AGRA

A simple observation in her community, and the ability to identify a business opportunity, led Marie Mukagahima to create something new and leave a lasting legacy, contributing to the future generations.

Her innovation and dedication to agribusiness and agro-processing have not only rekindled interest in some of the forgotten crops in Rwanda but have also created a wave of positive change in the landlocked country known for its breathtaking scenery.

Marie is the founder of Zima Healthy Group, a company not only transforming its fortunes but also changing the lives of hundreds of Rwandese who are embracing healthier choices and a more sustainable lifestyle.

The company has been using raw materials from local women farmers and smallholder farmers to produce quality processed food.

“I identified opportunity in agribusiness and agro-processing in Rwanda and decided to start the company to ensure it exists for my future grandchildren,” Marie said on the sidelines of the AFS Forum 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Company – Zima Healthy Group, which was established in 2017, has revived interest in pumpkin cultivation and processing in Rwanda. Pumpkin has been one of the key vegetables in Rwandan traditional dishes and culture. However, over the years, pumpkins got neglected and were almost forgotten. Out of keen observation and the need to help her community, Marie decided to start processing pumpkins and Zima was born.

Her company collaborates with technical schools to provide practical training and sometimes hires trainees as permanent employees. “My employees are mostly youth, and we have a program to train college and university students in technical skills,” she said. Currently, she has employed 15 permanent employees and 16 casuals, with numbers varying at times.

The team comprises highly talented and ambitious youth who have the desire to learn and improve their skills. “We intend to retain employees by providing benefits, creating a pleasant environment and investing in their career development.”

Marie said the Rwandan government’s responsiveness to issues raised by the country’s entrepreneurs, makes her feel supported. She was quick to point out that, the government has been supportive, particularly in facilitating market visibility and providing environmental-friendly policies. She is a member of SheTrade Hub Rwanda.

In Rwanda, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) in collaboration with the International Trade Centre’s (ITC), and the Private Sector Federation (PSF) Women Chamber of Entrepreneurs established a SheTrades Hub in Rwanda in 2021. The hub is part of a network of more than 10 SheTrades Hubs across Africa, Asia and Latin America, and has been supporting Rwandan women entrepreneurs to improve their competitiveness, connect to new markets and internationalise their businesses.

The SheTrade Hub has been providing a platform for the development of new partnerships with investors, multinational corporations, and business support organisations to foster an enabling environment for businesswomen.

Her company is undergoing steady and impressive growth and is in the process of expanding beyond the Rwandan borders. Zima’s products are now finding their way into the Kenyan and Ghanaian markets.

However, Marie has been facing challenges on customs and transport issues that are making it expensive to distribute her company’s products in various African markets. She said there is a need to improve customs regulations to make it easier for African products to compete with imported goods from other continents.

Kigali, Rwanda 9^th September 2024 – The young people at the Africa food Systems on 6^th September 2024 committed to being accountable for the Africa food systems, a commitment set to be presented at COP29.

The Kigali youth Declaration calls on various stakeholders to amplify the voice of the young people, address the pressing issues of climate change and youth employment in Africa and explore strategies to accelerate youth access to work opportunities in the agricultural and food system sector.

“This year we had over 1000 youths who presented new ideas every day. 40% of the young people being women, there was also a good representation of indigenous and differently abled individuals. These young people have today submitted a declaration on climate that they want presented to COP29. These young people are committed to make the food systems work. When the food system works, the world works and for that reason we need 80% of this forum to be youths” remarked Dr. Agnes Kalibata President AGRA

Key Findings and Recommendations

African youth face significant challenges in accessing resources such as land, capital, and agricultural inputs, navigating regulations policy constraints, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. These challenges, coupled with gender inequality and inadequate education and training, hinder their participation in the agricultural sector. Despite these obstacles, African youth possess an innovative spirit and entrepreneurial mindset, which can drive positive change in the food systems sector. The growing demand for sustainable food, technological advancements, and potential government support offer opportunities for youth to contribute to agricultural development.

Data and Statistics

• Youth Unemployment- 1/3 of African youths are currently unemployed, and another 1/3 are vulnerably employed.
• Youth Population Growth- By 2030, African youth will constitute 42% of the global youth population, with over 100 million seeking employment opportunities.
• Agriculture’s Role- Agriculture employs 50% of Africa’s workforce, offering significant potential for youth employment.
• Literacy Challenges- More than 25% of youths entering the job market lack basic literacy,  hindering their ability to take advantage of opportunities.
• Job Creation Gap- Only 3 million new jobs are being created annually in Africa, while 10 million young people are entering the labor market.

The Kigali Declaration therefore provides a roadmap for achieving this goal by addressing the challenges faced by youth and leveraging their potential to transform food systems and build a more resilient future for Africa.

Welcome. It’s my great pleasure to be here representing USAID.

I want to start with a special thanks to AGRA for their close partnership and express my deep appreciation for their leader, Agnes Kalibata, whose expert insights and visionary leadership have fueled AGRA’s growth and, more importantly, its impact, helping transform subsistence farms into thriving commercial businesses; reducing hunger, poverty; and improving nutrition in the process.

I’m excited to once again be part of the Deal Room, where each year so many exciting partnerships emerge. As we recover from multiple shocks impacting food security and nutrition on the continent, the financing opportunities and partnerships that develop here have never been more important.

While the global market and food security shocks of the last few years are largely behind us, Africa continues to face high food and input costs, debt distress, currency volatility, and the effects of conflict and climate shocks, including the recent El Niño effects – all of which undermine progress. Witness the somber statistic offered by FAO’s latest SOFI report: Africa is one of the few regions of the world where undernourishment has continued to rise in recent years.

