Author: AGRF Digital

Aug 29, 2024 | Blog

Leveraging a digital platform to strengthen food systems policies in Africa

By Dr Rebecca McLaren, MD, MPH, Research Advisor, GAIN, Ty Beal, PhD Senior Technical Specialist at GAIN and Stella Nordhagen, Senior Technical Specialist at GAIN

The 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum is centred on the theme, “Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era.” As the continent faces unprecedented challenges, from climate shocks to economic pressures, the Forum seeks to accelerate the adoption of digital tools to revolutionize food systems and tackle these pressing issues.

The Food Systems Dashboard: a critical tool for transformation

At the heart of this digital transformation is the Food Systems Dashboard, a powerful tool that allows users to easily access and analyze food systems data. This innovative platform enables stakeholders to set priorities for action and track progress, providing crucial insights into the effectiveness of policies and interventions.

The Food Systems Dashboard stands out by bringing together diverse country-level and subnational data across all food system components. It compiles 300 indicators from over 40 public and private sources, presenting this wealth of information in simple, visually appealing graphics. This comprehensive approach gives policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders a complete view of food systems, including their drivers, components, and outcomes. Moreover, the Dashboard offers in-depth analysis and guidance on how users can effectively leverage this data to identify gaps, monitor progress, and develop impactful interventions.

For instance, the Dashboard includes indicators on food affordability, diet quality, agricultural productivity, and climate vulnerability. A measure of food affordability on the FSD is the percentage of the population unable to afford a healthy diet. This indicates the share of the population whose food budget is less than the cost of a healthy diet. The FSD includes several measures of diet quality from the Global Diet Quality Project, such as minimum dietary diversity for women (MDD-W). This newly proposed SDG indicator reflects the share of women who consumed at least the minimum recommended food groups the previous day, which makes it more likely they consume adequate micronutrients. For those wanting to look at the climate impacts of food systems, the FSD contains indicators on agri-food systems greenhouse gas emissions as well as the emissions intensity for important food groups. The indicators on the FSD allow policymakers to quickly assess areas of strength and weakness in their food systems, and to track progress over time.

Addressing Africa’s unique challenges

Africa stands at a critical juncture. The continent faces a complex web of challenges, including conflicts disrupting food supply systems, economic shocks making nutritious diets unaffordable, and climate-related events reducing agricultural production capacity. Coupled with a growing population, these factors underscore the urgent need for transformative solutions in African food systems.

To address these challenges, several African countries are leveraging the power of the Food Systems Dashboard at a sub-national level. Nigeria, Kenya, and Mozambique have already launched unique country dashboards, with Rwanda currently developing its own. These tailored and more detailed dashboards are created in close partnership with national governments and local stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of full country ownership. This approach ensures that the data and insights provided are directly relevant to each country’s unique food system challenges and opportunities.

Empowering data-driven decision making

The Food Systems Dashboard enables governments to develop policies rooted in facts and objective analysis. This data-driven approach leads to more informed, targeted, and impactful policy decisions, addressing food system issues more effectively. Moreover, it increases government accountability and transparency in the decision-making process.

By leveraging the insights provided by the Dashboard, countries can enhance local food production, develop resilience to climate crises, and ultimately uplift African livelihoods. This aligns perfectly with the Africa Food Systems Forum’s vision of harnessing the continent’s potential to tackle global challenges.

A collaborative effort for global impact

The Food Systems Dashboard is led by The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, The Columbia Climate School, Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with collaborators at many other institutions. This collaborative effort ensures that the Dashboard remains a cutting-edge tool in the global effort to transform food systems.

As we look towards the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum, the Food Systems Dashboard stands as a testament to the power of digital innovation in addressing complex food system challenges. By providing accessible, comprehensive data and analysis, it empowers stakeholders across Africa and beyond to make informed decisions, develop effective policies, and drive meaningful change in their food systems.

The transformation of African food systems in the face of climate change and population growth is no small task. However, with tools like the Food Systems Dashboard, we are better equipped than ever to innovate, accelerate, and scale solutions that will ensure food security and sustainability for generations to come.

Aug 27, 2024 | Blog, Featured

Africa’s food future depends on how we engage with the youth today

Agriculture is undoubtedly Africa’s biggest hope for economic transformation, and whatever decisions we make in the next few years will influence the continent’s destiny in the remaining decades of this century.

This is set against projections that Africa’s population will double to over 2.5 billion people by 2050, adding unprecedented pressures on the continent’s food systems and, to a great extent, its farmers, who will be required to double their production.

In anticipation of the expected demand, we agree that  as a continent, we must urgently begin identifying ways to transform our current and future food systems to produce sufficient quantities for our nutritional and economic needs.

