ORGANIZER: African Women in Agricultural Research and Development
(AWARD)

Co-Organizers: CABI; Global Solutions Initiative; Global Panel on
Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition

BRIEF:
Accelerating food systems transformation, particularly in a changing
climate within a digital era, requires careful consideration of the needs,
priorities, and capabilities of a diversity of men and women to contribute
and benefit from agrifood systems. While addressing everyone's roles in
production, processing, trading, and households' food consumption, we
must consider how the women are positioned in the agrifood systems,
their accessibility to innovations, their vulnerability and resilience to
climate change, their agency and participation in decision making and
how the policy environment influences all these. Existing laws and
sociocultural norms, alongside deeply entrenched economic and political
structural barriers, continue to widen women's underrepresentation in
leadership and decision-making roles. Despite numerous political
commitments, the gender gap in agrifood systems is expanding.
Evidence shows that closing the gender gap in agriculture would add
nearly USD 1 trillion to the global economy, and 45 million fewer people
would be at risk of food insecurity. This session will present approaches,
strategies, policy frameworks, and best practices that have worked to
improve women's engagement and focster their meaningful participation
in agrifood systems. Discussions will also focus on the gaps in equitable
food systems and how we can further leverage gender responsiveness for
accelerated transformation.

Organizer: AFEX 
Co-organizer: CGIAR 

BRIEF

 
The next five years hold immense potential for Africa's food systems. Now more than ever, it is important to prioritize integrated system approaches to sustainably solve Africa’s food problems. This side event will showcase proven bundled innovations for food system transformation such as Black soldier fly farming, rise-fish farm and oil palm plantation after post mining, solar powered irrigation with shallow groundwater and forage under irrigation in west and east Africa. Through a mix of case studies, discussions, and interactive activities, we'll delve into innovative solutions, policy advancements, and collaborative actions needed to create a food system that is: 
 Food-Secure: Producing enough nutritious food for Africa's growing population. 
 Sustainable: Minimizing environmental impact and promoting climate-smart practices. 
 Equitable: Providing fair access to food and opportunities for all actors within the system. 

This session is your chance to be part of shaping the future of Africa's food journey

Organizer: World Economic Forum

Co-Organizers: Alliance Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT, Boomitra, Clim-Eat, Development Gateway: An IREX Venture, Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations, IDH - the Sustainable Trade Initiative, International Fertilizer Development Center, NTT Data, WHH (Welthungerhilfe), World Economic Forum.

BRIEF: Soils provide the basis for over 90% of food production for the African population and hold great potential as carbon sinks. Yet, 65% of Africa's productive land is considered degraded, resulting in estimated losses of over $9 billion annually. The impacts are particularly severe for women and youth with unequal access to land and healthy soils. Urgent and large-scale action is needed to meet the Nairobi Declaration target of reversing land degradation and restoring soil health on 30% of degraded soils in Africa by 2034, and to ensure food and nutrition security, livelihoods and climate resilience for a growing population. This side event will start with a high-energy keynote about the status of soil health in Africa and then transition into two interactive panel discussions. The first panel will highlight existing high and low-tech innovations for optimising soil health. The second panel will discuss scaling innovations to accelerate pathways to accelerate soil health action across the continent, with a focus on achieving impact through multi-stakeholder partnerships and policy instruments for market-based scaling. The session will conclude with closing remarks, summarising the key insights and take-aways for governments, funders, implementers, and private sector actors.

Organizer: Innovation Lab Council/USAID

Co-Organizers: Tufts University, Michigan State University, University of California Davis, Pennsylvania State University, Washington State University, Purdue University and Kansas State University

For impactful scaling, success depends as much on the processes and people, including awareness raising, education, and training, as on technologies and requires a systems perspective. There is a need for deep localization, support for sound policies, intentional communication strategies and a proactive private sector 1. The USAID Feed the Future initiative draws on the expertise of top universities in Africa and the United States to conduct rigorous research and generate evidence on inclusive, healthy, and sustainable economic growth, resilience, agri-food systems transformation, climate change, current and emerging threats, global hunger and poverty and nutrition and health of vulnerable populations. In this session, the USAID Innovation Lab council will host a dialogue on prioritizing knowledge needs and deepening the understanding of facilitators of and barriers to scaling. Differential access to resources for women and youth and climate-smart actions will be integrated into the discussions. The objectives of the session are to present concepts of scaling going beyond technical innovations to include social and process innovations, understand factors that drive scaling, introduction to concepts such as innovation bundling and deep localization and how the application of these concepts is likely to contribute to scaled innovation. Session participants and attendees will come out of this event with a greater awareness that the way they go about their research has a major influence on the likelihood of achieving impact at scale with concrete ideas on how one can adapt the process of research and engagement to increase the impact of their research, the potential use of alternative approaches to scaling research (traditional and new media tocommunicate research and science), and how their approach may need to vary by countries and food systems. Participants will have a greater appreciation of the payoff to multi-disciplinary research to promote the coupling or bundling of social and technical innovations to achieve impact.

Panel 1: Locally led research for scaling and innovation

Panel 2: Innovations to support scaling actions focused on private and public sector

ORGANIZER: WFP Co-Organizers: AGRA, Pan Africa Farmer Organization (PAFO)East Africa Farmer Federation (EAFF), AFAP, SASAKAWA Africa BRIEF: This side event is collaboratively organized by the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and the Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA). This event will focus on "Linking Smallholders to Structured Markets and Last Mile Service Delivery," with a particular emphasis on scaling successful business models for the last-mile food systems transformation and fostering collaborations for improved livelihoods. The side event aims to address the critical need for integrating smallholder farmers into structured markets, ensuring they benefit from sustainable and profitable agricultural practices. By highlighting and scaling up successful business models, the event seeks to transform last-mile food systems, enhancing the reach and effectiveness of agricultural value chains. By fostering collaborations for improved livelihoods and sustainable food systems transformation, this event addresses crucial challenges and opportunities within African agriculture. Collaborations between various stakeholders, including governmental bodies, private sector entities, and non-governmental organizations, will be emphasized to create a cohesive and supportive ecosystem for smallholders. This approach aims to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by providing them with better market access, improved agricultural practices, and sustainable business opportunities.

ORGANIZER: CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform Co-Organizers: USAID Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security, CAADP XP4 Gender Working Group, International Development Enterprises (iDE), Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT BRIEF: Join us for this side event dedicated to unpacking what it means to accelerate gender-responsive and gender-transformative agribusiness systems in Africa and why doing so can promote dual processes of resilience building and sustainable peace. We will collectively expand our understanding of gender dynamics in volatile food systems, highlight impactful innovations, and promote successful and innovative business models for women and youth that can be replicated and scaled. Agrifood systems need to transform to build resilience in the face of climate- and conflict-related stressors and shocks, and women play a critical role as frontline actors and innovators. CGIAR's GENDER Impact Platform, CAADP's XP4 Gender Working Group, USAID's Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and International Development Enterprises (iDE) have put together a joint session to talk about issues, innovations and effective partnerships that can be replicated and scaled. Reflections ofthe session will translate to actionable gender-responsive policies contributing to sustainable, resilient, and peaceful agrifood systems in Africa. Hear from leading experts, researchers, passionate advocates, and innovative young entrepreneurs who are reshaping the future of agrifood systems. Together, we can cultivate a future where every woman's contribution is recognized and valued, and youth insights and solutions are celebrated.