Reflecting Africa’s great need but also its great potential, President Biden launched a new U.S.-AU strategic partnership to support more productive and resilient food systems on the continent. The U.S. government’s global hunger initiative Feed the Future prioritizes investments here, providing more than $400 million each year to increase inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth, build resilience, and improve nutrition.

Over the past two years, the U.S. Congress has also provided more than $500 million in supplemental development assistance through Feed the Future to the African continent, in response to global food shocks triggered or exacerbated by Russia’s unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Today, pending Congressional approval, I am pleased to announce an additional $40 million of new Feed the Future development funds to support African farmers and food systems as they grapple with the effects of El Niño and other shocks and look towards what we anticipate will be a much better season ahead.

The provision of these supplemental funds through Feed the Future reflects U.S. understanding that we simply cannot afford to step back into the habit of solving hunger with the blunt tool of emergency aid alone. Together, we must accelerate support for policy reforms and programs that facilitate deeper investments in research and innovation, scale farmer access to improved seeds, better agronomic practices and weather information services, expand value addition and regional trade opportunities, and increase availability of nutritious foods on local markets, ensuring that women and young people fully benefit from emerging opportunities across agri-food systems.

The deal room is about expanding trade and investment opportunities, and I want to specifically highlight here our work to help unlock additional finance for small and medium enterprises or agri-SMEs working in the food system.

Agri-SMEs are Africa’s largest employer and economic engine, and are key change agents to boost production and help communities and households access safe, healthy, and affordable foods. They are a driving force behind sub-Saharan African food systems, creating jobs, and supporting 95 percent of smallholder farmers with critical tools and services they need to grow and prosper – delivering seeds and fertilizer, providing training, purchasing food from farmers, and transporting, storing, and processing food.

Despite their importance, three out of four African agri-SMEs cannot access formal bank loans and are too large for microfinance, contributing to an estimated $74 billion gap in unmet demand for financing.

The United States development investments are increasingly focused on public-private partnerships and blended finance to fuel private sector investment and de-risk lending to farmers and agri-SMEs. We support lending criteria that create more opportunities for women and advance climate-smart agriculture. And, we are currently testing a new nutrition investing framework to help investors screen for positive nutrition outcomes, as well.

At the national level, through the social enterprise, Aceli Africa, and in partnership with six other anchor bi-lateral donors, we are supporting blended finance to incentivize local banks to lend to segments they don’t traditionally serve, helping them overcome the high costs and risks associated with lending to agri-SMEs. So far, Aceli has partnered with 38 active lending partners in East Africa, resulting in nearly 1,500 loans with an average loan size of $100,000.

Because of these investments, fruit processors in Tanzania have increased their capacity to process and market nutritious foods sourced from smallholder producers. And, dairy processors in Rwanda are now able to meet quality standards for their value-added products, including yogurt and cheese. Here in Rwanda, a coffee aggregator has seen revenue surge by 64 percent since her loan three years ago, and her payments to farmers have increased by 138 percent. Additionally, 44 percent of her growers and 50 percent of her workers are women.

Altogether, SMEs have received $142 million in Aceli-supported loans, enabling them to create market access for 843,000 smallholder farmers and employment for 25,000 full-time workers.

While Aceli is incentivizing loans directly to stakeholders in the agrifood system from banks using local deposits, there is also a notable gap in efforts to unlock and crowd-in new international private capital.

So, at the global level, to address this, the United States and Norway announced last year the Financing for Agricultural SMEs in Africa (FASA) Fund, which will invest concessional capital to investment funds. Together, USAID and Norway have committed a total of $70 million, and we aim to reach $200 million through additional donor contributions.

These will be invested as catalytic capital in specialized investment funds targeting agri-SMEs. By reducing investment risks, this approach aims to attract further commercial financing. The Fund will actively invest in climate adaptation; gender equality; crop diversity to better withstand shocks from pests, weather, and disease; and regenerative agriculture practices that integrate conservation efforts and restore soil health.

The United States knows that supporting strong African food systems and businesses is good not only for Africa, but for the United States.

This year, more than 60 representatives from across USAID’s 39 offices in Africa and from Washington, along with representatives from the U.S. Department of State, the Department of Agriculture, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and other U.S. government agencies are here – in the Deal Room and around the Forum. This reflects both the importance of this forum and our readiness to work with you, our partners, to help Africa continue to unlock its extraordinary potential to not only feed itself but help feed the world.

Please come and find us. We are eager to discuss ongoing partnerships and to forge new ones.

Thank you.

Let me start by thanking H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the AGRA Board for the invitation to join you here today for this Africa Food Systems Forum 2024.

I am also grateful for the opportunity to be reunited with Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA, and the former special Envoy for the Food Systems Summit. She has been an incredible champion for Africa, for food systems, and for the women and men whose livelihoods depend on these systems.

Together with Agnes, all of you have helped to grow the Africa Food Systems Forum into a critical gathering for the continent, and I am pleased to finally be able to participate in person.
Excellencies,

This meeting is timely.

Later this month, we will convene in New York for the Summit of the Future.

Throughout months of discussions and preparation, we have seen an indisputable consensus that bringing hope to future generations depends on our ability to address today the most pressing issues of our times as we seek to deliver on Agenda 2063.

This includes building strong, sustainable food systems that can support people, economies, and the environment alike into the future.

Africa’s voice, and its championship for the potential of food systems to help us achieve Sustainable Development, will be essential.

The critical role of women and young people must be supported and nurtured.

But we meet at a challenging moment.

The world faces multiple complex interconnected challenges. And our great continent is being hit hard by a devastating series of global shocks. These are having a huge impact on people, the environment and our economies.

COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis, and the triple planetary crisis of climate, biodiversity loss and pollution – all of these challenges have brought immense pain and are further exacerbating Africa’s vulnerabilities and reversing the gains of the last decade in delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Over the past week, we have heard concerns.

After a long period of improvement, hunger has worsened substantially in Africa. Around 280 million people are undernourished, an increase of 57 million people since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small farmers are affected every year by climate-related weather events, with losses estimated at $670 million per year.

And it is our women farmers that feel these shocks most acutely. Indeed, households headed by women in rural areas lost about 8% more of their income to heat stress than male-headed households. And their reduction in income when floods struck was about 3% greater than the loss to men.

The difference, taken across the world’s low- and middle-income countries, adds up to about an extra $37 billion lost to women from heat stress, and an extra $16 billion from floods each year.

But the economic pain is not theirs alone. It is also keenly felt within national coffers as well. For national governments, debt servicing is at an all-time high due to external shocks.

The pressure to address these shocks further constrains national budgets and fiscal space, leaving little to invest in sustainable development. Many national governments are spending more on debt servicing than education, health, water and sanitation – let alone building a more climate resilient future.

One by one, these pressures result in low investment, low growth, and stalled progress towards the SDGs.

But I am optimistic.

As we prepare for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, global leaders are actively looking at ways to make the SDG Stimulus a reality.

The Stimulus, called for by the Secretary-General last year, is aimed at enhancing and expanding SDG implementation. This includes increasing access to long-term concessional financing, and a new financial architecture that better supports developing countries as they invest in the systems their people need.

Food systems are one of the systems that require massive investment and financial stimulus.

Under Brazil´s presidency, the G20 is convening the Hunger and Poverty Alliance, which brings momentum to the Food Systems Transformation agenda that we agreed on at the 2022 Food Systems Summit.

It’s time to transform words into action. Progress requires efforts at scale and a sense of urgency. It will also depend on working in an integrated manner towards our shared goals of a green economy anchored in renewable energy, digital connectivity, jobs, stronger social protection and education.

Excellencies, Friends,

The focus of your discussions at this year’s African Food Systems Forum has created new momentum and vision to navigate the challenges using existing tools to achieve our commitments to transforming food systems.

But the success of any global agreement will ultimately be measured in the lives we change through implementation. I urge all of us to make our commitment to the SDGs and Agenda 2063 a reality for all – not only on paper, but in the daily lives of the tens of millions of people around the world counting on us.

Let’s keep the promise to ourselves and the future that we are leaving for our children.

And let’s continue working together to build food systems that Africa needs.

Thank you.

Today marked the successful conclusion of the four-day Africa Food Systems Forum, which united over 5,000 delegates, 38 smallholder farmer groups, 97 countries, 302 speakers, 882 youth, 7 former heads of state, 37 ministers and 149 members of the press. Significant commitments were made, partnerships formed, and investments mobilized, marking a renewed commitment to the  transformation of Africa’s food systems.

Below are the highlights of Day 4:

GoGettaz Agripreneurs Winners Take Home USD $50,000

As the forum came to an end, we had a conversation with the youth who had the opportunity to directly ask questions to the leaders. The session touched on how AFS partners can support young people to learn and find jobs in food systems. It was also during this session that one male and one female winners of this year’s GoGettaz Agripeneurs were awarded USD 50,000 each for leading scalable and impactful business and social ventures.

Youth Involvement  in Agriculture Cemented with the Kigali Youth Declaration

The young people at the Africa food Systems 2024 committed to being accountable for the Africa food systems, a commitment set to be presented at COP29.

The Kigali Youth Declaration calls on various stakeholders to amplify the voice of the young people, address the pressing issues of climate change and youth employment in Africa and explore strategies to accelerate youth access to work opportunities in the agricultural and food system sector.

Cote D’ivoire and Rwanda Legacy Programmes

Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire today presented their legacy programmes and called for support from development partners, private institutions, and stakeholders for its implementation. The legacy programme initiative aims to transform the country’s food systems into operational, bankable investments that can be funded by partners and implemented over the next five years.

Rwanda’s case was compelling: the country boasts a 2.3% growth rate, with 27% of GDP derived from agriculture. As the top-performing country in implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), Rwanda reinforced its commitment to advancing the sector. Key goals for Rwanda’s government include creating an enabling environment for youth employment, expanding avocado, chili, and potato production through public-private partnerships, and enhancing the livestock sector, particularly beef and poultry. Rwanda’s total investment requirement stands at $6 billion.

For Côte d’Ivoire, agriculture plays a central role in the country’s economy. The sector contributes 17% of GDP and accounts for more than 50% of export earnings.

However, challenges remain in achieving food security, such as limited access to high-yield, climate-resilient seeds and low mechanization in farming practices. Côte d’Ivoire is addressing these issues through the Social Project for the Acceleration of Food Production and Processing (PROSVIT-CI), a project estimated at XOF 5,881.2 billion (USD 9.8 billion). The government appealed to stakeholders for support to meet its goals.

The Great Debate: Africa’s Path to Food Security

The closing session featured key voices in Africa’s economic landscape: Wamkele Mene, CEO of AfCFTA; Lord Collins, UK Minister for Africa; and James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Group Holdings Limited.

Wamkele Mene underscored Africa’s current food insecurity crisis driven by external geopolitical factors, stating, “Millions have been pushed into poverty, but African countries have the potential to feed the continent.” He emphasized the need to reduce intra-African trade barriers, particularly on agricultural products, to unlock access to new markets and tackle the continent’s food challenges.

Dr James Mwangi drew attention to climate change, describing it as the “pandemic of agriculture” for smallholder farmers. He called for governments to address this with the same urgency as the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “smallholder farmers cannot be left to fend for themselves.”

