PAFO was created in October 2010 by its constituent assembly under the sponsorship of the African Union. This constitutive assembly was the culmination of a process begun several years ago in collaboration with the five regional networks of Farmers' Organizations.

PAFO is registered in Rwanda as an international non-governmental organization and is certified by the Rwanda Governance Board to operate legally and establish its headquarters in Rwanda under number 001/RGB/19. PAFO is recognized as the representative body of African farmers’ organizations at the highest continental level. It brings the voice of dozens of millions African farmers integrated into nearly 70 national organizations, unions, federations, cooperatives, associations, etc., present in almost 50 African countries, and united in five regional networks operating at the heart of African agriculture.