ORGANIZER: GCA, African Development Bank Co-Organizer: USAID SERA BORA project; International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 

BRIEF: 
Innovations in food systems are critical for increased agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and 
ultimately, food and nutrition security, improved rural livelihoods, and the economy. While Africa is 
home to several groundbreaking innovations capable of transforming food systems, various barriers have 
prevented their successful scaling.

This side-event, structured as a roundtable, discusses experiences and 
opportunities in scaling innovations in food systems to strengthen food security and livelihoods on the 
continent. It starts with a concise overview of the state of food systems in the continent, then a deep dive 
into the country case study from Tanzania’s new Seed Sector Development Strategy with its ambitions to 
establish the country as Eastern and Southern Africa’s seed hub.

This is followed by a wider continental  perspective to showcase how the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, a partnership between the 
AfDB and GCA, continues to provide a unique vehicle to stimulate and climate-proof food systems 
investments.

Organizer: ProVeg International (Nigeria) BRIEF: The ‘COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action’ recognized for the first time the interdependence of food systems and climate change. In the next few decades, Africa will experience unprecedented population growth, putting more urgency on the question of how to feed 2.5 billion people. Alternative proteins will be part of sustainable food systems and resilient agriculture. The question is to what their role will be in the vastly growing protein demand on the African continent. This side event aims to explore the different aspects of alternative proteins in an African context regarding food security, planetary health, and human nutrition.

ORGANIZER: AKADEMIYA2063 Co-Organizers: Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn; African Leadership Academy/AL for Agribusiness Network; African Development Bank (AfDB); Springboard Nigeria; MwAPATA; National Youth Council of Malawi; Green Africa Youth Organization; GAYO; and IAAS BRIEF: This side event will explore the necessary investments and policy innovations needed to successfully harness the many opportunities offered by Africa’s agrifood system for the continent’s growing youth population. Youth-led innovations are significantly contributing to enhancing food security and nutrition, including technological solutions, sustainable agricultural practices, and community-driven initiatives. Agrifood processing is a particularly lucrative sector in light of Africa’s rapid urbanization and growing middle class, which have led to changing food environments, including a rise in modern supermarkets and an increased demand for processed and ready-to-eat foods in urban and rural areas. This increased demand can generate employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for Africa’s growing youth population in local agribusinesses. Agrifood processing is a critical sector that can help to address seasonal shortages in food supply, stabilize market prices, diversify markets for agricultural products, reduce postharvest losses, unlock demand for nutritious foods, and improve food safety standards

ORGANIZER: Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Co-Organizers: Islamic Development Bank (IsBD), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Nigeria office, BASICS-II, and African Development Bank (AfDB) BRIEF In the last decade, international finance institutions (IFIs) such as the Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank, as well as NGOs/projects such as Sasakawa Africa Association and the Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System, phase 2, Project (BASICS-II) and other development partners such as AGRA have made significant investments in agriculture. These investments in the form of grants and loans have facilitated progress, yet the extent to which they have transformed food systems has not been thoroughly discussed and appreciated. Recognizing the importance of the food system, this side event aims to reflect and celebrate the success of key interventions. The event will offer a platform for panelists to examine what has worked, identify areas for improvement to advance the scaling of food systems, and determine what needs recalibration.

ORGANIZER: IFPRI Co-Organizers: o Dr. Claudia Ringler, IFPRI o Dr. Mure Agbonlahor, African Union Commission o Dr. Nicole Lefore, Nebraska University o Dr. Biniam Iyob, USAID BRIEF: More and better irrigation development is essential to address increasing food insecurity and reduce negative impacts from climate extreme events on the African continent. However, Africa's irrigated area has remained relatively high since the 2014 Malabo Declaration. The post-Malabo agenda development and implementation provides an opportunity to revisit the role of irrigation while bolstering the 2024 Nairobi Declaration for improved soil and water management. This event will kick off the "African Irrigation Policy Dialogue Series: Supporting food security, nutrition and climate resilience in the post-Malabo Agenda" with a broad series of partners, including ACU, AMCOW, IWMI, Akademiya2063, FAO, SAID, the AfDB, the World Bank and others. This kick-off event will identify critical topics for discussion in the Irrigation Policy Dialogue Series and will discuss key areas supporting irrigation development.

Organizer: Partners in Food Solutions Co-Organizers: Sahel Capital, Acumen Resilience Agriculture Fund 

BRIEF:

Join us for an insightful session aimed at transforming African food processors in the face of climate 
challenges. Gain insights into how global companies leverage their expertise to support the growth of 
African food companies. This event will highlight the crucial role of knowledge transfer in innovating 
and enhancing the competitiveness of over 6,000 food processors across 12 African countries. Through 
compelling case studies, discover how African food processors innovate and scale circular economy 
practices to reduce food loss and waste.  
The session will also highlight the role of renewable energy and its potential to reduce operational costs 
and the environmental impact of food processing, thereby enhancing climate resilience. Learn about the 
 
 
investment opportunities and financial mechanisms essential for scaling innovations in the sector.  
This event is a must-attend for innovators, investors, food processors, donors, and policymakers 
committed to fostering sustainable growth in the African agro-processing sector.

ORGANIZER: GGGI BRIEF: At COP 28, GGGI launched The Africa and Middle East SAFE Initiative, aiming to mobilize USD10 billion in public-private partnerships to address the challenges of food security, climate change, and rural livelihood vulnerability. This side event will bring together different partners from the Government of Rwanda as a host, invited African government representatives, and private sector, including banks, financial institutions, philanthropic foundations, farmers, & Agri-business enterprises, to discuss the progress of the SAFE initiative (the first cohort of priority projects, project pipeline, results from data collection in different countries, green investments and matchmaking, investors profile and priorities), opportunities for partnerships, scale up and challenges.

ORGANIZER: Heifer International BRIEF: 80% of farmers in Africa are smallholder farmers cultivating on small plots with meager yields due to poor quality seeds, lack of access to mechanization, and lack of funding. The increasing effects of climate change are further challenging the ability of these smallholder farmers to increase production. Integrating technology in agriculture can significantly improve smallholder farmers' productivity and efficiency. Through real-life case studies, we explore the success stories and tangible outcomes of integrating tech and innovative financing in the agricultural sector. Join us at this side event, where experts and stakeholders will discuss their perspectives on innovative financing mechanisms, learn from real-life examples, and discuss how integrating technology and innovative financing can transform the lives of smallholder farmers and create a sustainable future for Africa’s agriculture.

ORGANIZER: African Development Bank Group Co-Organizers: DESCRIPTION : The Agriculture, Human, and Social Development Complex proposes to host a Dakar 2-focused side event at the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum. The side event will provide a platform to take stock of progress in implementing Dakar 2 summit outcomes and the declaration. The side event will be held on September 2, 2024, from (TBD), at the (TBD) in Kigali, Rwanda. The event seeks to bring together representatives from governments, the private sector, multilateral organizations, development partners, civil society, and researchers to discuss priorities, the alignment of investment projects, and the mobilization of financing for the Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts.

ORGANIZER: AGRA Co-Organizers: Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge, NEPAD, GAIN Health, Access To Nutrition BRIEF: The event aims to discuss the critical importance of investing in sustainable food systems in Africa, focussing on nutrition, sustainability, women's empowerment, and youth involvement.