Lord Collins highlighted the UK’s commitment to economic partnerships with Africa, emphasizing, “Economic growth is how we will feed us all in the future.” He praised the innovation and entrepreneurship showcased at the Forum, encouraging a paradigm shift in African agricultural leadership to fully realize the sector’s potential.

1. AFP Winner announcement and awards dinner

Tinotenda Mhiko, CEO of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) of Zimbabwe, was named the winner of the 2024 Africa Food Prize, receiving a $100,000 award for his groundbreaking leadership and innovation in advancing food security through strategic irrigation initiatives, which is revolutionizing Zimbabwe’s food systems.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Mhiko stated, “I have worked will all classes of farmers over 15 years to improve productivity. Over time I have found that the first step to achieving this is innovation. We have implemented impactful models alongside the use of technological innovations which have helped achieve this.”

2. ⁠Investing in Regenerative agriculture

The Investing in Regenerative Food Systems session focused on the principles and practices of regenerative agriculture, presenting practical solutions to address global challenges such as climate change and environmental degradation.

The discussion highlighted best practices, lessons learned, and models that had been successfully scaled and replicated to produce transformative outcomes. Topics covered included sustainable farming techniques, improving soil health, nature-based solutions, promoting biodiversity, and enhancing climate resilience.

Regenerative agriculture must consider the multiplicity of landscapes, integrating land use planning alongside biodiversity and conservation efforts. We should also view ecosystem health as a key factor in productivity, using metrics that go beyond just yield, Ms. Nancy Rapando, Co-coordinator, Policy Advisor, Policy and Advocacy, ISFFA.

Experts shared success stories and explored innovative policies that have supported regenerative food systems, offering insights into strategies aimed at enhancing resilience and food security in agriculture while ensuring landscape and ecosystem restoration in Africa.

3. ⁠Agribusiness Dealroom Knowledge Session: VALUE4HER, ITC, SheTrades, IAFN WAYA

The session featured a panel discussion that touched on key issues facing women entrepreneurs such as access to markets, finance and business development services. The forum brought together key figures representing women agripreneurs across the continent, chief among them the 2024 Women Agripreneur of the Year Award Overall Winner Affiong Williams.

In her remarks during the panel discussion, Affiong noted, “As women in agribusiness, we’ve proven we can build thriving ventures. To unlock further growth, we must deeply understand our market. This enables us to conceptualize products that resonate, attract investment, and propel our businesses forward.”

4. Youth Mini Hackathon

The youth had a session to refresh on day one and two’s learnings. This was a chance for Day one absentees to pitch and get feedback from the judges and mentors as they selected the best five team pitches. The youth presented their innovative ideas and received feedback from industry experts and peers, and the most promising solutions were awarded cash prizes ranging from $400 to $1000.

5. ⁠Media’s role in transforming Africa’s Food Systems

Media professionals from across the continent today had a session to highlight the role of the media industry in supporting and amplifying the African food systems narrative by amplifying key messages and generating conversations through mainstream and online media platforms. This session convened a broad group of communication and media specialists and practitioners from food systems, agriculture, agribusiness, environment, and rural development fields to discuss how to unpack Africa’s food systems’ potential, develop a positive narrative to attract investors, youth and women to the sector, and showcase best practices, lessons learned, and innovations in communicating or reporting on advances in food systems. The session also provided an opportunity to launch a Food Systems Media Platform, a continental fellowship, and a magazine on food systems transformation.

6. Food systems- The Bigger Picture

Today’s session on “Food Systems: The Bigger Picture” highlighted the urgent need for a more inclusive and collaborative approach to transforming agriculture across Africa. Discussions touched on blended finance, smart agriculture, and increased private-sector engagement.

Ms. Delphine Traore, CEO of Allianz Africa and Board Chair of AGRA, highlighted a critical challenge: while 95% of agricultural production in Africa is processed by agri-SMEs, only 25% of these enterprises have access to financing. Investors often shy away from the sector, viewing the African continent as a high-risk investment.

James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Bank Limited, outlined three key innovations that can be adopted to strengthen small-scale farming in Africa: Capacity-building initiatives to help farmers adapt to climate change, de-risking partnerships; reducing reliance on rain-fed agriculture.

7. South-South Triangular Cooperation

The session on South-South Cooperation emphasized the crucial role investment agencies play in strengthening agri-food systems. A key focus was on bridging existing gaps to make the sector more attractive to private investors, which is essential for scaling sustainable agricultural practices and boosting productivity. Empowering women through improved access to finance also emerged as a vital point of discussion.

Dr. Cheng Cheng highlighted an innovative climate-friendly loan program designed for small-scale farmers cultivating palm oil and other oil crops. This program ties funding to sustainable farming practices, promoting eco-friendly palm oil production in Africa. Such initiatives directly address sustainability challenges on the ground while supporting the development of greener food systems across the continent.

8. The Climate Clock – Scaling Food Systems and Climate Action – A Continental Agenda

Today’s session reaffirmed the critical need to integrate agriculture and food systems into climate action strategies across Africa. Building on momentum from key global events such as COP28 and the Africa Climate Summit, African countries are taking significant steps to align sustainable food systems with climate policies.

In today’s session, discussions revolved around scaling up the food systems and climate action agenda at the continental level. As African countries prepare for COP30, experts explored how nations can share progress and best practices for integrating food systems into their climate policies, investments, and national plans.

9. Investing in soil health to Feed a Continent

The panel highlighted that investments in soil health and land restoration could boost crop yields by 6-10% and slow biodiversity loss by 11% by 2050. Speakers called for action on the various declarations, emphasizing the need for collaboration, realism, and urgency in addressing the soil health and food security agenda. As Africa’s population continues to grow, so too must the commitment to innovative, sustainable solutions for feeding the continent’s future.

