The African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) signed an agreement with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency to join efforts to increase fertilizer affordability and accessibility for African smallholder farmers.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the NEPAD Agency offices in Midrand, Johannesburg. Those attending included AFAP President and CEO Jason Scarpone, AFAP Vice President Richard Mkandawire and AFAP Director of Programs Cecilia Khupe.

Noting that AFAP was started in Johannesburg from the offices of the NEPAD Agency, Scarpone said that it was “a great pleasure and a real honor to have AFAP birthed here.”

“We are very much looking forward to working with the NEPAD Agency,” Scarpone said. “We look forward to being part of your team.” Scarpone and Bankole Adeoye, the NEPAD Agency corporate services director, signed the documents.

The agreement allows AFAP to rely on the NEPAD Agency’s formidable convening power, influence and policy‐making acumen. It also permits the NEPAD Agency to call on AFAP to venture into public‐private partnerships that strengthen the fertilizer value chain and lower costs for African farmers. It acknowledges AFAP’s work with the private sector to achieve many of the goals set out by the NEPAD Agency’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

Indeed, AFAP’s goals align directly with CAADP’s work and its emphasis on African agriculture and food security.

In his remarks, Adeoye emphasized AFAP’s collaboration with the private sector as it works to establish more competitive and sustainable fertilizer markets in Africa.

“The most important thing is that we are working together to make an impact for our people on the ground,” Adeoye said.