ORGANIZER: Rockefeller Co-Organizers: University of Reading, Access to Nutrition, FAO, FCDO, Gain Health, Fortified Whole Grain Alliance, IDRC BRIEF: Over 420M learners globally benefit from School Meal Programs, including over 65M in Africa. School meals improve health and diet quality, boost cognitive performance, increase attendance (up to 12%), create a structured market outlet for farmers, reduce gender gaps by helping girls stay in school, and offer a remarkable return on investment—$1 invested yields $9. Climate-friendly homegrown school meals programs offer an exceptional opportunity in Africa to implement climate-friendly policies. They can create demand-driven climate actions in agriculture for more resilient food production, contributing to a sustainable local economy. They can promote regenerative agricultural practices, which can promote biodiversity and food sovereignty. These programs also build climate awareness in the school ecosystem, promoting community climate action. School meals can address climate, child health, and biodiversity goals through food systems transformation. They can also facilitate the introduction of green energy solutions in schools and, therefore, promote green energy transformation in Africa.

ORGANIZER: World Vegetable Center Co-Organizers: African Union Commission, Crop Trust BRIEF: This will introduce the value of 'opportunity vegetable crops' for Africa and their key role in delivering nutrition security. Also called forgotten, neglected, orphan, or underutilized crops opportunity crops include cereals, tubers, trees, etc., this 'rescue plan' will however focus on nutrient-dense vegetables. Crucially, this session will show that vegetable biodiversity across the continent (and the world) is being lost at an alarming rate and is poorly conserved - including genetic material that has the potential to be of extreme value for farmers directly or in future plant breeding programs. It will present a 10-year' rescue plan' for ensuring that African vegetable biodiversity is collected, conserved, and used to diversify farming systems and diets to meet today's and tomorrow's challenges.

ORGANIZER: AGRA 
 
BRIEF

 
The 2023 Seed Sector Performance Index (SSPI) report provides an overview of the performance of national seed sectors in Africa. Developed by TASAI Inc., in collaboration with the African Union Commission's African Seed and Biotechnology Program (ASBP) and AGRA, the SSPI is a new analytical tool that aims to provide a single score measurement of the health of seed systems across Africa.

The SSPI uses a more rigorous and detailed methodology. Its findings have informed the results of the 4th CAADP Biennial Review report. The primary sources of indicators for the SSPI were TASAI's 22 and AGRA SeedSAT's 166 indicators, which were reviewed to yield 17 indicators for the study. The index uses 17 indicators to measure the health of national seed sectors in Africa, a valuable resource to fill the gap. Forty-seven African Union member states participated in this study. The study envisioned AGRA CESSA offerings at the continental level.

Organizer: IDRC Co-Organizers: IDRC, Rockefeller Foundation, IDLO BRIEF: Demonstrate the power and potential of food policy to address the global syndemic and drive healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems transformation. This is an opportunity to share learnings from country experiences on how to design national food policy bundles that support the scaling of environmentally sustainable production and equitable distribution of social and economic benefits while ensuring the consumption of healthy, affordable, and safe foods.

ORGANIZER: African Development Bank Co-Organizers: African Union, AUDA NEPAD - African Development Bank, Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism BRIEF: Effective use of organic and inorganic fertilizers is crucial for enhancingagricultural productivity and fostering sustainable food systems in Africa by optimizing nutrient uptake and ensuring food security. Integrated soilfertility management is also essential for maintaining soil health and sustainability. The recent Nairobi Declaration on Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health, adopted on May 7th, 2024, aims to improve soil fertility management for sustainable food transformation. The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) will implement the Declaration through the Fertilizer and Soil Health Fund. The side event will highlight fertilizers' strategic role in advancing sustainable food systems and addressing climate change in Africa. It aims to mobilize stakeholders' support and investments and outline the AfDB's roadmap for an enhanced AFFM 2.0, aligned with theBank's 10-year strategy, for implementing the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health 10-year action plan.

ORGANIZER: Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy (AGFEP) at China Agricultural University (CAU) Co-Organizers: Food and Land Use Coalition BRIEF: Over the past decades, both China and Africa have actively pursued agricultural and food policy initiatives with significant success. Despite progress, hunger and malnutrition persist due to malfunctioning food systems. These systems face growing complexities such as extreme weather events, plant and animal diseases, zoonotic diseases, and regional conflicts. Food systems encompass all actors and interactions along the food value chain, from input supply to consumption and disposal, including the policy environment. Under this context, the Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy (AGFEP) has launched a China-Africa Knowledge Sharing Platform to address critical challenges in transforming agrifood systems. This Platform fosters dialogue and mutual learning between Chinese and African policy analysts on food system transformation challenges, opportunities, and potential solutions. Panel Discussions: Panel I: Learning from China's Food System Policy Development: Implications for Africa Panel 2: China's Role in the Development of Africa's Food Systems from Practical Perspectives

RGANIZER: BAYER Co-Organizers: Opportunity International, CGIAR BRIEF: The world's smallholder farmers produce 1/3 of the global food supply. These populations are also the most at risk from the impacts of extreme poverty, climate change, and even hunger. However, there is hope within the scientific community's growing consensus that regenerative and adaptive practices prove fruitful in combating climate crises. NGOs are working to support these smallholders through regenerative agriculture interventions that can help stabilize their farms, increase yields, and Support the fight against climate change. Regenerative agriculture systems, with scientific solutions and digital technology, ensure farmers' sustainable and profitable future. The role of NGOs as crucial promoters is critical to establishing trust in regen ag and scaling the adoption thereof. We can provide a blueprint for transitioning smallholders to regenerative agriculture through human-centered strategies, regenerative agronomic interventions, and express and financial inclusion methods. The importance of regenerative systems for Africa is evident: It combines interventions, practices, and innovations to deliver an entire system to the farmer adapted to their farm conditions. With a systems approach, we can deliver productivity gains and sustainability outcomes (soil health, carbon reductions, and water conservation, among others). Tapping into the expertise of leaders from Bayer, Opportunity International, and the International Potato Center (CGIAR), this panel will highlight new regenerative interventions implemented across the agriculture value chain. Join us for a conversation exploring the intersection of regenerative agriculture and social equity, focusing on dismantling barriers that prevent vulnerable populations, especially women smallholder farmers.

ORGANIZER: GIZ Co-Organizers: ADA, Varaha ClimateAg, CGIAR, IFAD, Ban Ki-moon Centre BRIEF: Climate action is needed more than ever. The window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all is rapidly closing: changing weather patterns and shocks severely impact agrifood systems, disproportionately affecting women in all their diversity. African countries will require significant investments to adapt to climate change and build resilient agrifood systems. While there is an urgent need to unlock additional climate adaptation finance, African countries are already developing national systems to mobilize funding. Private sector investments for food systems adaptation are vital, including through blended finance instruments. This event will highlight agrifood systems financing gaps and showcase lessons learned and best practices. The event will also foster a multi-stakeholder dialogue to discuss challenges and opportunities to scale up finance for small-scale farmers, women, youth, and small- and medium-scale enterprises.

ORGANIZER: World Resources Institute (WRI) Co-Organizers: NIRDA Rwanda, IKE Foundation, Africa Circular Economy Network, Farmers, SMEs.

VENUE: Lemigo Hotel, Muhabura Conference Room. Lemigo Hotel is just opposite of the KCC, approximately a 5 minutes walk from the KCC.

BRIEF: This event brings together leaders, policymakers, SMEs, and other stakeholders to explore youth and women's roles in transforming Africa's food systems. It will dive into success stories from Kenya, Ethiopia, and the Circular Food Systems for Rwanda project. It will highlight the transformative impact of circular agrifood practices in regenerative agriculture, food loss, waste, healthy diets, productive use of waste, and general resource use efficiency. Participants will also engage in collaborative discussions to identify and address the persistent challenges faced in scaling circular practices across the continent. Gain valuable insights, be inspired by practical examples, and contribute to strategic solutions for a sustainable and profitable future in Africa's food systems.