Africa has all the required resources to transform its agricultural production to attain self-sufficiency and even have surpluses to trade with the rest of the world. Nearly 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land is in Africa, and so are some of the best soils and climatic conditions. But most importantly, Africa has the youngest population in the world, which gives it an edge in terms of the longevity of ambitions. Indeed, as of 2024, aproximately three quarters of the continent’s population are under 35 years of age . The African Development Bank further estimates that by 2063, young people will constitute half of Africa’s 2 billion working-age people.

Thankfully, this increasing but youthful population for the continent portends a huge opportunity to transform its agri-food systems. Today’s young people are increasingly exposed to the rest of the world through online technologies, and they are employing solutions that could solve Africa’s food challenges and learning from other countries and regions. The youth are tech savy, ambitious and eager to learn. Millions of them are also educated up to tertiary levels, although nearly 83% are unemployed, as revealed by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

At the African Development Bank, we have already realised the opportunity the youth could bring to Africa’s food systems. We are working in collaboration with multiple partners, including governments and the private sector, to engage them.  Among our leading initiatives for tapping their interest is the Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy 2016–2025, which seeks to facilitate the creation of 25 million jobs and equip 50 million young people with employable skills by 2025. Under this programme, we have two major flagships that specifically relate to agriculture and food value chains, as outlined below:

The ENABLE Youth program, an initiative from the African Development Bank ,  helps young African men and women access financing to grow their enterprises. Currently active in 15 countries with investments exceeding $490 million, and benefiting around 40,000 youths, the program has emerged as a transformative force in fostering entrepreneurship and tackling youth unemployment. . One beneficiairy of the Program, Adja Sembene Fall, a Senegalese youth entrepreneur run a start-up selling luxury tea brands. Adja participated in Enable Youth’s annual AgriPitch Competition In 2022 and won USD 25,000.  “the 2022 AgriPitch Competition helped  me to develop new distribution partnerships, as well as acquire new customers. Since my participation, I have strengthened my team by setting up a processing unit. Today, we have enabled four women in our community to develop a fixed monthly income. The media exposure that I received from this competition has expanded my professional network and led to a 100% increase in sales.” says Adja

we should see more examples like Adja’s and scale up this kind of Initiatives.

the Skill Enhancement Zones  are part of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones initiative. The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) are agro-based spatial development initiatives from the African Development Bank, designed to concentrate agro-processing activities within areas of high production, processing and marketing of selected commodities. These zones create demand-led training and job placement programs within industrial clusters and parks anddesigned to develop a workforce aligned with employers’ needs.

Aside from these flagships, the Bank continues to support governments in implementing their national youth initiatives, including through financing that can be invested in innovative agribusiness start-ups and other projects with high growth potential. So far, we have seen some of our investments being used to:

  • Facilitate access to modern technologies, equipment, and machinery for enhanced agricultural productivity and value chain efficiency.
  • Deliver tailored training programs and mentorship to develop business skills and entrepreneurial acumen.
  • Strengthen value chains and promote market integration for agricultural products.
  • Promote sustainable agricultural practices and climate resilience among entrepreneurs.

The African Development Bank is always on the lookout for innovative partnerships that could accelerate the impact of its Funds, particularly in drawing more youth into agriculture and related value chains. We shall be exploring such partnerships and other strategies at the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 3 – 6. Ahead of this convening, we welcome ideas, investments, and other opportunities that will help drive our vision of a food-secure Africa led by youth initiatives.

Edson Rurangwa Mpyisi, Chief Financial Economist and Enable Youth Coordinator, African Development Bank.

Aug 22, 2024 | Featured, News

Prioritizing Youth and Women in Transforming Africa’s Food Systems

As of 2024, youth make up the largest share of Africa’s population – about 60 percent of the continent’s 1.2 billion people are below 25. However, together with women, who account for nearly half of the agricultural labour force, young people are among the most marginalized demographics, often left out of enhancement opportunities. Without the influential role of these two groups, it will be impossible to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030, especially ending poverty and hunger. At SNV, we recognize this reality. We are deliberate about implementing initiatives that include youth and women across all aspects of Africa’s food system transformation – from a position of contributing to influencing policy; facilitating accessing modern agricultural inputs and financial services to leadership in trade, including cross-border trade.

Our approach fosters the urgency, confidence and voice of young people through the development of soft skills, business acumen and technical skills. By facilitating access to markets, finance and assets, and by forging strategic partnerships, we help create an inclusive and sustainable environment. Our strategy focuses on amplifying the voice of youth, incorporating green and digital jobs, focusing on market sector growth, transforming systems, and promoting gender equality and social inclusion.

