SADC Parliamentarians Unite to Combat Hunger and Reform Food Systems

In the face of escalating food insecurity and malnutrition across Southern Africa, parliamentarians from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region have convened in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 22 to 24 July 2025 for a high-level regional meeting and training workshop. The event, organized by the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aims to enhance parliamentary capacity, foster regional collaboration, and operationalize the newly established SADC Parliamentary Alliance on Agrifood Systems, Food Security and Nutrition.

The gathering marks a critical milestone in mobilizing political leadership and legislative tools to tackle the persistent and growing challenges facing agrifood systems in the region.

Responding to a Growing Crisis

Southern Africa continues to battle an array of intersecting shocks—climate change, economic volatility, conflict, and structural inequalities—which are placing immense strain on food production and access. Undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising levels of hunger remain a serious concern, particularly among vulnerable populations in rural and urban poor communities.

With the 2026 Global Parliamentary Summit against Hunger and Malnutrition on the horizon—set to be hosted at the Pan-African Parliament headquarters in South Africa—this regional initiative lays the groundwork for strong African representation and advocacy on the global stage.

Commemorating the Right to Food and Advancing Legal Commitments

The meeting also commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Right to Food Guidelines, underscoring the importance of enshrining the right to adequate food in national legal frameworks. It reaffirms the role of parliamentarians in holding governments accountable and ensuring that legislative actions reflect regional and global commitments such as:

• The African Union’s Agenda 2063

• The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – Zero Hunger

The SADC Parliamentary Alliance: A Platform for Regional Change

Launched in December 2024 with support from FAO and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the SADC Parliamentary Alliance on Agrifood Systems, Food Security and Nutrition is now taking shape as a long-term, institutionalized platform. The Alliance’s governance structures and first work plan were formally adopted during the Johannesburg meeting.

The Alliance aims to:

• Facilitate cross-border cooperation and knowledge exchange between lawmakers.

• Encourage policy harmonization and legislative innovation across SADC countries.

• Promote inclusive and sustainable food systems.

• Ensure that nutrition and food security remain high on national and regional legislative agendas.

FAO’s Role in Strengthening Legal Capacity

FAO, serving as the lead technical partner, has been instrumental in providing targeted legal and technical assistance. The agency supports lawmakers in aligning national laws with the Pan-African Parliament Model Law on Food Security and Nutrition, a framework designed to guide countries in enacting robust, rights-based food legislation.

Through funding from the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, FAO's program supports:

• Legal literacy and technical training for parliamentarians.

• Assistance in domesticating model legislation.

• Strengthening national capacity to monitor and advance the right to food.

These activities are part of FAO’s broader agenda to embed food systems transformation into sustainable development processes and to reinforce governance frameworks that prioritize equity, biodiversity, and resilience.

Political Will and Legal Tools: A Pathway to Zero Hunger

Speakers throughout the three-day event emphasized that realizing the right to food will require:

• Sustained political will.

• Well-drafted, enforceable laws that protect citizens and food producers.

• Active parliamentary oversight and engagement in budgetary and policy processes.

• Support for traditional food systems and local agricultural knowledge.

The Alliance’s next steps will involve rolling out its work plan at the national level, tracking legislative reforms across member states, and building a coordinated front for regional food security efforts in the lead-up to the 2026 Global Summit.

Looking Forward: Toward a Food-Secure Southern Africa

As the countdown to the 2026 Global Parliamentary Summit continues, the SADC Parliamentary Alliance stands as a beacon of political resolve and regional unity in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. With FAO’s ongoing support, lawmakers are better equipped to translate pledges into laws, programs, and oversight mechanisms that make a real difference on the ground.

This Johannesburg meeting has reaffirmed the shared vision of a food-secure Southern Africa, anchored in inclusive governance, parliamentary leadership, and strong legal foundations—ensuring that no one is left behind.