Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 Summit
Dakar, Senegal
August 31 to September 5, 2025
- 9:00 – 5:00 pm (Africa/Dakar)
- 5:00 – 1:00 pm (US/Eastern)
- 2:30 – 10:30 pm (Asia/Kolkata)
The Africa Food Systems Forum will host its annual summit in Dakar, Senegal, from August 31 to September 5, 2025.
Africa’s Food Systems Forum, formerly AGRF, 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. Africa Food Systems Forum is designed to energize political will and advance the policies, programs, and investments required to achieve an inclusive and sustainable food systems transformation.
For more information about AFSF, please click HERE.
AFSF Side Event
Launch of the 2025 Global Food Policy Report | September 3, 2025 | 8:30am – 10:00am (Africa/Dakar) | Location: Knowledge Hub, Stage 1, CICAD
Co-Hosted by IFPRI and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
This high-level side event at the 2025 African Food Systems Forum will launch IFPRI’s 2025 Global Food Policy Report and convene African ministers, policymakers, researchers, and food systems leaders to explore lessons from past policy choices and priorities for the future. Anchored in the 2025 Kampala Declaration’s call for resilient and inclusive agrifood systems, the event will focus on advancing equitable livelihoods—particularly for youth, women, and vulnerable groups—while also addressing broader challenges around sustainability, governance, and investment. Through keynote speeches, report presentations, and a ministerial panel, the session will spotlight emerging approaches, cross-sector coordination, and the strategic pivot to a food systems approach across the continent.
Moderator and Welcome Remarks
- Ousmane Badiane, Executive Chairperson, AKADEMIYA2063
Keynote Session: Why does advancing diversity and inclusion matter for African food systems transformation?
- Significance of the Kampala Declaration and the new ten-year CAADP agenda for advancing diversity and inclusion in African food systems: H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Former President, Tanzania
- Opportunities and priorities for boosting youth engagement in food systems: Esther Kimani, CEO and founder, Farmer Lifeline Technologies, Kenya
Launch of IFPRI’s Global Food Policy Report
- Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI
GFPR regional chapter on Africa: Key findings and strategic directions for 2026-2035
- Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG); Director for Africa, IFPRI
GFPR Thematic Insight on Inclusion: gender, nutrition, social protection, extension
- Claudia Ringler, Director, Natural Resources and Resilience (NRR), IFPRI
High-Level Panel Discussion
- H.E. Mabouba Diagne, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, Senegal
- H.E. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Minister of Agriculture, Rwanda
- Elizabeth Nsimadala, President of Pan African Farmers’ Organization and Eastern Africa Farmers Federation
- Michelle Kagari, Global Director, Governmental Relations and Policy, OneAcre Fund
Concluding Remarks and Key Takeaways
- Alice Ruhweza, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
AFSF Special Event
Celebrating 50 Years of Impact: IFPRI and the Future of African Food Systems | September 3, 2025 | 15:30 – 17:30 (Africa/Dakar), networking reception to follow | Location: Hall F, CICAD
IFPRI’s 50th anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the Institute’s enduring contributions to food systems thinking and transformation—globally and across Africa. From early work on food security measurement and agricultural policy reform to today’s cutting-edge research on food systems, governance, trade, resilience, and nutrition, IFPRI has helped shape how food systems are analyzed, understood, and improved.
Africa has always been central to IFPRI’s mission. With active country strategy support programs, regional initiatives, and growing partnerships across the continent, IFPRI continues to play a vital role in helping African governments, institutions, and communities navigate urgent challenges—from climate shocks, economic disruptions, and conflict to urbanization, malnutrition, and agrifood modernization.
This high-level event, to be held on the margins of the African Food Systems Forum in Dakar, will showcase IFPRI’s contributions to African food systems transformation and spark forward-looking dialogue with African and global partners on the path ahead.
Opening Remarks
- Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI
The Productivity Imperative: Lessons from a Decade of Research
- Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Markets, Trade, and Value Chains: Connecting Farmers to Opportunities
- Fousseini Traore, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Natural Resources: Preservation and Access
- Claudia Ringler, Director, Natural Resources and Resilience (NRR), IFPRI
Nutrition Transformation in African Food Systems
- Jef Leroy, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Resilience and Recovery at the Crisis-Food Systems Nexus
- Khalid Siddig, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Discussant Reactions
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- Francine Picard-Mukazi, Director of Partnerships, Shamba Centre for Food and Climate
- Fadel Ndiame, Executive Director, Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR)
- Ones Karuho, Senior Advisory & Head, Resilience and Food Systems, World Food Programme (WFP)
- Tadele Fayso Ergetw, Director, Agriculture and Agrifood Systems, Program Impact Support and Advisory, Mastercard Foundation
Closing Reflections
- Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG); and Director for Africa, IFPRI
- Andrew Jamali, Director, Knowledge and Learning and Food Systems Coordination Focal Point, National Planning Commission, Malawi
Moderator
- Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI
Find out more on IFPRI’s participation @AFSF here> ifpri.org