SNV prioritises youth employment and entrepreneurship in our work in Africa and Asia. Our engagement with youth includes a range of employment and entrepreneurship programmes in over 10 countries in Africa. Through these initiatives, we have supported livelihoods and enabled employment opportunities for more than 500,000 young people. A recent  long term follow up study  found indicative results of the long-term impact of the approach on the wellbeing of young women and men through increased income, diversified livelihoods and improved community influence and engagement.

In this article, we highlight some of our initiatives across Africa, showcasing our contribution to driving youth and gender inclusion.

Realizing Aspiration Youth in Ethiopia through Employment (RAYEE) – The RAYEE project, implemented in partnership with Mastercard Foundation aims to create meaningful employment in agriculture and agri-business for 240,000 young Ethiopians, with 70 percent of the target being women. The project assesses the skills required by employers and offers tailored training in  social and technical skills to young women and men. Additionally, trainees are connected to identified job opportunities. Through the project, SNV supports existing SMEs to expand job prospects for young people and provides business development services to help ambitious young entrepreneurs  start new enterprises. These services include training in business management, administration, and marketing, as well as improved access to inclusive financial services, input supply, and market information.

Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) – This initiative, an investment by the EU, aims to support at least 5,000 entrepreneurs and green SMEs in Ghana by enhancing their operations. Its objectives include facilitating the transition of local economies to green and climate-resilient development; improving employability and entrepreneurial skills by connecting individuals with market opportunities and providing mentorship for self-employment and enterprise development; and creating and strengthening local ecosystems that foster youth self-employment and the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Climate Resilient Agribusiness for Tomorrow (CRAFT) – Implemented in collaboration with various partners, this initiative aims to enhance the inclusion of women in value chains across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It seeks to empower women to adopt sustainable practices and improve their livelihoods through digital technologies. A key component of the program is improving access to information, particularly for women who lag in accessing and implementing smart agricultural practices like weather forecasting, soil testing, and crop selection. CRAFT partners with meteorological institutions in these countries to provide weather and climate information via SMS, a successful approach that has seen over 14,000 women in Tanzania benefitting from weather updates since 2018. Additionally, the CRAFT initiative aims to boost women’s access to finance by connecting them with financial institutions for credit and other financial services.

Enhancing Opportunities for Women’s Enterprises (EOWE) – Implemented between 2016 and 2020, the EOWE initiative aimed to support the start-up and growth of women’s businesses in rural areas of Kenya and Vietnam. The program focused on enterprise development, social transformation, and policy advocacy. It reached 22,000 female farmers and entrepreneurs by providing training in business and farming and improving their access to inputs, productive assets, finance, and markets, particularly in the context of climate change.

There are many other SNV initiatives across Africa, including in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, targeting women and youth enterprises Youth | SNV. We look forward to sharing the results of these projects at the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, on 2-6 September. Join us in contributing to the dialogue and partnerships that will enhance the inclusion of women and youth in driving Africa’s food system transformation.

 

 

Aug 8, 2024 | Blog

Accountability mechanisms required to achieve Malabo 2025, SDG 2030 targets

Over the last two decades, multiple food system convenings have been held across Africa, during which significant declarations and partnerships have been announced.

In 2003, for example, African Union (AU) leaders met in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, and committed to increasing their national budget allocations to agriculture development to at least 10 percent. Two years later, recognizing the need to accelerate the restoration of Africa’s depleted soils, AU heads made the Abuja Declaration, pinning them to increase their national fertilizer application to at least 50 Kg/ha.

The Maputo commitment was reaffirmed in 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in addition to multiple other pledges around agricultural development, poverty reduction, and nutrition, all to be achieved by 2025.  A year later, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations members, creating 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Just recently, in 2023, at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, a resolve was made to accelerate climate funding to avert impending challenges affecting African countries, notably their agri-food sectors.

With the above events in mind, various other pledges have been made by governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders, all of which have pushed for the acceleration of food system transformation objectives.

Unfortunately, nearly all deadlines have been missed, with the continent being significantly off track for the pending ones, notably the Malabo Declaration (2025) and the SDGs (2030).

However, a turnaround may be achieved by shunning the business-as-usual approach and establishing transparent and collaborative partnerships that hold all stakeholders accountable. Accountability mechanisms encourage stakeholders to work together towards shared goals, leveraging their respective strengths and resources. With precise accountability mechanisms in place, financial, human, and technological resources can be allocated more efficiently while reducing the duplication of efforts and ensuring that investments are targeted toward initiatives with the most significant impact.

In this regard, governments should urgently develop and enforce policies that promote transparency to the already-established commitments. This is as other stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, commit to pursuing accountability at the community level.

Thankfully, all the continental pledges and commitments made so far are supported by reporting processes and monitoring tools, which comprise trackable indicators that can pinpoint existing loopholes.