10. Market Structure a Major Challenge for the Ethiopian Coffee Sector

Official reports indicate that the Ethiopian coffee sector faces labour shortages due to the migration of young people to urban areas in search of better opportunities. This migration results in an ageing farming population, which poses challenges for the future sustainability of coffee farming.

11. The Accountability Room- Climate Clock

This session served as a space for drafting concrete proposals on scaling up the food systems and climate action agenda at the continental level. In preparation for COP30, African countries shared their progress and best practices for mainstreaming food systems into their climate policies, investments, and plans.

This session brought together the continent’s experts who are championing the work on the food systems and climate nexus to learn more about the latest developments, research findings, and current and future actions on this topic.

12. Investing in Regenerative food systems

This panel discussion focused on best practices, lessons learned, and delivery models with proven potential for replication and scale and capacity to produce transformative outcomes through practical regenerative agri-food solutions for global challenges such as climate change and environmental degradation. The sessions delve into the key principles and practices of regenerative agriculture, a powerful approach that promotes sustainability, resilience, and food security. Engage with farmers, researchers, and practitioners at the forefront of this field as they share their expertise and success stories on practical programs and policies.

NUTRITION, HEALTH, TRADE & MARKETS

On the second day of the Africa Food Sytems Forum, delegates once again united, calling for effective ways of implementing the food systems policies in the continent. Hon Richard Nyirishema, the Minister of Sports Rwanda, emphasizing on good nutritious food for the athletes, while Dr Agnes Kalibata, the President of AGRA, said that Legacy Programs are a great opportunities for countries to step up and work faster, and it is time for countries to work together, because they need each other, where trade is an essential means to how we source our food.

Here are the highlights of the day.

Food and Nutrition Session

At the Food and Nutrition session  held at the sidelines of the AFS summit, policy makers and nutrition specialists came together to reflect on policies and programs as well as discuss how to bring various food system actors on board to generate impactful nutrition and health outcomes.

Nutrition has long been overlooked in food system conversations. However, today’s session brought these conversations to the fore, highlighting the importance of the quality of food rather than just the quantity.

Speakers highlighted the enormous cost of malnutrition to Africa, not only in terms of healthcare but also in lost productivity. Micronutrient deficiencies remain a silent killer, particularly among children, while issues of obesity are increasingly affecting the labor workforce across food system value chains. Investing in nutrition is both a moral imperative and a sound economic strategy. To achieve these goals, nutrition must be a core component of sectoral policies and food system programs, making them more “nutrition-sensitive”.

Remarks by Hon. Richard Nyirishema, Rwanda Sports Minister, “Sports, nutrition, and health go hand-in-hand, offering people of different abilities and ages worldwide the chance for happier, healthier, and more productive lives. Various sports legends from the continent came from rural areas or modest urban backgrounds but have been performing for many years thanks to discipline, good health, and nutrition. Today, the Hon Minister of Sports in Rwanda, emphasized the need of eating a nutritious diet, and more so indigenous food, since it is important in body development for athletes.”

Country Deal Room Launch: Zambia Legacy Program 

It was an auspicious, moment for Zambia as the spotlight turned to its abundant resources and untapped potential in agriculture.

With 42 million hectares of arable land, only 1.5 million of which is currently cultivated, Zambia is poised to become a powerhouse in agricultural production. The country also boasts 40% of all water resources in the SADC region, further underscoring its capacity for expansion in this sector.

Participants called for increased collaboration and trade between countries. As Dr. Kalibata emphasized, “We are at a time where trade is becoming extremely important to how we secure food in our countries. It’s not just about how we produce; it’s about how we trade.”

“Zambia experienced one the most severe droughts in its recent history- and because of that they had to come up with a response plan to ensure Agriculture production was not disrupted and therefore came CATSP – focused on irrigated agriculture and mechanization, access to credit and finance,” – Dr Chizumba Shepande, Director in the Ministry of Agriculture

Women Agri-Prenuer of the Year Award (WAYA)

Affiong Williams, Founder and CEO of ReelFruit was the overall winner of the (WAYA) award, for outstanding contributions that exemplify how enterprise can transform lives and the agribusiness sector proving that sustainable impactful businesses can be built by women, receiving a cash prize of $40,000.

This year’s WAYA awards finalists were selected from a record-breaking 1,535 applications spanning 44 African nations, a significant increase from the 1,430 applicants and 42 participating nations in 2023. This highlights the growing influence and importance of women in Africa’s agribusiness sector. The finalists represented diverse countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

https://agra.org/news/agra-announces-the-2024-women-agri-preneurs-of-the-year-award-winners-at-the-afs-forum/

Council of the Wise Session

H.E. Former President, Goodluck Jonathan statement highlights a critical issue in Africa’s food systems: the alarming lack of agro-biodiversity and its impact on nutrition and food security.

The African continent faces an urgent need for visionaries and innovators to address challenges in food security and nutrition while also fostering job creation. To support the emerging leaders in the food systems sector, the Council of the Wise—comprising former African leaders—has committed to investing in education, mentoring, and entrepreneurship initiatives aimed at empowering the continent’s youth to drive positive change.

During the session of the Council of the Wise, an honorary member,  Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the former President of Nigeria, highlighted the importance of the older generation guiding young people in transforming the food systems sector, particularly through technology. He added that Africa is in the hands of young people and therefore, they have a critical role to play in shaping the continent’s future.

Ministerial Roundtable 

Earlier, a ministerial roundtable chaired by H.E Dr Ibrahim Mayaki was held at #AFSForum24 to discuss solutions that advances food systems transformation, and taking stock of countries’ progress, and identifying actions to drive change in a digital and climate era.