ORGANIZER: UNIDO, Co-Organizer: GATBSY AFRICA BRIEF: Agro-processing stands at the heart of Africa's economic transformation and sustainable development agenda. Agriculture has long been the backbone of African economies, yet, it is through agro-processing that we can unlock the full value of the continent’s agricultural resources. Agro-processing offers a pathway to diversify our economies, reduce dependency on raw commodity exports, unlock value chain financing, create large numbers of jobs and foster industrialization. It can catalyze innovation, driving the adoption of new technologies and sustainable practices that can improve productivity and resilience in the face of climate change.

Organizer: SNV Co-Organizers: Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity, Netherlands Food Partnership, AGRA BRIEF: It will be an inspiring session dedicated to nurturing a deep passion for agriculture and innovation among young leaders. Through compelling showcases of cutting-edge farming technologies and sustainable practices, participants will envision their pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future. Engaging in discussions will empower them to advocate for youth-centric and inclusive agricultural policies, ensuring their voices influence decision-making processes. The session will also spotlight opportunities for active involvement in local and global agricultural initiatives, fostering leadership within the community. Practical support mechanisms, including mentorship, coaching, and resources, will be proposed to empower youth to pursue impactful careers in agriculture. The session will complement the Forum’s goal of building “productive, nutritious, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems that have the power to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs by 2030.” Researchers, practitioners, and digital innovation experts will get insight into how we work to accelerate progress toward resilient and inclusive food systems. Session 1: Meaningful Youth Engagement and Sustainable Policy Discourse Session 2: Meaningful Youth Engagement and Private Sector Role

ORGANIZER: African Development Bank Group Co-Organizer: US Department of State BRIEF: The African Development Bank (AfDB), through the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), has long been committed to supporting agricultural transformation in Africa. TAAT is a crucial initiative designed to accelerate agricultural productivity, improve food security, and enhance African livelihoods. The TAAT program leverages modern technologies, innovations, and best practices to achieve these goals. TAAT is a multinational project implemented in 36 low-income and ADF countries, and it contributes to the objectives of AfDB's Feed Africa by improving agricultural productivity and a knowledge-based agricultural approach. Similarly, the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) is a global movement to enhance food system resilience by focusing on fundamental food security aspects: adapted crops and healthy soils. Launched by the U.S. Department of State, the African Union, FAO, and IFAD, VACS seeks to boost agricultural productivity, nutrition, and farmer livelihoods through diverse, climate-adapted crops grown in healthy soils. VACS promotes sustainable land use and soil management to ensure future generations' nutrition and provides a unified investment framework for stakeholders. VACS supports the African Union Common Position on Food Systems, the African Union Green Recovery Action Plan, and the African Union Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan. This side event aims to facilitate dialogue and collaboration between the AfDB and VACs and highlight the role of VACS and the African Development Bank, particularly TAAT, in advancing the African Food Systems.

ORGANIZER: AGRA Co-Organizers: Coalition of Implementers for Fertilizers and Soil Health (CIFSH), AKADEMIYA2063 BRIEF: Land degradation—including soil erosion, desertification, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity—threatens food systems, particularly in Africa, where agriculture is vital to the economy and the livelihoods of most people. These challenges are intensified by low use of quality inputs, climate change impacts on water, soil, and food security, and global conflicts causing shortages of fertilizers and energy. Recent high-level commitments, such as the Dakar 2 Summit, the Lomé Declaration, and the Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSH), aim to address these issues. It is, therefore, important to build on this momentum, seeking to translate these commitments into actionable programs. The coordination and accountability mechanisms are critical in the process of implementation for more impacts. The African Union Commission has established the CAADP Biennial Review (BR) to assess the progress towards agrifood transformation goals. To improve this process, AKADEMIYA2063 and IFPRI have introduced an innovative web-based CAADP BR Decision-Support Tool (DST). This tool utilizes BR data to explore the relationship between CAADP policies and outcomes, guiding planning and decision-making. Various stakeholders are convening to discuss the deliberations from the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit and present the DST alongside other forward-looking planning tools to optimize agrifood transformation outcomes at the country level.

Organizer: AGRA Co-Organizers: World Bank, Hellotractor, IFAD BRIEF: This session will initiate a Mechanization4Arica Coalition of leaders committed to exploring the developments in agricultural mechanization and digital technology solutions. The event will mobilize decision-makers, investors, equipment, mechanization experts, scientists, and multilateral partners to engage in a renewed focus on scaling mechanization technology solutions in Africa. The session will focus on new technologies for optimizing planting, harvesting, weed management, cleaning and processing crops, and the potential of mechanization to revolutionize agricultural productivity in Africa, especially in light of climate volatility. The session will share lessons learned and best practices from mechanization business models currently being implemented globally.

Organizer: Strathmore Agri-Food Innovation Center BRIEF: Pastoralists hold significant potential to drive food system transformation, yet they remain among the most marginalized communities. Although policies and investments aimed at improving livelihoods in pastoral regions exist, the impact pathways have not been sufficient in integrating pastoralists into markets, accelerating productivity, empowering women and youth, enhancing nutrition, and fostering climate adaptation. Despite their role in providing valuable ecosystem services, including indigenous climate-adaptive practices on marginal lands and promoting livelihoods for an estimated 50 million pastoralists in Africa, the sector faces several challenges. These include issues with inputs, demand aggregation, a fragmented value chain, and an unfavourable enabling environment, all of which impede the sector's growth. AGRF 2024 Summit theme is "Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era". Therefore, the Strathmore Agri-Food Innovation Center (SAFIC) side event will focus on innovativeapproaches to enhancing pastoralist livelihoods, market integration, and resilience in the face of climate change.

Organizer: World Bank BRIEF: Africa's food system is under strain, with climate change, conflict, economic instability, and COVID-19 exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition. Sub-Saharan Africa faces stagnant cereal yields and a malnutrition rate of over 20%, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices to support reversing these trends. The continent is pivotal to mitigating land degradation and deforestation, improving productivity through better inputs, and enhancing market and financial access for smallholder farmers. Collective action is required. Tackling these challenges in isolation will not deliver the desired shift in food systems toward sustainability and resilience for people and the planet. This session brings together representatives from programs supported by Global Environment Facility investments working with diverse actors toward integrated solutions across entire supply chains, from supply (production) to consumption to waste or reuse.

ORGANIZER: African Agricultural Transformation Initiative Co-Organizers: Min. of Sierra Leone, Min of Nigeria, Min of TZ, Ex. Dir. AATI BRIEF: The African Agricultural Transformation Initiative (AATI), in collaboration with Sierra Leone's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Honorable Henry Musa Kpaka, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, and Tanzania's Ministry of Agriculture, represented by Honorable Hussein Mohamed Bashe, Minister of Agriculture, will host an event highlighting the importance of delivery mechanisms in advancing agricultural transformation. This event will mark the official transition of Tanzania's Agriculture Transformation Office (ATO) and Agriculture Master Plan to the Ministry of Agriculture of Tanzania, with ongoing technical support from AATI. Following this, the Government of Sierra Leone will demonstrate its political commitment by launching the ATO of Sierra Leone. The two-part event will gather key stakeholders, policymakers, industry leaders, and private sector representatives to explore how effective delivery mechanisms can bridge the gap between strategy and impact.