We can start with Malabo, enforced by the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), a reporting programme comprising a Biennial Review process highlighting the progress and areas needing attention to actualize critical food security and nutrition goals. The fourth Biennial Review (BR4) report was released earlier this year, with all 49 reviewed countries needing to catch up in achieving the Malabo Declaration goals. Six countries did not participate, two more than in BR3 when Rwanda was the only country on track.

Against this backdrop, all stakeholders are now called to accelerate the actions under review by the CAADP. If achieved as envisaged, this will fast-track the primary food system objectives, forming the foundation of many other continental agendas.

-ENDS

| Blog

Private sector engagement key in Africa’s food system transformation

The private sector is a key demographic whose unique strengths for capital mobilization and innovation must be harnessed to accelerate Africa’s food system transformation.

Multiple researchers have found that rapid transition could be achieved by tapping the private sector to improve distribution networks, set up post-harvest management facilities, and expand market access. However, government leadership is still critical in providing direction, starting with policy investments that shield smallholder farmers and other small players across the food and agricultural value chains from exploitation. Other solutions include the development of regional food balance sheets and appropriate infrastructure to avert the incidence of post-harvest losses, which accounts for up to 40% of all the food produced in Africa.

For market development, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which, when fully implemented, will open up a $3.4 trillion market across the 55 African countries, stands as a remarkable opportunity. The common market introduced under the AfCFTA is expected to engage the private sector in capturing Africa’s diverse strengths in food value chains and specialties, reducing overdependence on foreign agricultural inputs through enhanced intra-African trade.

Additionally, government-led investments in youth projects can be leveraged to rope in private investments. A good example is the Government of Tanzania’s Building a Better Tomorrow – Youth in Africa (BBT-YIA) initiative, a $500m project aimed at boosting youth participation in agriculture. The six-year project is expected to draw more support from the private sector during its implementation as it focuses on transforming the country into a tech-led agricultural production powerhouse.

Meanwhile, the continent’s youth is a resource that should be tapped to inject renewed vigour into food systems, creating the grounds for private sector investment to introduce multiple opportunities for job creation, a critical imperative. Indeed, there is a need to celebrate successful youth agripreneurships, like Hello Tractor, a tractor-hailing platform; KeepItCool, a cold-chain investor; and Magofarm, an insect protein feed maker, whose success is capturing the interest of young people in food systems innovation.

Finally, establishing sustainable financing strategies is a key requirement for private-sector participation. In relation, the Agribusiness Dealroom at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 3 – 6, 2024, comes as a critical opportunity for fundraising. The AFS Forum will be held under the theme, ‘Innovate, Accelerate and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era’, in recognition of the urgent need to transform African food systems by prioritizing youth participation. Activities at the forum will also strive to engage private sector leadership in the continent’s food system transformation, including through multiple opportunities for investment across varied food system value chains.

-ENDS

Jul 19, 2024 | Blog

Rwanda Agriculture Sector Outlook Ahead of 2024 AFS Forum

From September 3 – 6, 2024, all eyes will be on Rwanda, where world leaders, private sector players, scientists and researchers, farmers, and civil society will gather to review the progress towards Africa’s food system transformation ahead of critical deadlines, including the African Union’s Malabo Declaration (2025) and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (2030).

Under the theme, Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era, participants at this year’s forum will be out to evaluate innovative policy mechanisms, financing initiatives, research, and business models in relation to the implementation of cutting-edge technologies and equipment to manage climate impact, the digital and financing gap, and reduce food waste.

Rwanda is a gracious host as it convenes the event every alternate year, a feat that only a government that is fully dedicated to continental food system transformation objectives can achieve.

Indeed, the Rwanda government has prioritized agriculture for investment, making the sector its largest economic driver. It accounts for 31% of its annual GDP and has contributed to a 22% reduction in poverty levels over the last two decades.

Agriculture employs 70% of Rwanda’s population, accounts for 37% of the country’s exports, and raises over $640 million in export revenue from the sale of coffee, tea, pyrethrum, macadamia, flowers, fruits, vegetables, cereals, and grains.

Rwanda prioritizes agriculture by investing in infrastructure, institutions, markets, and innovation, fostering a conducive environment for private sector investment. Opportunities include dairy, poultry, meat processing, horticulture, aquaculture, mechanization, crop sourcing, blockchain, agro-tourism, irrigation equipment manufacturing, and cold chain logistics.

Household Crop production

  • Sweet potatoes – 44.6%
  • Banana – 40.2%
  • Maize – 67.7%
  • Cassava – 45.6%
  • Sorghum- 20.9%
  • Irish potato – 15.5%
  • Vegetables – 14.0%
  • Yams and taro – 13.2%
  • Soybean – 12%
  • Groundnut – 6.3%
  • Peas -5.8%
  • Wheat – 3.6%
  • Paddy rice – 3.2%.