The session brought together government ministers and other high-level officials to share their experiences and perspectives on implementing policies and programs to improve food systems in their respective countries, while harnessing energy potential in the region. The discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities of food system transformation and how countries can work together to accelerate progress towards sustainable and equitable food systems.Parliamentary session.

“Focusing on agrifood systems necessitates a break from siloed ways of working, and existing systems of accountability. This shift demands us to step out of our professional comfort zones and embrace new path lines. However I am proud to say that our ministers are tackling this challenges with novelty approaches and a steadfast commitment to new ways of working. They are actively sharing experiences and learning from one another,” said Dr Mayaki.

Agriculture Parliamentarian in Africa

As we build a holistic view of food systems transformation that takes into consideration, gender issues that enhance resilience are important, this was the call from Parliamentarians. Parliamentary Network Forum championing food systems transformation at #AFSForum2024, spoke about policies that improves gender agenda. “The African Food Systems Forum continues to be a flagship event – where some of the most brilliant, committed and determined minds, gather from around the world, with a singular purpose – not just to end hunger and poverty once and for all on our continent, but to truly to transform the lives and futures of our people,” Hon Jeremiah Lissouba.

The African Food Systems Parliamentary Network (AFSPaN) emphasized the importance of partnerships, coalitions, and synergies in transforming Africa’s agrifood systems. The creation of AFSPaN was motivated by the need to translate policy into impactful change on the ground.

The network is founded on the belief that Parliamentarians play a critical role in bridging the gap between policy and practice. As legislators and budget custodians, their role is vital in informing stakeholders, providing legal frameworks, ensuring alignment of public spending with investment plans, and strengthening accountability.

Financing models and products on the continent

This session was discussing the best practices and financing models for women involved in food systems value chains across the continent, with a focus on nutrition, and how these models can be scaled up to ensure the inclusion of and a more significant role for women in food systems.

#Agriculture is key to our #YoungAfricaWorks strategy. With our partners, we’ve enabled 4.2M youth, nearly 50% young women, to pursue agrifood livelihoods. At the #AFSForum2024, Daniel Hailu emphasized the importance of co-designing interventions with the local context in mind.

While, Hedwig Siewertsen,  Head of Inclusive Finance, emphasized on “Women are extremely good at managing risk. The way women do business is very different from how men do business. While men tend to put all their eggs in one basket, women tend to diversify.”

“At Bayer, we are intentional and very gender sensitive. We are building an ecosystem of women, through the Better Life Farming Model. Bayer’s Better Life Farming initiative aims to help empower smallholder farmers with solutions that improve harvests — and lives. We started this programme with women and the uptake was amazing. And we are empowering them with holistic skills. This program supports women through soil health practice, regenerative agriculture and financing of input supply,” Mildred Nadah Pita, Head of Public Affairs at Bayer.

Uganda AgriBusiness Dealroom Session

 Uganda Minister of State for Animal Industry, MP Isingiro County North, Member of MUBS Council , Dr Bright Rwamirama, had a chance to woo the delegates on why invest in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.

Opportunities Highlighted:

• Bananas Farming
• Cassava Farming
• Coffee Value Chain
• Fruits Farming
• Industrial Parks

Farmers Forum

The Farmers’ Forum was attended by farmers unions and farmers from  Africa, Asia, and Latin America to exchange experiences and share best practices regarding participation in food systems policies, access to financing and markets, and capacity to deliver healthy foods produced.  The interactive featured progress being made in the quality, aggregation, and marketing.  Also featured was capacity building platforms for farmers, farmer representation, advocacy, financial solutions, communication.  Opening the session,  IFAD Vice-President endorsed their commitment to support farmers who are key anchors of food systems’

Global Leaders call for an inclusive food systems, and more investments in nutritious foods 

Kigali Convention Center played host to the Africa’s largest forum on agriculture, the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024. The official opening ceremony was officiated by Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Hon Édouard Ngirente. This year’s theme “Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale, calls for harnessing the creativity of Africa’s youth and women to drive economic progress, and that was the message that each speaker rallied at the opening ceremony. Here is the sneak peak of what happened on Day 1 of AFS Forum 2024.

 Sierra Leone Legacy Program

Sierra Leone took center stage with a powerful keynote address from Hon. Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, who highlighted the potential of Sierra Leone to export rice, cassava, cocoa, and coffee as he appealed for investment in the country. “Private sector investment is critical for Sierra Leone’s 1.8 bn dollars needed to transform our food systems,” he said. Hon. Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, provided an in-depth overview of the program, outlining its goals, expected impacts, and the unique opportunities it presents for investors.  He highlighted Sierra Leone’s ambition to feed itself through the Feed Salone Flagship program to enhance food security.

 Official Opening Ceremony

AFS Forum was officially opened at the Kigali Conference Center Auditorium and featured remarks from Dr. Agnes Kalibata, AGRA President, who welcomed the delegates and noted that “Welcome to AFSForum2024. This year’s theme, Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale, calls for harnessing the creativity of Africa’s youth and women to drive economic progress. I am very happy to say that 40% of the current CALA cohort are youth. These young leaders come from industry and government. The program brings together heads of different departments and enables them to work together to solve problems in food systems.” AGRA Board Chair His Excellency, Hailemariam Dessalegn said this year’s theme underlines the need for us to forge partnerships that ensure that farming is intensive, climate smart and sustainable. “This commitment includes creating a conducive policy environment for our youth to get involved. I am confident food systems can be a champion of change leading other industries with solutions. Let us be the champions for this change.”

Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of Rwanda also remarked, “The Africa Food Systems Forum has served as a critical platform that has influenced agriculture policies, enhanced investments and made progress in delivering sustainable food systems.” The opening ceremony set the stage for insightful discussions on the progress and gaps in the implementation of the continental food systems agenda and how to accelerate and scale food systems delivery at the policy, programming and investment levels through public private partnerships that put youth and women at the center.

Africa Agriculture Status Report 2024

The session featured the launch Africa Agriculture Status Report 2024 which highlighted MSMEs as a force in building Africa’s Food Systems. Medium and large-scale agribusinesses are playing an increasingly important role in Africa’s agro-food system, with new value chain investments that are capturing opportunities for growth over the past 10-15 years. These new investments have been triggered by a combination of factors (such as food price crises and policy incentives) and driven by growing local, regional and international food demand (underpinned by rising incomes, urbanization, and changing diets)

Gogettaz Grand Finale

Innovative agribusiness youth entrepreneurs had the opportunity to showcase their ventures and pitch their ideas in front of a panel of judges and potential investors.

Dealroom Opening and Launch 

Participants had an opportunity to explore trade deals of varying tickets size and partnership opportunities that could help enhance sourcing from African MSME’s, smallholder farmers and governments. Paul Lawson, Norweigan Government, remarked, “The banks are not ready to take the risk of supporting agri-SMEs. That’s why we will launch a 35m dollar fund next month for agri-SMEs.” The Deal Room continues to operate throughout the Forum, it is expected to facilitate numerous deals and partnerships that will have a lasting impact on Africa’s agricultural landscape. The momentum generated today is a promising sign of the transformative potential that lies ahead. Last year’s edition mobilized USD 10.2m & we expect this number to grow this year. The session brought together actors from different value chains and brought to life their experiences and the benefits of investing in African Food Systems.

Burkina Faso and Mali Forge Strategic Alliance in Agriculture and Food Systems

Burkina Faso and Mali recently hosted a collaborative dealroom session, highlighting their shared vision for agricultural transformation. The event was introduced by Jules Some, AGRA’s Country Director in Burkina Faso, and officially opened by Mali’s Minister of Agriculture, Daniel Siméon Kelema.

The session underscored the two nations’ investment priorities and strategic plans for advancing their agriculture and food systems. Alassane Guire, Cabinet Director for Burkina Faso’s Minister of Agriculture, outlined the Burkinabe government’s key reforms. These include the enhancement of agricultural inputs, spearheaded by the Company of Inputs and Agropastoral Equipment (SOBIMAP), the pursuit of blended financing, and the fostering of public-private partnerships.

Mali’s strategic focus, presented by Minister Kelema, emphasized improving soil health and fertility, making agriculture more profitable, boosting productivity, integrating irrigation systems, advancing mechanization, and strengthening resilience against climate change.

The session also featured notable attendees, including H.E. Yaya Doucoure, Ambassador of Mali to Rwanda, Rodouwna Mohamed Ali, Commissioner for Food Safety, Alassane Nikiema, General Director of SOBIMAP, and Ouattara Oula Damien, General Director of Dumu Ka Fa.

Culinary Village Platform with Paul Newman, CEO, SDG2 Advocacy Hub & Founder, Chefs Manifesto

The Culinary Village was a vibrant celebration of Africa’s diverse and rich culinary heritage. Lots of excitement as chefs, food enthusiasts, and attendees from across the continent gathered to explore the unique flavours that define African cuisine. There were insightful conversations on making agriculture attractive to youth across the different value chains, from production to processing and putting food on the table! Challenges were noted in the conversation between Paul Newnham and AGRA’s Bertha Mkandawire. “Every year, 10M young Africans are stepping into the formal job market which can’t rope them all in. Agriculture is the gateway for young people,” said Bertha Mkandawire, the nutrition lead at AGRA.

Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: A Call to Action for Smallholder Farmers

The Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 kicked off on September 2nd in Kigali, Rwanda, under the theme “Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale.” The forum aims to address the critical need to increase yields for smallholder farmers across the continent.

Linking Smallholder Farmers with Markets

Adeyemo Olusola, AGRAs Lead in Extension Services, highlighted AGRA’s successful Village Based Model approach, which has significantly improved market access for smallholder farmers. This model has been instrumental in connecting farmers to larger markets, thereby increasing their income and sustainability.

“At AGRA, our inclusive approach to supporting smallholder farmers is through Village Based Advisors (VBA). These are people who work in the community, and this approach has helped to link smallholder farmers to markets. VBAs can reach farmers effectively and efficiently. They have become early adopters and connect farmers to good farming practices. We have started scaling VBAs to Super VBA, (agro-dealers and aggregators).

Nutrition and School Feeding Programs

AGRA’s lead on nutrition, Bertha Mkandawire, discussed the impactful school feeding program, emphasizing its role in improving child nutrition and educational outcomes. The program has not only provided nutritious meals to children but also created a stable market for local farmers.

Soil Health and Organic Fertilizers

At the soil health session, Asseta Dialo stressed the importance of implementing the Soil Health Africa Declaration. She advocated for the adoption of organic fertilizers to enhance soil fertility and increase crop yields, which is crucial for sustainable agriculture. While AGRA’s Director of Climate Adaptation, Sustainable Agriculture & Resilience Prof. Tilahun Amede, said “Last mile extension is critical for the successful soil health management.”

Launch of the Seed Index Report

In collaboration with TASAI and the African Union, AGRA launched a comprehensive Seed Index Report. This report aims to provide valuable insights into seed systems across Africa, helping to improve seed quality and availability for farmers.

Africa Mechanization Coalition

AGRA Vice President Prof. Hamadi Boga led the launch of the Africa Mechanization Coalition. This initiative seeks to promote the use of modern agricultural machinery, which is essential for increasing productivity and reducing labor-intensive farming practices. “Public and private sector coming together to enhance the level of mechanization in agrifood systems in Africa. Not just tractors but also food loss reducing solutions like threshers and storage  for climate smart, youth inclusive agriculture,” he said.