Each morning will kick start with the highlights of the upcoming day, including the themes under discussion, and find out all the interesting places to interact with thought leaders.

Zoom Streaming access: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89184852726?pwd=R2HCv1EXDhCw5iVFArqjK0m1Cmlt2y.1

This high-level plenary session will be the cornerstone of the AFS Forum’s 2024 Summit, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders from the global food systems community to take stock on progress made, the current status of African food systems, and the associated policy implications. The opening ceremony will set the stage for an insightful discussion 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 and private partnerships that put youth and women at the center. The session will also feature the launch of the Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR), the signature AFS Forum report since 2010, consolidated by experts across a number of African countries.

• SEQUENCE 1:  Year in Review
• SEQUENCE 2: The Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR) 
• SEQUENCE 3:  Progress on Food Systems in Africa

We invite you to join the “Seeds of Change: Cultivating Support for Youth Entrepreneurs for a Sustainable Tomorrow” session. This event will empower young African agripreneurs by addressing key challenges they face in securing investment, accessing Business Development Services (BDS), and navigating the enabling environment. Through interactive discussions and expert insights, we aim to highlight the importance of robust support systems for youth-led agribusinesses. This session will bring together investors, policymakers, and BDS providers to explore collaborative solutions that can propel young entrepreneurs toward a sustainable and prosperous future in agriculture.

Throughout the summit, 5 presentations will be projected on a digital screen per day from AFS Partners and agri-food system companies from: South America Europe Asia Africa North America Middle East

This dynamic and engaging platform will run throughout the day, unveiling groundbreaking research findings, innovative solutions, and novel approaches from academia and research institutions to advance food systems transformation. Researchers, experts, and stakeholders will be able to share their work, exchange ideas, latest publications and research, and foster collaboration. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge technologies, data-driven insights, and policy implications that can help transform and improve our global food systems. The session will spark meaningful discussions, inspire action, and promote the development of practical solutions that address the complex challenges facing our food systems.

Topic 1: Policy Innovations to Create Opportunities for Young People

Topic 2:  Gender in Agriculture and Food Systems: African Perspectives 

TOPIC 3: The Status of National Seed Systems 

In the context of numerous national and international commitments on food systems pathways – such as the UNFSS and the AFS Forum’s annual summits; African governments’ development plans; national compacts at the Dakar 2 Summit, and commitments to integrate food systems and agriculture at COP 28, among others – African peasants organizations (POs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) undertook their own independent assessment of food systems pathways to provide a 360-degree panorama to governments and partners on the best models and approaches to scale up.  This session will be an accountability conversation between civil society leaders and governments leaders to evaluate each other’s actions and report on progress of government-civil society joint efforts to design and implement food systems at the country level. Participants will highlight opportunities for scaling up effective initiatives.  

Panel Discussion 1: Scaling up Civil Society and Government’s Best Practices 

Panel Discussion 2:  Advancing Africa’s Agricultural Systems in the Face of Climate Change

Analytical AI and generative AI are two broad categories of artificial intelligence that have different applications and challenges in the field of agriculture. Analytical AI refers to the use of machine learning and data mining techniques to extract insights and patterns from large and complex datasets, such as crop yields, soil quality, weather conditions, pest infestations, and market trends. Generative AI refers to the use of deep learning and generative models to create new and realistic data, such as images, videos, texts, and sounds, that can augment or replace existing data sources, such as satellite imagery, crop simulations, farmer feedback, and consumer preferences. This panel will explore the current state of the art, potential benefits, and ethical and social implications of both analytical AI and generative AI for agriculture. The panelists will discuss how these technologies can help farmers and agronomists to optimize crop production, reduce environmental impact, enhance food security, and increase profitability. The panel will also address the challenges and risks of deploying these technologies in the real world, such as data quality, privacy, security, fairness, accountability, and human-AI collaboration.

Panel 1: AI for Transforming Food Systems

Panel 2 : Digital Public Infrastructure 

Digital technologies hold immense potential to transform agri-food systems across sub-Saharan Africa by significantly enhancing productivity and resilience, market access, supply chains, and financial inclusivity for small-scale producers. Although some progress has been made, many challenges persist, including fragmented initiatives and investments across the public, private, and social sectors, uncertain business models, inadequate digital and physical infrastructure, and lack of gender and social inclusion, which all hinder the widespread adoption and impact of digital agriculture solutions. We have a unique opportunity for digital transformation in agriculture due to growing mobile and internet penetration, innovative digital solutions, and growing leadership and policy support. However, to fully realize the potential of digital agriculture, there is a need for coordinated roadmaps that align with national policies, identify and address ecosystem gaps, and prioritize and coordinate sustainable investments. This session aims to gather key stakeholders to discuss the development and implementation of Digital Agriculture Roadmaps for African countries, while drawing on insights from previous initiatives in Ethiopia, other SSA countries, and India and exploring pathways to enhance digital transformation in the agri-food sector across the continent.

Sequence 1:  Sharing Ethiopia’s Journey with the Digital Agriculture Roadmap Approach

Panel Discussion 1: Coordinating Digital Agricultural Initiatives and Investments

Panel Discussion 2: Building and Implementing Digital Agricultural Solutions & Public Infrastructure

Discover some of the most promising and innovative agribusinesses led by young entrepreneurs across Africa! As finalists of the GoGettaz Agripreneur Competition, these young business leaders will showcase their ventures and pitch their ideas in front of a panel of judges and potential investors. The session offers us a unique opportunity to discover and learn about cutting-edge agribusiness solutions and guarantees an exciting atmosphere for entrepreneurial individuals, investors, and government delegations alike. The stakes are high as the excitement builds to find this year’s GoGettaz winners. 

GoGettaz Agripreneur Finalists
1.    Mogale Maleka, Co-Founder and CEO, AB Farms  (South Africa)             
2.    Salimata Toh, Co-founder; General Manager; and Quality, Production, & Logistics Director, AGRIBANANA (Cote D’Ivoire) 
3.    Bruk Getahun, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, ChipChip  (Ethiopia)       
4.    Deborah Nzarubara, Founder and General Manager of GRECOM-RDC  (DR Congo)             
5.    Mohamed Amine Bensalem, Founder and CEO, Hayat Technology (Tunisia)             
6.    Fatima El Khou, Co-founder; CEO; and Head of Research & Innovation, Jafife (Morocco) 
7.    Iddi Mohammed Faried, Founder and CEO, Kodu Technology (Ghana) 
8.    Tisya Mukuna, Founder and CEO, La BOITE (DR Congo)              
9.    Mostafa Hassanen, Co-Founder and CEO, Plug n Grow (Egypt) 
10.    Riantsoa Mialinarindra, Founder and Head of Production & Supply, Sakafo Madagascar (Madagascar)           
11.    Charles Oyamo, Founder and CEO, Rethread Africa (Kenya)   
12.    Arristine Mendes, Founder, CEO and Production Manager; SHADDAI Aquaculture (Senegal) 

This matchmaking platform aims to open doors for new business deals and commitments. The Deal Room provides MSMEs and other companies in the agriculture and agri-food business sectors with opportunities to access finance, mentorship, and market entry solutions to support their growth objectives. It allows governments to present investment opportunities and incentives and engage with interested investors (loans, grants, equity, blended finance, reimbursable grants, etc.). It offers a combination of support on project preparation, pipeline development, project bankability, investment promotion, and a more robust enabling policy environment. Participants will explore trade deals of varying tickets size and partnership opportunities that enhance sourcing from African MSMEs, smallholder farmers, and governments. Mobilizing the ecosystem to leverage inclusive investment opportunities is critical to investment facilitation. The opening session of the Deal Room will bring to life the experiences of different value chain actors and highlight the benefits and opportunities in investing in Africa’s food systems.  

