Trailblazing Congo Basin Convening: Bridging Food Sovereignty, Biodiversity Conservation, and Climate Resilience

[Kinshasa, DRC]  – August 27, 2023 – The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), the largest CSO coalition championing food sovereignty across the continent, is gearing up for its trailblazing convening set for August 29-31 in Kinshasa, DRC. Themed "Regional Summit in reconciling food production with biodiversity conservation and climate emergency in the Congo Basin", the gathering aspires to forge a path forward amidst the challenges of food systems, biodiversity conservation, and the looming threat of climate change.

The convening, organized in collaboration with Congo Basin Conservation Society (CBCS),  Climate Change Africa Opportunities (CCAO), Comité National pour la Promotion de l'Agriculture Familiale (CNPAF), the Société Civile Environnementale et Agro-Rurale du Congo (SOCEARUCO) and in partnership with the National Ministry of Agriculture, seeks to address the profound challenges facing the Congo Basin. This initiative aligns with the vision of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, emphasizing agroecology as the cornerstone of sustainable food systems and climate adaptation strategies.

AFSA, with 40 active members from 50 African countries, has been at the forefront of promoting agroecology as a bold climate action for Africa, a just pathway to transforming our food systems, and a social movement to ensure Africa's health and social justice. The Congo Basin is the focus of this summit, a vital ecological treasure that houses Africa's most extensive rainforest, dubbed the "lung of Africa." This event aims to address the pressing matters of biodiversity conservation, food sovereignty, and climate change in the vast and vital Congo Basin region.

Dr. Million Belay, AFSA General Coordinator, said, "The summit confronts the interconnected challenges of food systems, biodiversity conservation, and climate change. Our aim is to galvanize the diverse voices in the region, advocating for food sovereignty and a transition to agroecology. It is imperative for policymakers and donors to recognize that an industrial food system is not the answer for the Congo Basin. Our genuine hope is rooted in a comprehensive approach, addressing the array of challenges facing both the region and broader Africa. This encapsulates the spirit of agroecology – a holistic response to intricate problems."

By organizing this summit, AFSA aims to create a melting pot of ideas, with diverse stakeholders, from governmental bodies to grassroots conservationists, participating in crucial dialogues. These discussions are expected to yield strategies that merge ancestral knowledge with contemporary conservation methods, all under the overarching theme of a changing climate.

For Trésor BADISUNGU, Africa Coordinator of the NGO Climate Change Africa Opportunities (CCAO) and President of the Network for Food Security and Sovereignty in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RESSAC): It is urgent to ensure the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity while improving the well-being of people in the Congo Basin given that the forests of the Congo Basin could experience a destruction of the same magnitude as those that have occurred for the forests of West Africa and those of the South East Asia. Hence the need and urgency to set up programs for the establishment and implementation of sustainable agricultural practices and the management of natural sources throughout Central Africa, in order to support sustainable economic development and the fight against poverty for the benefit of the populations of the Congo Basin and the world community.

Highlighting the broader implications of the convening, Charles Mulozi, Advocacy and Campaign Coordinator at AFSA said "Our ultimate goal is to carve out sustainable solutions that not only shield our irreplaceable ecosystem but also enshrine food sovereignty for our communities."

The convening is poised to culminate in a series of actionable outcomes, including comprehensive reports, a detailed database cataloging key issues and actors, official position statements, and a roadmap for advocacy at both national and regional levels.