Household livestock production

  • Cattle – 53.4%
  • Goats 37.6%
  • Pigs – 33.7% r
  • Chicken – 31.3%
  • Sheep – 9.9%
  • Rabbits – 8.6%

National agricultural strategy

Rwanda is currently developing the national Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5), following the success of the PSTA 4, which led to an increase in irrigated land to 71,585 hectares reaching 70% of the 2024 target.

Investment opportunities in agriculture

Many opportunities for investment exist in the country’s agriculture sector, including in dairy, poultry, meat processing, horticulture, aquaculture, mechanization, crop sourcing, blockchain, agro-tourism, irrigation equipment manufacturing, and cold chain logistics.

Rwanda’s performance in achieving the Malabo Declaration targets

In 2014, AU heads of state and government meeting in Equatorial Guinea adopted the Malabo Declaration to provide the direction for Africa’s agricultural transformation for the period 2015-2025.

As of 2024, Rwanda is the leading country in achieving the targets of the Malabo Declaration, with a score of 8.07 out of 10.  According to the latest Biennial Review Report (AUDA-NEPAD 2022a), Rwanda was the only country on track to achieve four out of seven Malabo commitments (1, 4, 6, and 7).

Jul 15, 2024 | Announcement, Featured, News

Celebrating the Top 24 Trailblazing Agripreneurs in the 2024 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition

– Innovative Ventures Led by Young Entrepreneurs from 17 African Countries Reach the Semi-Finals to Compete for US$100k Grand Prizes and US$60k Impact Awards 

– Co-founders Strive Masiyiwa and Svein Tore Holsether Applaud the Current Generation of Young Agrifood Leaders

[Kigali, Rwanda] July 12, 2024 – The GoGettaz community is thrilled to unveil the top 24 semi-finalists of the 2024 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition. This prestigious initiative, now in its 6th year, was founded to empower and celebrate Africa’s burgeoning agripreneurs and has become a beacon of innovation and opportunities across the continent.

The competition received nearly 2000 applications from across most African countries, with the 24 semi-finalists representing 17 African nations. GoGettaz is a transformative platform dedicated to nurturing young agrifood innovators across Africa. Since its inception in 2019, GoGettaz has played a pivotal role in identifying, supporting, and celebrating the continent’s most promising entrepreneurs driving sustainable change and economic growth through agricultural ventures spanning the whole agrifood value chain from seed to fork. By providing access to leadership development, global networks, and awards, GoGettaz empowers participants to grow their innovative ideas into impactful business enterprises that address pressing agricultural challenges and contribute to food security and job creation across the continent.

GoGettaz co-founder Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Chairman of Econet Group, who served as Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) for several years, commented, “This initiative embodies our commitment to nurturing Africa’s entrepreneurial talent. From the large pool of applicants this year, these 24 semi-finalists represent only a small cross-section of the continent’s visionary young entrepreneurs, a testament to the hope and talent of youth across Africa today. Their innovative agrifood businesses, and the impactful work of so many others who have taken part in the GoGettaz competition over the years, are crucial for growing prosperity and food security across the continent. Our GoGettaz entrepreneurs are not just sitting around waiting for problems to be solved; they are busy working to solve them – inventing climate-friendly solutions and using new technologies to tackle ages-old challenges in this critical sector.  We are so proud of them.”

Svein Tore Holsether, President and Chief Executive Officer of Yara International and GoGettaz co-founder added, “The impact of GoGettaz goes far beyond the competition itself, as we uncover more and more talent and innovation across Africa. I am thrilled with the quality of this year’s competitors and excited to see the opportunities and collaboration emerging to accelerate progress towards a more resilient and food-secure Africa. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the semi-finalists and commend them for the great work that they are doing.”

Meet the Top 24 Semi-Finalists: 

Mogale Maleka

Mogale Maleka

Agang Bokamoso Farms (AB Farms)