Sequence 1: Innovative Deals and Investments: Unleash Africa’s Food Potential 

Sequence 2: Scaling Up Food Systems Value Addition Business Models (Impact Stories) 

Creative Industries Co-hosted by Pierre Thiam & Malonga, African Chefs Theme of the day: The African Cuisine of Tomorrow: Nurturing new African chefs in a globalized world (African Recipe Challenge at the Culinary Village, TV conversation and tasting) by Chef Malonga.

Theme of the day: The African Cuisine of Tomorrow: Nurturing New African chefs in a Globalized World (African Recipe Challenge at the Culinary Village, TV conversation and tasting) by Chef Malonga

This high-level panel session will discuss the inherent complexity of food systems and the policy approaches needed to deliver healthier, inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems with the power to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Greater coordination among stakeholders ranging from governments, the private sector, and academia to civil society, and farmers must be at the heart of these approaches. Transforming food systems also requires innovative and interconnected solutions that engage multiple sectors, industries, and stakeholders, all with varying interests, in the development of strong policies and plans from various sectors (agriculture, transport, health, nutrition, IT, marketing, and trade). Effective institutional frameworks, policies, and programmatic interventions that go beyond siloed approaches and contribute to countries’ national development objectives and CAADP indicators are key. This session will review the domestication and alignment of national plans on foods systems, best practices, policy innovations on food systems, and how they could be scaled up. 

SME PITCH SESSIONS: ‘Innovation and Technology’
Pricepally limited, Nigeria
AgriTech Analytics Limited, Kenya    
Extension Africa, Nigeria
Tigray Biotechnology Center PLC, Ethiopia    
INVEGROW LTD, Malawi

SME PITCH SESSION: ‘Agro-processing businesses’
Volcano Coffee Limited, Uganda
AFRINET SOLUTIONS LTD, Rwanda    
YBM Trading PLC, Ethiopia
GBRI Business Solutions Ltd (Eat Fresh), Tanzania
Springboard, Nigeria

This session is targeted at investors and funders. It will explore the transformative potential of innovative and blended finance in accelerating the development of food systems in Africa. Experts and stakeholders will present new ideas, successful case studies, and innovative solutions that leverage innovative finance. The session aims to identify actionable strategies for optimizing development funding, mobilizing private capital, and fostering stakeholder collaboration to enhance Africa’s food systems. Participants will discuss their perspectives on innovative financing mechanisms, available and potential solutions, and strategies to increase financial support for Africa’s food systems.

Agriculture in Africa has for too long been driven by a vicious cycle of soil health decline, land degradation, poor yields, and ecosystem service loss, resulting in poverty and natural resource degradation. A key underlying cause of this cycle is agriculture based on nutrient mining, which, with the ever-growing population, reduces opportunities to both preserve natural ecosystems and promote sustainable agriculture. This situation is no longer tenable. Healthy soils are essential to attaining high crop productivity, as are efficient fertilizer and water use, and they are the foundation for sustained farm income. Recognizing the pivotal role of healthy soils in sustainable agriculture, African leaders and key development partners pledged to enhance soil health and fertilizer efficiency during the Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSH) in Nairobi in May 2024. 

The African Union’s 10-year Action Plan (AP) and the Soil Initiative for Africa (SAI) were endorsed at the AFSH. In this plenary session, FARA and AUDA NEPAD will reach out to the Africa Food Systems Forum community to share insights on what has been done since the summit in May to initiate implementation of the summit resolutions. A select group of experts and leaders will discuss how the continental coordination secretariat established to lead implementation can take advantage of the Africa Food Systems Forum going forward, both as a platform but also through its diverse community of partners.

Panel Session: How can the Africa Food Systems Forum and its partners effectively support the implementation of summit resolutions at the continental, regional and national levels?

Organizer: ECOWAS Commission Co-Organizers: AfDB, JICA, AGRA, and WB BRIEF: Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS) is the world's premier forum for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical action and share lessons that will move African food systems forward. AFS is also the organizer of the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 annual summit. The overarching goal of African countries is to build productive, nutritious, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems that have the power to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. While substantial progress has been made, overall, action to transform has yet to advance at the speed or scale required, and considerable challenges remain. The Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 annual summit will be a timely opportunity to convene diverse stakeholders, including world leaders, investors, academia, farmers' organizations, and the private sector, to spotlight innovations, technologies, best practices, business models, policy delivery mechanisms, and investments to accelerate food systems transformation in Africa and beyond, with youth and women at the helm. The theme for AFS 2024 is "Innovate, Accelerate and Scale: Delivering food systems transformation in a digital and climate era". The AFS 2024 has provided the opportunity to hold side events at the conference, which are additional sessions or meetings that will occur alongside the main agenda. The motive of the side event to be organized or convened by the ECOWAS Rice Observatory is to delve deeper into specific topics of Rice sector development in West Africa, thereby facilitate networking, share knowledge and best practices, and highlight innovative projects or initiatives on rice that align with the main conference themes. The ERO's side event at AFS will be characterized by a thematic focus on aspects of the "Regional Rice Roadmap" and specialized topics that complement the broader conference themes. The event will feature interactive formats such as panel discussions, encouraging active participation and dialogue among attendees. In addition, the side event will provide the first opportunity to discuss the "regional rice roadmap" outside the ERO membership and stakeholders and eventually serve as a platform for networking with other expert practitioners who share similar interests, potentially leading to partnerships and possible investments. Also, ERO and partners will gain visibility, as it would offer an opportunity to showcase their work, share plans and findings, and influence the broader discourse on the West African rice agenda at the conference.

This year’s Farmers’ Forum will bring farmers from Africa, Asia, and Latin America together 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 sustainably in the midst of climate change and conflicts. This interactive discussion will give participants a broader picture of the progress being made in the field in relation to food systems transformation and how gaps and challenges can be addressed.

Malnutrition costs Africa billions of dollars due to the higher healthcare costs and loss of productivity. Micronutrient deficiencies are a silent killer of children and people, affecting mental acuity. Overweight and obesity also have a toll on human health and productivity, affecting the labor force along food system value chains. Investing in nutrition is both a moral imperative and a sound economic investment. Food systems approaches to building comprehensive and innovative public policies and programs for both the supply and demand sides of food and the food environment, where consumers make their food-related decisions, need to be “nutrition-sensitive”. To achieve this, nutrition must be mainstreamed across sectoral policies and food systems programs. Affordable healthy food options are fundamental to the development of more equitable and sustainable food systems. During this session, policymakers and nutrition specialists will reflect on policies and programs and discuss how to bring various food system actors on board to generate impactful nutrition and health outcomes. 

SEQUENCE 1: Building Nutrition-Sensitive Food Systems

SEQUENCE 2: Policies to Advance Equity and Nutrition in Food Systems

This session will present knowledge documents and consolidated voices of African youth, showcasing their contributions and perspectives on food systems, policy, and climate action. The aim is to capture the collective youth position, which will be integrated into the final AFSF report. This session will underscore the critical role of youth in shaping sustainable food systems and influencing policy decisions to address climate change.

