that farmers can feel.”
AGRA’s agenda in Belém highlights tested pathways for scaling impact from coherent agricultural policies and fit-for-purpose finance to effective climate services and soil health systems that sustain productivity and resilience.
Particular attention will be given to soils and landscapes, as land degradation and nutrient loss have undermined productivity and left farms more vulnerable. AGRA is advocating for improved rainwater management, diversified cropping, and data systems to track soil health and guide government decisions.
The organization is also spotlighting youth inclusion, urging investment in skills development, enterprise financing, and agri-business opportunities to attract young people into high-value roles across the food system.
With operations across fifteen African countries, AGRA argues that a “delivery-first” approach tying finance to measurable outcomes is key to achieving both climate and food security goals. “The true test of COP30,” AGRA says, “will be whether commitments channel resources toward practical packages that farmers can access.”
