ATLAS – Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions

Transforming African agri-food systems is crucial to address many challenges linked to food security, climate change adaptability, economic growth, and growing demographics. The Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions (ATLAS) is a permanent platform for policy dialogue and collaboration between the Global North and South. ATLAS seeks to align global priorities and increase investments to transform the African agricultural sector for the common good in the medium and long term.

Africa can Be a Major Agricultural Power...

The future of the world lies in the development of African agricultue. With its immense natural resources, Africa holds the key to scaling up sustainable agriculture. When properly harnessed, these resources can transform the continent into a leading agricultural power.

In addition, African agriculture can address 13 out of 17 SDGs linked to food security, economic growth, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability. In fact, any dollar invested in African agriculture is the best investment towards achieving SDGs.

In the light of these obeservations, dozens of leading institutions and organizations from Africa and the rest of the world united in a coalition following the Paris Peace Forum’s call to action, “Africa Can Be a Major Agricultural Power”.

... but 3 Main Challenges Hinder this Transformation:

1. Lack of Consensus and Misalignment: Differences in vision and priorities between African countries and the Global North create fragmented efforts and inefficient resource use, hindering effective agricultural development.

2. Massive Funding Gap of the African Agricultural Sector: With an estimated funding gap of over $200bn/year, public spending, private investments, and donor aid are all below the levels needed to achieve the SDGs.

3. Backdrop of Climate-Related Challenges: Africa faces severe impacts from climate change, compounded by inadequate infrastructure like irrigation and storage, which stifle agricultural productivity.

That is Why ATLAS Has Been Created

ATLAS is a high level multi-stakeholder platform for North-South policy dialogue and cooperation to unlock the full potential of African agriculture, following the Paris Peace Forum’s call to action.

ATLAS advocates for a globally shared vision on a sustainable African agricultural transformation, breaking away from North and South divides, and seeing agriculture and climate as partners rather than adversaries.

ATLAS pushes and sets targets for sufficient and efficient investments, aiming to increase political attention and financial resources.

With a permanent secretariat hosted by the Paris Peace Forum and regular events, ATLAS labels projects in line with the sustainable intensification of African agricultural systems, monitors the progress, impact, and effectiveness of initiatives, helping inform future actions.

Read the call to action

Visit the ATLAS website