This dynamic and engaging platform will run throughout the day, unveiling groundbreaking research findings, innovative solutions, and novel approaches from academia and research institutions to advance our food systems transformation. Researchers, experts, and stakeholders will have a unique chance to share their work, exchange ideas, latest publications and research, and foster collaboration. Attendees will learn about cutting-edge technologies, data-driven insights, and policy implications that can help transform and improve our global food systems. The session will spark meaningful discussions, inspire action, and promote the development of practical solutions that address the complex challenges facing our food systems.

TOPIC 1: Food & Vegetables for Healthy Diets - Priorities for Systems Research and Action

TOPIC 2: The Political Economy of Food Systems

TOPIC 3: School-based Agriculture Education (SBAE)

Ministerial Roundtable Ministers, development partners, heads of international organizations, and corporate leaders (by invitation only). This ministerial roundtable will discuss solutions to advance food systems transformation, take stock of countries’ progress, and identify actions to drive change in a digital and climate era. The session will bring 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 discussion focuses on the challenges and opportunities of food system transformation and how countries can work together to accelerate progress towards sustainable and equitable food systems.

Over the past year, meetings, incentives conferences and exhibitions (MICE) has been one of the fastest growing sectors of the global tourism industry. Various brands – such as “Visit Rwanda”, “Discover Morrocco”, and “Destination Senegal”, among others – have emerged on the continent, helping Africa’s tourism sector generate over US$46 billion in 2022 and creating more than 27.6 million jobs, particularly for youths. To nourish this industry, strong collaboration with all actors of the agri-food system value chains is required. Procurement of healthier and sustainable food, which reduces food waste, can benefit small producers and food systems actors. This kind of demand is growing, creating opportunities for governments and private sector partnerships to promote local sourcing, production, and consumption to enhance food security, support small-scale farmers, and strengthen local economies. During this session, industry leaders will share best practices, models for structuring these sectors under the biggest brand on the continent, and tips for fruitful collaboration (market linkages and capacity-building approaches to create enabling environments) among industries in relation to local procurement.

SEQUENCE 2:   Investing in Food Systems & the Sports Industry: You Are What You Eat

Faced with unprecedented opportunities and challenges, the African continent will need visionaries and innovative leaders in the years to come to address food insecurity and nutrition, while supporting jobs creation. The Council of the Wise is made up of former African leaders deeply committed to supporting this next generation of food systems leaders by investing in education, mentoring, and entrepreneurship initiatives to enable the continent’s youth to become agents of positive change. Where is the new generation of food system leaders that can create the framing, narratives, policy, financial flows, and private sector action that bring people together around tough choices and then make change happen? Leadership thrives in conducive networks; it is not the exclusive preserve of individuals. Individuals may initiate ideas for change, but systemic change then occurs through the effort of a wider group of people who exercise collaborative leadership. Evidence around the world from food system partners shows that various platforms and networks focused on curating and supporting leadership networks are evolving around the world.

This year, the Council of the Wise will discuss how to set up a coalition of leaders to inspire and nurture new food system leaders and give the most promising ones opportunities to interact with former heads of states and global leaders to build strategies for delivering an African agenda on sustainable food systems and SDGs. At this session, a cohort of future leaders will have the chance to benefit from the experience and wisdom of the Council of the Wise and invent new ways to advance the food systems transformation agenda on the continent. Format: Interaction with award-winning youths from CALA, WAYA, GO Gettaz, and Pitch Agri Hack. An interactive platform with the Council of the Wise to inspire and nurture a new generation of leaders.

SEQUENCE 2: Food Security Issues and Taming Climate Change

Women are drivers of growth, better nutrition, and job creation in agri-food systems, but remain the most vulnerable to climate change. Their economic potential remains largely unexploited. Among the biggest barriers facing women entrepreneurs in Africa is a lack of access to financial services, including climate finance, as well as stereotypes and cultural norms that restrict their access to assets, education, financial literacy, and participation. This session will discuss 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 greater role for women in food systems.

SECTOR OF FOCUS: TEA & EMERGING VALUE CHAINS (SPICES, STEVIA, …)

Organized by FAO and RAI

Theme of the day: Tourism – MICE industry, Positioning African Cuisine (African Recipe Challenge at the Culinary Village, TV conversation and tasting) by Pierre Thiam and African Chefs

We will celebrate the rich cultural heritage and agricultural practices of Indigenous youth groups across Africa in the “Indigenous Youth Event.” This session aims to showcase traditional practices and facilitate discussions on the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and preservation of cultural heritage. We aim to inspire a greater appreciation for the contributions of Indigenous youth to sustainable agriculture and cultural preservation

Africa will need to feed 2.2 billion people by 2050, and the global food demand is expected to increase by 50%. To meet this extra demand, African food systems must become much more productive, resilient, and market-oriented, including through increased volumes of regional trade. The current food import bill ranges from US$60-80 billion per annum. Several ongoing initiatives – such as the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative (GTI); the African Food Security Initiative, which is to be anchored on the food baskets and trade corridors approach; the Regional Value Chains Initiatives by AFCFTA/UNECA/NMS; the ECOWAS Rice Observatory, and the COMESA-EAC Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA), to name a few – require partnerships and critical support to succeed. The specific objective of this session is to share views on how Africa can innovate, accelerate, and scale up the various initiatives to meet its food demand by increasing intra-Africa trade and, at the same time, contribute to meeting the global food demand. A presentation will be made on the status of Africa food markets, supply and demand patterns, and key actors. This will be followed by a panel comprised of political, business, and public institution leaders who will share their thoughts and propose where there will be a need for additional efforts, as well as key levers for success.

This session seeks to share impactful stories about how the inclusion of young refugees, migrants, and displaced persons in agri-food systems has helped to respond to urgent food and nutrition demands in a context of humanitarian crises, post-conflict periods, and the broader climate crisis. This conversation with youth refugees, migrants, and humanitarian leaders/scientists will focus on practical solutions and preparedness mechanisms, including school gardens, food distribution, and cash payments, among others, to address the root causes of malnutrition, marginalization, and the exclusion of youth in countries/regions in fragile contexts.

SME PITCH SESSION: ‘Nutrition impact’ 
Khebhandza Marketing Company Limited, Tanzania
Cool Fresh Agro Processing PLC, Ethiopia
Seed delight Limited, Kenya
ILFgreen Industries and Investment Ltd, Nigeria
UNIIK FOODS (GOD IS ALL YOU NEED COM LTD), Ghana
Narumoro Dairy Farm LTD, Kenya
Yedent Agro Group of Companies Ltd, Ghana

SME PITCH SESSION: ‘Youth-led businesses’
Flosell Farms Limited, Ghana
Rubilabsvet    , Nigeria
Crop Productivity Increase (CPI Agribusiness), Somalia

CEO Chat – Leadership (Parallel Sessions) This session focuses on the qualities, strategies, and insights needed to drive successful transformation and growth in the agricultural sector. Visionary young leaders will share their leadership journeys, lessons learned, and perspectives on effective leadership in the context of agri-food systems. Prepare to hear inspiring stories and tips on taking advantage of innovations, navigating challenges, building resilient organizations, and cultivating a culture of collaboration and inclusivity. The session aims to inspire agripreneurs and aspiring leaders to develop their leadership skills, embrace bold visions, and drive positive change in the agricultural sector in Africa.