Supporting Access to Markets and Finance

Nega Wubeneh, Head of Markets & Trades, emphasized AGRA’s commitment to supporting smallholder farmers by improving their access to markets and finance. This support is vital for the economic empowerment of farmers and the overall growth of the agricultural sector. He added, that AGRA has also introduced digital solutions to enhance extension services, aiming to reduce the extension officer-to-farmer ratio. These digital tools provide farmers with timely and accurate information, helping them make informed decisions.

Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture Cohort 4 (CALA)

The day concluded with the launch of the Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture Cohort 4. This initiative calls for an increase in leadership within the agricultural sector, fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders. “CALA is an initiative I have personally championed from the outset, and we at AGRA are deeply proud of its achievements. We’re also extremely thankful to the African Management Institute (AMI), who act as our delivery, implementation and learning partner across all CALA activities,” said Dr Agnes Kalibata.

Across the continent, hundreds of CALA alumni and delegates are now leading transformation programmes within their organisations and countries, advancing food security and sustainable agriculture. Hailing from government, the private sector and civil society, participants have applied their learning to drive meaningful improvements in agricultural policy, productivity, and community wellbeing.

Youth in Climate Demand Paper

The Ban Ki-moon Center launched a demand paper for youth in climate, urging leaders to adjust financing mechanisms to better support young people in climate action. This call to action aims to ensure that youth are at the forefront of climate resilience efforts.

Food Systems Transformation Emerging Insights from Mega Initiatives 

“Sustainable programs require more than just good intentions; they need to be embedded within the political and economic realities of a country. At AGRA Nigeria, we recognize this and prioritize alignment with government priorities. This strategic approach ensures not only initial buy-in but also the long-term viability and success of our programs,” these were the remarks of Rufus Idris, Country Director, AGRA Nigeria

Day 0 of the Africa Food Systems Forum set a strong foundation for the days to come, with a clear focus on innovation, acceleration, and scaling solutions to transform agriculture and food systems in Africa.

AGRA’s recent media panel brought together professionals from the media and communications sectors to discuss the evolving landscape of reporting on food systems transformation. Across three panels, participants explored how traditional and digital media can better engage audiences, not only by meeting their information needs but also by delivering accurate facts and figures on pressing issues like food security and climate change.

Moderated by Siki Kigongo, Senior Regional Communications Officer at AGRA and AFSF, the first panel emphasized the importance of equipping journalists with the knowledge and skills to report effectively on food systems. Panelists, including Zeynab Wandati, Climate and Sustainability Editor at Nation Media Group (Kenya), and Hellen Mwale, Senior Editor at Daily Nation (Zambia), stressed the need for specialization within media, enabling journalists to convey complex information coherently and without political bias. The panel also highlighted the importance of simplifying data so that both journalists and their audiences can fully grasp key topics. Collaboration with farmers, policymakers, and researchers was deemed essential to ensure accurate, well-rounded reporting.

The second panel, featuring Benjamin Kojo Fiafor, Senior Country Representative at Farm Radio International (Ghana), Amy Sarr Fall, Founder and Director of Intelligences Presse (Senegal), and Katie Taft, Communications and Engagement Lead at Gates Ag One, focused on the media’s catalytic role in advancing a positive narrative around agriculture and food systems.

“Radio is far from dead. Converged with other media, it remains a powerful tool for educating communities, and addressing local languages and cultural nuances.”  Benjamin Fiafor, Senior Country Representative at Farm Radio International (Ghana)

The panelists underscored the need for positive journalism that empowers journalists to share real stories independently, free from the agendas of organizations or institutions. Amy Sarr Fall advocated for creating better working conditions for journalists, calling on media to highlight the vast opportunities in agriculture and the potential of Africa’s land. Katie Taft shared insights from her work with Dr. Agnes Kalibata, former UN Special Envoy on Food Systems, emphasizing the importance of having the right stakeholders at the table to ensure inclusive, widespread conversations on food systems. She also stressed the need for collaboration across media, organizations, and other sectors to ensure comprehensive coverage.

The final panel delved into the use of various platforms to engage youth audiences. Jean Claude Niyomugabo, a social media influencer and content creator from Rwanda, discussed how leveraging different platforms helps tailor content to diverse audience needs and makes journalism more accessible by simplifying news in a way that resonates with younger generations. Abenaitwe Cliff, Journalist and Deputy Managing Director of Water Journalists Africa, pointed out that while new media facilitates fast reporting and data-driven journalism, it is crucial to maintain journalistic integrity by prioritizing facts and truth. James Munyaneza, Managing Editor at The New Times, added that high-quality, well-structured content is key, stressing that traditional and new media should complement each other in telling impactful stories.

“To engage the youth, we must use platforms that resonate with them and present our institution’s agenda in ways that show agriculture and other sectors as viable career paths, fostering their growth.” Jean Kiarie, Head of Communications, AGRA.

Key Takeaways:

– The importance of training journalists to specialize in food systems reporting.

– The media’s responsibility to deliver factual, unbiased information, free from political or institutional influences.

– Radio’s enduring relevance in reaching diverse communities, particularly when combined with other media.

– The power of positive storytelling to showcase agriculture’s potential in Africa.

– The need for collaboration between media, farmers, policymakers, and researchers to ensure accurate reporting.

– The role of social media in engaging youth and making complex topics more accessible.

By fostering collaboration between traditional and new media, the panelists agreed that we can ensure that the transformation of food systems is communicated clearly, effectively, and inclusively.