Samson Turimurukundo

Samson Turimurukundo

AGRI Organic Inputs

Salimata Toh

Salimata Toh

Agribanana

Lapaque Mbumba

Lapaque Mbumba

Antarctik

Marlène Kindji

Marlène Kindji

Badémè Natural Foods

Adeline Pelage

Adeline Pelage

Biscuiterie BOBO

Elhadji Malick Sagne

Elhadji Malick Sagne

Cactus Innovation

Amir Redwan

Amir Redwan

Chipchip

Tracy Mapfumo

Tracy Mapfumo

Eny’s Treats

Lesly Marange

Lesly Marange

GLYTIME FOODS PVT LTD

Deborah Nzarubara

Deborah Nzarubara

Grecom

Kidist Amedie

Kidist Amedie

Guaro Farms

Habib Mestiri

Habib Mestiri

Hayat Technology

Fatima El Khou

Fatima El Khou

Jafife

Sokayna Bellam

Sokayna Bellam

Jodoor

Iddi Mohamed Faried

Iddi Mohamed Faried

Kodu Technology

Tisya Mukana

Tisya Mukana

La BOITE

Mochesane Albert Mpali

Mochesane Albert Mpali

Lema Agriventures Pty Ltd

Irene Simon Ivambi

Irene Simon Ivambi

MREMBO NATURALS LIMITED

Mostafa Hassanen

Mostafa Hassanen

Plug N Grow

Charles Oyamo

Charles Oyamo

Rethread Africa

Riantsoa Mialinarindra

Riantsoa Mialinarindra

Sakafo Madagascar

Arristine Mendes

Arristine Mendes

SHADDAÏ AQUACULTURE

Emadago Oghenekevwe

Emadago Oghenekevwe

Valley Bee

Previous editions of the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition have produced remarkable success stories that illustrate its profound impact. Esther Kimani, a past winner, revolutionized farming practices in Kenya with her innovative pest detection technology. Her journey from competition winner to industry leader underscores GoGettaz’s role in fostering groundbreaking solutions and empowering agripreneurs to drive meaningful change in their communities.

The finalists are competing for two grand prizes of $50,000 each, and in addition to the grand prize, an additional $60,000 in Impact Awards to recognize ventures that notably benefit their communities and promote sustainable development goals. The prize is designed to propel ventures to new heights and amplify their impact. The rigorous selection process emphasized criteria such as innovation, market potential and traction, business model and founder and team. The high caliber of entries underscores the competitiveness and dynamism within Africa’s agripreneurial ecosystem.

Young agripreneurs and Pan-African agriculture ecosystems are encouraged to engage with the GoGettaz community and participate in future editions of the competition. Visit gogettaz.africa to learn more about the finalists and follow us on @GoGettazAfrica on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tik Tok and YouTube to join our mission of transforming African agriculture through innovation and entrepreneurship.

 

GoGettaz Co-Founders:

Yara International: https://www.yara.com/

Econet: https://www.econetafrica.com/

 

GoGettaz Partners:

Africa Food Systems Forum:  https://agrf.org/

Alliance for a Green Revolution Africa: https://agra.org/

Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions: http://www.sacau.org/

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation https://www.snv.org/

U.S. Agency for International Development: https://www.usaid.gov/

May 31, 2024 | Announcement, Featured

The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) and Veteran Clubs World Championship (VCWC) Forge Strategic Partnership to Champion for Food Systems and Sport Development in Africa

The collaboration between VCWC and AFS Forum will leverage sports icons to drive policy advocacy and sustainably fortify Africa’s food systems.

Kigali, Rwanda – May 31, 2024 – The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) and  Veteran Clubs World Championship (VCWC) have joined forces in a strategic partnership with the goal of harnessing the combined influence of sports and agri-food business to accelerate sustainable transformation of Africa’s food systems. The partnership, formalized through an agreement signed by both parties, seeks to harness the influence and audience of sports legends to champion impactful innovative  communication,    public  policies  on  sport  and  food  systems  nexus, investment  and  resource  mobilization  and  fostering  partnerships  aimed  at strengthening the sustainability of the African food system. As influential stakeholders  with  global  platforms,  the  AFS  Forum  and  VCWC acknowledged  the  intricate  relationship  between  food  systems  and  sports  in shaping Africa’s trajectory, with a particular emphasis on the vital role of youth engagement for  productive , healthier, nutritious, inclusive and  resilient food systems in the continent.

Speaking on behalf of the AFS Forum partners, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA, highlighted the influence of sports legends, underscoring the profound influence of sports on Africa’s rural youth as well as the opportunities that food systems present for the young people . She stated, “African food systems are projected to become a trillion-dollar industry in the coming years driven by rapid  urbanisation across the continent. Connecting African youth to food systems given their agility and innovative  potential  will  be  hugely  transformative.  AGRA  and  the  AFS  Forum Partners  are  committed  to  harnessing  the  transformative  power  of  sports  by engaging  and  linking  rural  youth  to  these  opportunities.  This partnership stands as a win-win for sports, food systems, and health.” Dr. Kalibata expressed  her  desire  to  see  the  collaboration  amplifying  the  pace  of policy advancements  and  innovations  on  food  and  sport  nexus.  Additionally,  she emphasized leveraging the vast potential of sport legends to inspire, empower and elevate    African  youth  as  pivotal  drivers  in  transforming  the  continent’s  food systems.

