AGRA

Cathy Kamau, Specialist – Food Systems, PSC

Last week, on February 2nd and 3rd, 2026, global development partners gathered in Rome at the invitation of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for an important milestone: advancing the work of the Agri‑Food Systems Accelerator, a collaborative platform designed to support countries in transforming their national food systems.

Why the Agri‑Food Systems Accelerator Matters

Since 2022, AGRA and its partners have supported governments across Africa in developing food‑systems‑centered strategies and investment plans. Across this work, one recurring challenge has always stood out: the response to government requests for support is often fragmented, with multiple institutions sometimes duplicating efforts.

To address this, FAO and GAIN convened partners to design a coordinated mechanism, now known as the Agri‑Food Systems Accelerator – to streamline support, harmonize resources, and increase impact.

The Accelerator was officially launched in July 2025 in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) by UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed.

A New Governance Structure Takes Shape

Last week’s Rome convening provided important clarity on how the Accelerator will operate. Its work will be guided by a Technical Committee (TC), supported by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, whose Director will serve as Secretary and ex‑officio member.

The TC is co‑chaired by FAO and GAIN and will include a network of partners such as:

• UN agencies
• AGRA
• GIZ
• Netherlands Food Partnership
• AKADEMIYA 2063
• SUN Movement
• And others

For AGRA, Boaz Keizire, Director Policy and State Capability, will serve as the representative on the Technical Committee, with Cathy Kamau, Specialist-Food Systems as the alternate. Cathy will also serve as AGRA’s lead representative on the Operational Team, ensuring continuity and alignment in day‑to‑day engagements.

Supporting the First Wave of Country Requests

A major achievement during the Rome meeting was the agreement to respond to four country requests already received from Ghana, Uganda, Benin and Somalia.

Initial funding for this cohort has been provided by BMZ, enabling the Accelerator to begin delivering coordinated support. AGRA is engaged directly in Uganda and Somalia, building on ongoing work to develop systems‑driven investment plans and business cases alongside national governments.

AGRA’s Evolving Role in Food Systems Transformation

AGRA continues to play a central role in helping governments integrate agriculture and food systems into broader national agendas touching on climate action, health and youth empowerment

The Agri‑Food Systems Accelerator represents a natural extension of AGRA’s work within the Technical Cooperation Collaborative (TCC), an initiative that emerged from the COP28 Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action. That declaration, endorsed by more than 130 countries, commits nations to embed food systems into their climate strategies to reduce climate‑induced hunger, lower emissions, and enhance resilience.

Looking Ahead

The Rome mission marks an exciting step forward. As the Accelerator moves from concept to implementation, AGRA’s leadership and technical experience position it as a key contributor to shaping Africa’s food systems transformation. The collaborative model set by the Accelerator offers a promising pathway toward more coherent, impactful, and sustainable support for countries driving their food systems agendas.