As the engine of economic growth, a robust and vibrant private sector is vital to transform food systems on the continent. In Africa, the private sector has an immense potential to contribute directly to the achievement of Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063—the Africa We Want through basic pursuits, such as increasing productivity, creating jobs, and accelerating service delivery. This session will showcase success stories and scalable best practices, effective approaches to mobilizing resources by banks and non-bank financial institutions, including financial technology (fintech), and the potential role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in private sector development. This session will give voice to private sector experts who wish to share specific flagship initiatives in the area of production, processing, and marketing with demonstrated scalability and impact, as well as insights into the processes and partnerships involved in their initiatives’ success.

Media professionals from across the continent are making food systems a top priority – one of the keys to the success of the food system agenda. The overall goal of this panel is to galvanize the role of the media industry in supporting the AFS Forum’s Summit by specifically focusing on a positive African foods systems narrative and increasing awareness of the importance of the media as partners in amplifying the summit’s key messages and generating conversations through mainstream and online media platforms. This session seeks to convene a broad group of communication and media specialists and practitioners from the food systems, agriculture, agribusiness, environment, and rural development fields to discuss how to unpack Africa’s food systems’ potential, define a positive and attractive 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. We will take this opportunity to launch a Food Systems Media Platform, a continental fellowship, and a magazine on food systems transformation.

Sequence 1:  Africa Food Systems Narrative and the Role of Media in Reframing it.

Sequence 2: Augmenting Ecosystem Players to Advance the Right Narrative: Media's Catalytic Role

Sequence 3: "Youth-Led Disruption: Shaping the Future of Food Systems Reporting in Africa through Digital Media

This B2B space has been curated as a platform for B2B discussions and exchanges on products, solutions, and services between agri-food businesses, companies, investors, and potential clients. Solutions and services providers will be identified along each segment of food systems value chains, as well as potential clients. B2B meetings to do business will be facilitated at specific moment of the day through the APP.

The session's goal is to identify key actions to unlock investments and strengthen public-private sector collaborations in delivering digital technological innovations that will drive food system transformation at scale. The session will also highlight successful investment models, technical assistance and business development opportunities, and concrete cases in agriculture that provide replicable examples. A special focus will be on new initiatives for de-risking private sector investments to drive agricultural digitalization. The session will also serve as a call to action and facilitate direct interactions and relationship-building between investors, agribusinesses, financial institutions, policymakers, and other stakeholders to promote a collaborative approach to the development of investment vehicles that support the large-scale transformation of food systems.

This panel discussion will focus 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. Speakers will 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. Panel Discussion 1: Integrated Food Systems Program  Panel Discussion 2: Innovative Policies on Regenerative Food Systems

Sequence 1: Investment Agency Forum: The Investment Agency Forum has invited various investments agencies and development boards across the continent to come to share their experiences and best practices in promoting private sector growth and investment in agri-food systems value chains. The session will focus on African investment agencies’ trajectories, impacts on the agricultural sector and the environment, and investments mobilized in the respective countries. It will review the importance of investment agencies in agri-food systems and discuss how to overcome gaps to make food systems sector more attractive to private sector. This session will also launch an Investment Board on Food Systems Networking platform. The development of strategic alliances and public-private partnerships is a fundamental step in mobilizing thousands of global investors, heads of development finance institutions, and business and government leaders to ensure that critical investment transactions are successfully completed. Join us to hear about the experiences of leading investments agencies and how they have supported countries in scaling up food systems at the national level. Roundtable 2: Innovative Government initiatives on Youth in Agri-food Systems

Access to high-value markets remains a significant challenge for women in agribusiness.

Women often struggle with a lack of networks, information, and capital needed to enter and compete in these markets. This limitation restricts their ability to scale their businesses, reduces their profitability, and limits their overall impact on the economy. The session aims to share and analyze successful examples of investments in women-led agribusinesses  to identify replicable models and strategies; to discuss and develop innovative strategies to overcome common barriers that women face in accessing finance and high value markets, such gender biases, and limited financial literacy; to advocate for policies and regulatory frameworks that support and incentivize investments into women’s agribusinesses; to promote programs that provide women agripreneurs with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to manage and grow their businesses effectively; and to present, familiarize and mobilize stakeholders and partners Into VALUE4HER, AGRA'S forefront initiative advancing economic opportunities for women in agribusiness

Africa's population is projected to double by 2050, and feeding this growing continent is already a major challenge. The business sector plays a pivotal role in land restoration and soil health. Investing in soil health and land restoration can increase crop yields by 6-10% and slow biodiversity loss by 11% by 2050. These are not only environmental triumphs, but also sizeable economic prospects for visionary businesses. This session will explore innovative soil health solutions for ensuring food security in the future, including sustainable agriculture practices and value chain innovations. Our panel of experts will share their insights and experience on how to create more resilient and sustainable food systems that can feed Africa's growing population and demand in the next coming years, particularly in countries in fragile contexts, through targeted investments in soil health. Don't miss this exciting and informative session!  

Sequence 1: Investing in Soil Health to Feed a Continent  

This session will introduce the Farmer Thriving Index, a pioneering tool designed to consistently and cost-effectively measure the wellbeing of coffee farmers. 60 Decibels will share real-world applications and data from Uganda and Rwanda where this instrument was administered via phone, while Small Foundation and Rabo Bank contextualize how wellbeing fits into their process for financing.

Organizer: Sustain Africa 

BRIEF:

 
This session will: 
 Discuss recommendations aimed at helping governments and farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa 
    weather future fertilizer price spikes and build long-term fertilizer market resilience 
 Understand gaps in fertilizer financing along the supply chain and discuss proposed solutions 
 Discuss how to build commercially viable food value chains through aggregation and tighter 
    links in the value chain 
 Review our experience in building a multi stakeholder mechanism that can provide an agile 
   and effective response to future fertilizer price spikes.

Rwanda’s Food Systems Legacy Program (LP) is a coherent, high-quality program that translates the Government of Rwanda’s PSTA-5 (Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation – 5) into a bankable investment program. This session aims to mobilize partners to support the country’s strategy to create jobs for youth and women in agri-food systems.

Each morning will kick start with the highlights of the upcoming day, including the themes under discussion and all the interesting places to interact with thought leaders. As this activity will be held on the last day, we will focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with creating and maintaining affordable food systems that can feed a growing global population

The State of Nutrition - Advancing Nutrition Outcomes and Empowering Women for Food Systems Transformation

Join this unique dialogue between young African agri-food leaders and heads of state. Youths will have the rare opportunity to directly ask questions to leaders who will, in turn, discuss the youths’ inquiries, ideas, innovations, and proposals. How can AFS Forum Partners support young people to learn and find jobs in food systems on the continent? We will also discover the two winners of this year’s GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize - one woman and one man – who will be awarded US$50,000 each for leading scalable and impactful business or social ventures. The prize spotlights and celebrates the impact made by young agripreneurs in Africa.

Can African leaders deliver food systems transformation in this climate and digital era?>br> The Presidential Summit at AFS Forum 2024 engages high-level leaders in a dialogue on how to advance commitments on Africa's food systems transformation. Focused on the Summit’s theme "Innovate, Accelerate, Scale, Delivering Food Systems in a Digital and Climate Era", this event will serve as a catalyst for forging the Africa position and leadership on food systems, deepening partnerships between nations, and creating actionable plans, national legacy programs, and deals to mobilize investments, including from the private sector, to ensure progress towards sustainable, resilient, and inclusive equitable food systems across the continent. This session offers an opportunity to share experiences, challenges, and solutions and foster a shared understanding and commitment to transforming Africa's food systems.