Fred Siewe, President of the International Federation of Veteran Football (FIFVE) and Chairman of VCWC, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “The VCWC is committed to harnessing the influence and audience of sports legends to contribute to sustainable development. By partnering with the AFS Forum, we can leverage both platform to advocate for positive change and empower youth and women across Africa.” He said Amath  Pathe  Sene,  Managing  Director  of  the  AFS  Forum,  supported  the complementarity of the two events scheduled for the same week in September.

He highlighted the interconnectedness of sports and nutrition, noting that sustained excellence  in  sports  often  requires  access  to  nutritious  and  healthier  food. “becoming a legend in sport requires top-level performance over many years. This cannot be achieved without nutritious and healthy food,” he said. Sene emphasized the value of partnering with VCWC to promote the values of sports while also exploring  opportunities  within  the  sports  business  sector.  “Sport  and  food  are interlinked, this partnership with VCWC will not only promote the values of sport but also showcase the opportunities through the business of sport,” he added.

The AFS Forum  and VCWC will coincide between Sep 1 to 10 Sep 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda, presenting a unique opportunity for synergistic action towards advancing global development goals. The partnership will  harness the collective  expertise, networks and platforms to facilitate investments in sustainable projects that will advance the livelihoods of small holder farmers and the food systems community.

About AFS Forum

The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) 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. The Africa Forum is made up of a coalition of 28 institutions in African food systems all focused on putting farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economies.

www.agrf.org

About AGRA

AGRA  is  a  proudly  African-led  institution  focused  on  scaling  agricultural innovations  that  help  smallholder  farmers  towards  increased  incomes,  better livelihoods, and improved food security. AGRA’s mission is to transform the lives of smallholder farmers from that of a solitary struggle for survival to a business that thrives.

www.agra.org

About VCWC

VCWC  is  a  platform  for  sports  veterans  from  around  the  world  to  Connect, Collaborate, and Contribute to Sustainable development.

https://www.vcwc.network/

For media inquiries, please contact:

AFS  Forum  Press  Office:  Catherine  Ndungu,  Snr  Communications  Officer

cndungu@agra.org

VCWC Press Office: Info@vcwc2024.com

Mar 28, 2024 | Announcement, News

Rwanda to Host the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 and Calls for Radical Transformation of African Food Systems.

Speakers during the launch ceremony advocate for a global and inclusive summit that is grounded on Africa’s food systems priorities to ensure food security for all.

Kigali, Rwanda – March 26th, 2024 – Rt. Hon Dr Èdouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, has this afternoon officially launched the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 annual summit, the premier forum for African agriculture and food systems in Kigali, Rwanda.

The theme for this year’s summit – Innovate, Accelerate and Scale: Delivering food systems transformation in a digital and climate era – underscores the urgent need to radically transform African food systems.This transformation should enhance local food production, bolster resilience to climate change, uplift African livelihoods, and harness the continent’s potential to tackle global challenges.

The theme highlights the need to prioritize three key actions: innovating, accelerating, and scaling up. Regarding innovation, the 2024 Summit will shine the spotlight on innovative policy delivery mechanisms, financing initiatives, research, and business models. As we evolve in a digital age, the summit will showcase cutting-edge technologies and equipment to manage climate impact, digital and financing gap, food waste and loss to name a few. Participants and delegates will have the opportunity at the Summit to network with the innovators and thought leaders driving these state-of-the-art technologies and developments.

Speaking at the launch, the Rt. Hon, Ngirente said, “To transform the agriculture sector into a powerful engine for economic development, our country is embracing innovation and making evidence-based-policy decisions. In this context, the Government has focused on de-risking the sector to ensure that it becomes more profitable and attractive for the youth and private sector actors,” he said.

The Prime Minister emphasized the imperative for African nations to bolster local production efforts. Emphasizing the critical link between local food production and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he stressed the significance of meeting domestic needs and fostering inter-African trade. Highlighting the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as a pivotal instrument for realizing these goals, his address also underscored the need to cultivate youth involvement in agriculture.

The AFS Forum will take place from September 2-6, 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda. The summit is expected to host approximately 5000 delegates from across the food systems eco system. Speaking to the significance of the event, H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, the Chair of the AFS Forum Partner’s group, emphasized the pivotal role of youth in accelerating the delivery of sustainable and prosperous food system.

“With an abundance of emerging African young talents, remarkable innovations, and proven practices and solutions both locally and internationally, scaling up adaptation and replication is feasible. However, achieving this requires mobilizing actions and investments on a large scale, especially from the private sector,” he said.

The launch ceremony is the premier drum beat and kick start event towards the Africa Food Systems Annual Summit , in September. The summit will bring together business leaders, potential investors, high-ranking government officials, thought leaders, and farmers under the same roof to make the connections needed to unlock investment and financing opportunities for medium and small enterprises (MSMEs), youth, women and government-led deals and unleash the potential for faster, widespread, food systems transformation across Africa.

About AFS Forum

The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum), is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African food systems forward. The Forum is a multi-sector platform comprising of 28 partners leading in African agriculture all focused on putting farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economies. The AFS Forum exists to progress Africa’s Food Systems and promote agricultural excellence across the diverse landscapes of our continent.

Follow us on:

About MINAGRI

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) has the mission of promoting the sustainable development of a modern, efficient and competitive agriculture and livestock sector, to ensure food security, agriculture export and diversification of the productions for the benefit of the farmer and the economy of the Country.

Follow us on:

For more information on MINAGRI please contact

Eugene Kwibuka, Agriculture Information and Communication project manager at MINAGRI  on  ekwibuka@minagri.gov.rw

For more information on AFS Forum please contact

Catherine Ndu’ngu, Senior Communications and Advocacy Officer on cndungu@agra.org

Mar 23, 2024 | Featured, News

Rwanda to host Africa food systems summit

The Africa Food Systems (AFS) Forum in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) will host the official launch of the Africa Food Systems Annual Summit 2024, on March 26, at the Kigali International Convention Center (KCC). 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. The summit will be held from September 2 to 6, 2024, in Kigali.

Africa Food Systems Managing Director, Amath Pathé Sene, mentioned that the summit is timely this year, considering crises like Covid-19, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Hamas situation, and others impacting the African continent in various ways. “Currently we are still having issues in terms of food security and nutrition, but also jobs for youth and women which governments need to address, feeding your people and creating opportunity. There are challenges and gaps. It is only six years remaining to reach 2030 to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and one year for Malabo Declaration which must be accelerated,” he explained.

Under the Malabo Declaration, governments have to allocate at least 10 per cent of public expenditure to agriculture. However, Sene said that many countries are still lagging.

Africa Food Systems Managing Director, Amath Pathé Sene during the interview with The New Times. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana
Africa Food Systems Managing Director, Amath Pathé Sene during the interview with The New Times. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana

“Few of them—less than 10 out of the whole group—have reached that target and more is still needed. Apart from governments’ budget allocation, we still have a lot of gaps in private sector investments. Private sector investment is still very low in many countries. For instance, in Rwanda, agriculture loans are 6 per cent of total loans,” he said.

According to Oxfam International, the majority of African governments (48 out of 54) reportedly spend an average of 3.8 per cent of their budgets on agriculture—some as little as 1 per cent.

The goal of the forum is to scale up the continent’s efforts by drawing closer key stakeholders for a common purpose, to unleash the full potential of Africa’s millions of smallholder farmers and their families who earn their livelihoods from small-scale farms and produce about 80 per cent of the food and agricultural products consumed across the continent.

Only 1.7 per cent of total global climate finance is allocated to smallholder farmers.

“The sector requires innovative finance. For the simple reason, it is a risky sector on the African continent. There is a lot of gender and youth gap. Some of them do not own land or assets as well as technical capacity. The barriers need to be removed to help the system and enable a conducive environment.

“You can produce food but it needs to come to the market from the village to the city. The system needs to be connected. We need green and climate financing because when it is raining, or dry spells, we need to adapt better, we need blended finance, de-risking, public-private partnership,” he said.

Venture capital to support startups and other businesses with the potential for substantial and rapid growth, equity, loans, joint ventures, grants, and philanthropic resources are part of innovative financing to address food insecurity and create jobs for youth and women in agriculture, he said.

Sene said that there are huge opportunities for women and youth in agriculture. This is fundamental given Africa’s rapidly growing population – an estimated 440 million young people will enter the labour market in Africa by 2030 (IFAD 2023) – and the recent job losses caused by the pandemic.

“The sector can help us reverse our import bill which is currently at $60 billion and it will continue to grow if what is needed is not done at the country and continental level. We have to make sure that this sector is also modernised to attract young people and also reduce the burden of the work to women,” he said.

The summit will look at ways of increasing productivity through adequate financing, technical support, and capacity-building for smallholder farmers.

“We are in an era of urgency. The vulnerability of the continent to climate change is huge because we do not have the resources to deal with the shocks when there are droughts, floods, and landslides like last year in Rwanda. We really need to adapt to climate change. Countries have commitments on what to do every year. There are green funds to support countries. But the pledge has not yet been fulfilled,” Sene added.

Some of the expected September summit outcomes, he said, include learning from Africa’s food system, opportunities, collaboration and partnership between countries and continents, private sector players, farmers, new financing models to be shared, business opportunities for SMEs, access to latest technologies to be showcased, research products, deals to be signed, and more.

(article originally published: The New Times)